Home offices are now prevalent because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Statista published a survey on the state of remote work worldwide in July 2023 and revealed that 45% of people were working entirely remotely. Meanwhile, 29% said they would be working from home permanently.
Are you starting your remote work journey and want to build your first home office? Do you already have a workspace that isn’t cutting it, and you want to level it up?
Whatever your situation, you’ve come to the right place for answers. Read on to learn the steps to jazzing up your home office and transforming it into a stylish yet functional workspace.
1. Choose Cool but Comfortable Furniture
Your home office should be a space that gets you in the mood to work. When you enter, you should feel energized and immediately think, “I’m ready to work!”
The best solution is to create an office with a clean and aesthetically pleasing environment that reflects your personality. After all, who would be motivated to work in an ugly, drab space without a single pop of color?
Choose furniture according to your style. If you want a bright red office desk that instantly attracts attention, go for it. If you’re into woodworking and prefer a large wooden desk with a dark stain, that’s fine, too.
The key is to pick furniture you enjoy. However, ensure you don’t prioritize style over ergonomics and comfort too much, especially for your office chair. Remember, you’re not just going to look at the furniture—you’ll use them daily.
When choosing an office chair, look for a high back (and lumbar support), an adjustable headrest, adjustable armrests, a tightly woven mesh design, and good build quality. You’ll spend at least eight hours a day sitting in this chair, so invest in one that’s comfortable and can last for years.
Additionally, consider height-adjustable desks. While getting one isn’t mandatory, it does have ergonomic benefits.
This type of desk lets you adjust the desk according to your height, letting you rest your arms on the desk comfortably and use your computer while standing. It prevents you from sitting down for hours, which can cause long-term back issues.
2. Organize Like a Pro
Many people can work in messy, chaotic environments. But there’s still something about an uncluttered space. An organized desk—and organized home office in general—is more conducive to work and can increase productivity significantly.
If you also love organizing, here are some office organizing hacks you can follow.
- Ditch the paper
Papers can pile up in various corners of your home office and make a mess. Prevent it from happening by going paperless.
If going paperless is impossible, store all your paper in just one place, like a file cabinet under your desk or in an easily accessible box on a shelf.
- Use a color-coded filing system
Avoid losing essential documents by using an easy-to-remember color-coded filing system.
For example, you can use a red folder to file urgent documents, like a letter you must submit to your company immediately. For non-urgent documents, you can use a blue folder. You can use a green folder for documents you don’t need but want to keep for your records, like receipts or utility bills.
Of course, you can use any color you want, but we suggest using primary colors to keep things simple and easy to remember. You also don’t have to use colored folders—you can also use color-coded file tabs, adhesive labels, and boxes. It’s your home office, so do whatever is easiest for you.
- Use containers
You can easily misplace small office supplies, especially if you shove them into your drawers haphazardly.
Organize office supplies by storing them in plastic containers and putting them inside drawers under your desk for easy access.
Look for trays with compartments to store multiple item types in one container. You can store pens, pencils, and markers in one container, then put paper clips, binder clips, and post-its in another.
3. Accessorize Your Desk
Have you ever dreamed about being a spy or action hero like in the movies? You’re not alone—many of us want to be like James Bond or John Wick!
While we can’t teach you how to be an action hero, we can at least help make you feel like one when you sit at your desk.
If you want a terrific accessory for your desk, we suggest a high-quality rifle scope, like the digital night vision scopes from Sightmark.
A premium digital night vision scope will not only make you feel like your favorite action hero, but it’s also an attention-getter. It’s a great conversation starter and instant icebreaker whenever someone visits your home office.
The great thing about these scopes is that they’re not just for show. They’re functional and designed using the highest quality materials available.
You can decorate and personalize your desk or home office however you want— rifle scopes aren’t the only thing on the menu.
Feel free to hang pictures on your wall of your friends, family, or anyone who inspires you to work harder.
Are you a fan of a celebrity? You can frame a high-quality image of a famous person you idolize and hang it in a prominent place in your home office. Place it where it would be instantly visible to stay inspired.
If you’re a voracious reader, you can add shelves filled with your favorite books in one or two corners of your home office, provided you have enough space.
Your Home Office, Your Style
Creating a sophisticated and elegant yet functional home office doesn’t have to be a hassle, whether you’re setting up your first workspace or attempting to elevate the look of your current one.
The technique is to find the perfect balance between aesthetics, comfort, and functionality. Focus too much on the look of your office, and you may end up with a desk and chair that’s painful to sit and work in.
Similarly, if you prioritize only comfort and functionality, your home office will likely look dull and lifeless.
Remember the three tips in this article, and you’ll be well on your way to building the home office of your dreams.