Making Your Home Office “Work” For You
Whether you own a business or telecommute, one thing is certain: to be productive, it’s imperative to have a separate space designated for work (and only work). With some basic organization and design principles, you can create an office space that is both functional and inspiring, ensuring you are as productive, effective, and efficient as possible when working from home.
Creating a Space
The space you choose to designate as your office can be a whole room, a corner of a room, or simply a table. However, it’s important to remember that you’ll be spending a lot of time there, so don’t cheat yourself on location or area size. You want to feel motivated, not trapped. If you do choose a smaller space to work in, keep the desk and other furnishings small and streamlined as well to avoid them from over-invading the room. If you don’t have a spare room with a door, folding screens can be used to create a partition, blocking a portion of a larger room. If possible, choose a space that provides plenty of natural light. If that’s not possible, use lamps to brighten up the area and cut down on eye strain and headaches.
Adding Personal Touches
When adding personal touches, keep in mind that too much environmental stimulation can make the space feel distracting. Being conscious of what you utilize while in the space as well as what it looks like around you can enhance or deter your productivity. Options are available for those that enjoy sitting, standing, or a combination of the two while working. Different technologies allow for improved adjustability and comfort, and items like footrests or keyboard pads offer additional support to other areas of the body. The color of your office space also plays a role in success, eliciting different emotional and physical reactions. White, ivory, gray, and tan are most sought after as they do not distract and be combined easily with other tones. Though a home office must be functional, it can also be beautiful and health-promoting.
Staying Organized
Maintaining a professional home office is dependent upon good organization, so try to keep clutter to a minimum. Most of these areas have a limited amount of space for computers, phones, and other resources, and items like desk organizers or wall storage units are invaluable installations. Not only will they help keep everything in its place for easy retrieval, but they will make the space feel more cohesive and calm. If you have a closet in your home office, building an additional shelving system inside of it can further amplify your storage space.
Additional Benefits
Along with the many perks that come with working from home, you may also qualify for a home office tax deduction. This allows you to write off items like associated rent, utilities, real estate taxes, repairs, maintenance and other related expenses. According to the IRS, anyone who uses part of their home for business purposes can deduct expenses related to that business. To qualify, one must meet the IRS’ requirements, keep good records, and have his or her home be the principal place of business. That being said, even if you frequent another outside office space, you can still qualify so long as the home is your primary place of work.
With a rise in those that telecommute or work from home throughout the week, having a home office is becoming more of a necessity. Making sure your space is functional, organized, and visually appealing can enhance your productivity and job performance. These storage solutions and trends can be applied to any home office space, and the experts at Top Drawer can provide a free consultation to assess how to best meet your needs. Whether looking for an efficient layout, new colors or patterns, or customized storage solutions, unlock your personal and professional potential this year. For more information about our rates, services, and design process, call us at 386-761-8775 or visit us on Facebook.
Sources:
https://www.entrepreneur.com/article/202566
https://www.investopedia.com/terms/h/home-office.asp
https://www.thebalancesmb.com/setting-up-home-office-845850
https://www.careercast.com/career-news/efficient-home-office
https://www.nerdwallet.com/blog/small-business/home-office-tax-deductions-small-business/