In the last two months, we have seen record numbers for remote work and learning, due to the spread of COVID-19. With the rise of remote work and remote learning, a functional home office space is quickly becoming a must for many new construction homes. 

Whether your home office is a designated space for running a business, occasionally remote work, writing a paper or simply a nook for paying bills and organizing your schedule, it’s important that you take the design of your space into consideration. Studies from phsycologicalscience.org show that personalizing your home office into a space you’ll want to spend time in can boost productivity and limit distractions. Below are five tips for designing a productive home office in your new home.

Select A Productive Location and Layout

There are a lot of factors to consider when designing a comfortable workspace, but location is the cornerstone of creating a space you’ll want to spend time in.

When selecting where you want to setup your home office, consider the use of the office. If you’ll be taking client calls, hosting virtual meetings or the majority of your task require sole concentration, make sure your office is tucked away from the busy places in your home. This will limit distractions and boost concentration and productivity. 

Your desk, shelves, and storage should serve you and your workflow. Think through which items are essential for productivity and how you can create a home for each item. Clutter has been scientifically proven to limit productivity, so adequate storage is key. Solutions are as simple as pencil cups or trays to keep all writing instruments in one place, plus memo and business card holders, wall shelves, chic storage cabinets, literally, there is a place for everything. Shops such as The Container Store make it easy for you to get organized and stay that way.

Invest in a great chair; your back will thank you later. Match your office chair to the rest of the room’s furniture, rather than using a more typical office chair. But make sure it’s ergonomically correct and opt for a swivel so you can adjust it to the right height.

You’ll spend hours in your office chair, so a comfortable chair is a must for anyone sitting at a desk for any length of time. There is a wide choice online so it is easy to find something that is ergonomically designed and suits the look of your space.

Make lighting a priority in your home office. A well-lit room is essential to feel awake and ready to conquer the day. Lighting can make all the difference when it comes to boosting creativity, as a dark space can leave you tired and feeling uninspired. Take advantage of as much natural light as possible. Position your desk in front of windows to allow natural light to flood your workspace. 

If you don’t have the option of natural light or good overhead lighting, enhance the area with floor lamps and a good desk lamp to really illuminate your main space. Science says that “cool” light (white bulbs) are better than “warm” light (yellow bulbs) for clarity of mind and maintaining concentration, so even if you usually prefer warmer lighting, stick with cool lights for your office.

Choose a color that makes you feel good and pair it with accent colors that balance the room, but aren’t too distracting. Did you know that the color blue is said to be the most soothing? A strong blue promotes clear thought while softer blues help calm the mind and aid concentration. Brighter colors, like yellow and orange, help spark creativity and energy. However, they can also foster nervousness.

Click here to learn how interior paint colors affect your mood.

When selecting décor for your home office, be sure to add accessories that tie the rest of your home’s decor and give it a cohesive feel. Adding a few favorite gems (photos, quotes, memo boards) can help keep you motivated and inspired to get in the office and get to work.

Consider adding some “green” to your home office space. Research has shown that exposure to nature and greenery increases worker happiness and productivity while reducing stress. Botanic BHM offers a wide array of gorgeous indoor plants to spruce up your space.