When people decide that they’re going to make a living from home, they often underestimate the importance of their environment and how it can affect their productivity. Often, they realize too late that their home is not conducive to work. In many cases, people assume that their favorite room or their study will be perfect for a home office, only to realize that there are too many distractions or that the room is not secluded enough to prevent noise interference. Whatever the case may be, there are some things that you can do to change any space into the ideal work environment. Here are a few of them.
Never Underestimate the Power of Color
Colors have a direct effect on our mood and creativity. Use the wrong colors, and you might feel antsy and unable to stay focused. Choose the right colors, and you’ll be able to perform to the best of your abilities and keep your concentration for hours. This is why choosing the right colors should be one of your priorities.
Blue, for instance, is often used in offices to stimulate concentration, but too much blue can be depressing. You can add a touch of yellow to the room if you’re going to do some creative work. If you intend to stay in the room for long hours, earthy tones like green will allow you to stay grounded. And if you can, try to avoid colors like red or gray. Red should only be used in rooms where you’ll be performing lots of physical activity, and gray may trigger feelings of insecurity and anxiety.
Get Rid of Workspace Clutter
Speaking of insecurity, one of the main principles of Feng Shui is making sure that any room is free of clutter since it can have a direct effect on your physical and mental health. And whether you believe in Feng Shui or not, working in a clutter-free space will definitely have an effect on your productivity. If anything, it will allow you to get to your stuff faster and make sure you have everything you need at your fingertips.
Store important supplies and materials in carefully marked bins, put all of your pens on your desk in a container and make sure you store reference materials and files on an easily accessible shelf.
Surround Yourself with Positivity
While you want to keep the distractions to a minimum, you should also make sure that you add some of your personality to the room. You could do that by reminding yourself of your accomplishments, for instance. Maybe you could add pictures of a competition you won or awards you may have received.
Getting a nice diploma frame and proudly displaying your credentials somewhere in your office space could also be a great idea. If you’re looking for a top-quality diploma frame, you could go on a site like diplomaframe.com. They offer a wide range of diploma frame styles, and you can use their online design tools to create your very own custom degree frame. This would make the perfect addition to any room and can really accentuate some of the furniture in the room as well.
You could also add greenery to the room if you’re a nature lover. Adding a few water features could provide your room with a soothing backdrop. Or you could also add a sound system and play soothing music or nature sounds.
Work on Lighting
Lighting is another essential aspect when building a home office. Natural light is best. If you can, try to find a room that allows natural light in during the day. But make sure that it’s in a quiet area or you might get distracted by street traffic or noises in your backyard. Also, make sure that you pick some good window treatments to prevent glare.
When picking out lighting fixtures, try to avoid harsh direct light coming from the ceiling. Instead, use dimmable lights so you can limit the intensity. Also, make sure that you have indirect lighting around the room. This way, you’ll be able to work at night while maintaining a calming environment.
Do Not Skimp on Furniture
You’re going to be spending a lot of time in this room, so it needs to be comfortable. It’s worth it to purchase a sturdy desk that is not only attractive but is also ergonomically supportive. The desk should also fit the room and your personal style. And make sure that it is positioned in a way that will allow you to get a view of the exterior.
Creating a positive work environment from home shouldn’t be difficult. If you follow the few simple tips outlined in this article you should be able to create the feng shui office of your dreams in no time.
This post was written in collaboration. Collaborative writing means that while I have contributed to this post and edited its content and formatting, I am not its original author. By posting this content on my blog, I may receive financial compensation.
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