9 Ways to enjoy your home office more…by Shawn Gauthier from Houzz

As you know, home offices are a specialty of mine and I really liked this article in Houzz by Shawn Gauthier:
If you work from home, you know how important your home office is to your everyday life. But, just like any office space, at home or elsewhere, it’s easy to let important aspects like functionality and organization fall to the wayside during hectic workdays.If you feel like your home office is hitting a rut, it may be time to assess its current state for the new year. You may need just a simple improvement, like adding a bulletin board to corral important papers, or maybe a larger change, like replacing your desk with one more complementary to its surroundings. Here are 9 tips for improving your home office this year.

modern home office by Nicole Lanteri

Hang bulletin and dry-erase boards. Office life is full of important papers and quick ideas, and you want accessible places to put them before they escape into the ether. Instead of cluttering your desk with papers and throwing ideas on easy-to-lose Post-Its, do yourself a favor and put a bulletin board and dry-erase board within easy reach.

eclectic home office by MANDARINA STUDIO interior design

De-clutter. Start things off on the right foot by removing everything that you don’t use. Throw away things you haven’t touched in a year, and file away important papers or
items sitting in piles throughout your space. You will be able to tackle your workload much more efficiently in a clean office.

contemporary home office by Domicile Interior Design

Assess your office chair. If you find you leave your office chair at the end of the day with an ache somewhere, it is definitely time to swap it out. It’s possible you’re spending hours sitting in this chair, so the correct ergonomic fit is a must. Test out several and look for one that you can adjust to fit your body and support it appropriately.

modern home office by Jennifer

Improve your organization.Think about your line of work and what you accumulate. Could you use more drawers to keep it all corralled? Filing cabinets? Shelves? Folders? Whatever it is, now’s the time to make sure you’re well stocked.

contemporary home office by LiLu Interiors

Fill your office with the things you love. Your office space isn’t all about work: It should also be about the things that inspire or motivate you. Whatever those pieces are, make sure they are in plain sight. But don’t go overboard, you don’t want to break the “excess clutter” rule!

modern home office by Best Builders ltd

Let in the light. Sunlight is much softer and calmer than fluorescent, and is said to help create a more productive workplace. Try to move your desk as close to windows as possible so you can take advantage of the natural light during the day.

traditional home office by Kayron Brewer, CKD / Studio KB

If sunlight isn’t a possibility, make sure you have ample lighting otherwise. Of course, large picture windows aren’t available in every home office. Make sure to have a mix of ambient, overhead light and adequate task lighting directly above the desk.

contemporary home office by Weaver Custom Homes

Turn your desk into a décor. Not every home comes with an extra room that can be turned into a office, leading some to add a desk to a living room or bedroom. If that’s the case, consider swapping out your desk for one that blends into the room’s current scheme. This unit boasts furniture-like shelves decorated with interesting knickknacks, which distracts the eye from the hardworking function of the desk.

contemporary home office by Maria Killam

Use extra space for a home office. Don’t currently have a home office but want to kick off 2012 with your own workspace? Take a gander around your home, it’s possible you have a hint of space here or there that can be transformed with the addition of a desk. You may find the room in a nook under the stairs…

traditional home office by Rossington Architecture

… or in a closet. Close the doors and no one will even know it’s there.

 

About Cheryl Bower

Cheryl has been a Lyon Hoag (Burlingame, CA) resident since 2004. She was raised in the Richmond District (San Francisco, CA). Licensed as a Realtor since 2005, she represents buyers & sellers in the San Francisco & San Mateo County real estate markets.