How to Create the Perfect Work Environment at Home

Do you work from home? Thanks to the rise and impact of modern-day technology, it’s safe to say a lot of us do, whether you’re self-employed and work from your computer, or have taken your work home with you from the office.

However, have you ever considered just how effective your working environment is, and how improving it can do wonders for your productivity and overall output? We've compiled six different ways you can improve your home workspace to its optimum level.

The first thing you’re going to want to do to maximize your productivity while looking out for your own health and well-being is to follow the basic guidelines of working ergonomically. Your computer screen should be set at eye-level, ideally a little bit below.

You’ll also want to adjust your chair so your feet rest firmly on the floor. If you’re working some serious hours in your chair, make sure you take the time to invest in a proper one that will provide ample body support.

Many of us instinctively tend to put our desks in the corner of the room so it fits neatly in the space. However, this makes the room dark and doesn’t optimize natural light, a necessity when working from home.

“Move your desk closer to your windows so you can bask in the natural light all day long, and you get to admire the view when you’re having a break,” says Sharon Taylor, an interior designer working with Grade on Fire.

A lot of people like to set up their desks or workspaces in the kitchen, perhaps even in their bedrooms, but it’s easy to get cabin fever when you’re working just feet away from your bed or living space.

Instead, dedicate a room or a closed off area for working that isn’t in a typical living area in your house. This will help you to create the ideal work/life balance and minimize the risk of distractions.

When you’re working away, it can be a huge distraction when you’re stuck trying to find certain things, such as a pen, paper, or any other pieces of equipment that you might need. Make sure that your workspace is fully stocked up with everything you might need, so you can crank out work without having to keep stopping every few minutes to find what you’re looking for.

Don’t forget, if you’re taking something out of your stockpile of essentials, make sure that you replace it as soon as possible so it doesn’t become a problem.

When you’re working from home, it’s great because you can spend the whole day seeing friends and family and then set to work in the evening if you wish. However, there’s no natural light in the evening, so you need to make sure that you’re thinking about your lighting and lamps.

“You don’t want an overhead light directly beaming down onto you, so you’ll want to think about energy saving bulbs or lights with a soft glow that isn’t overpowering, but still bright enough that they won’t strain your eyes. Don’t rely on the backlight of your computer to see what you’re doing!” - explains Hilda Ritter, an Art Director at Rated Writing and Huffington Post writer.

Since you're working from home, where many people spend hours and hours in their work environment, you’ll need to make sure that you’re making it into a place that you actually want to spend time!

Add photos, add plants, add speakers and other things that you like to look at so every time you sit down to work, you’re happy to spend time there. Otherwise, you’ll end up hating the place, and you’ll never get any work done!

As you can see, there are many things you can do when it comes to creating the ideal work environment in your home. Make it a pleasure to be there, and you’ll see a dramatic improvement in your overall productivity.