Designing The Perfect Home Office as a Freelancer

If you are working from home and spend most of your time doing your office work, the space must be comfortable. It should be inviting to ensure that you get your work done efficiently with maximum focus. A dedicated workspace in your home will help you set aside household distractions and stay committed to work.

There are many prominent benefits of working from home. An ideal home office design can enhance productivity and provide you with the energy and space to work on important things. You can create the ideal home office affordably and quickly yourself, so there is no reason to break the bank.

How to Design A Perfect Home Office In Your Home

Here are some of the great ideas that you can consider while designing your home office.

Select the Right Desk and Chair

Choosing a suitable chair and desk for your home office is critical. Find a desk wide enough for your computer or anything else necessary to do your work. This could be a reference material, an in-tray, or just space to take notes. Ideally, your desk should be 48 inches wide at a minimum.

If you only use your laptop for work, then most people find a 60-inch-wide or a large desk to be the most comfortable. Whereas an adjustable height desk is also perfect, it is not always practical for some home offices.

While you choose your desk, you may also not want a desk that is too high. A desk of 28 inches to 30 inches is an acceptable range. When shopping, you should invest in a good-quality chair that is adjustable and comfortable, as you will be sitting in this chair regularly for a long time.

Master Technology

“In today’s world, we need technology, and there is not much you can do to make your printer or computer prettier. A simple way to keep your technology organized and all together is to make sure you are positioned near an outlet. It will help in easy access and keep the area looking more organized.” adds Laura Beaulieu, VP Marketing at Holistiplan

Nothing makes a home office feel or look more cluttered than wires hanging around everywhere. You may want to consider hiding your desk cords, too. Here are a few ways to keep your technology organized.

• Invest in a wireless mouse or printer
• Add a wireless router
• Add a grommet to your desktop to lead all the wires from your desk down below
• Gather loose wires along the floor and attach them together with a simple cord-tamer
• Attach any visible cables under the desk

Prioritize Practicality

“When you are designing a room, you should remember what it is used for. It would be a great idea if you prioritized practicality. Your design should not be boring; it only has to be functional. Start with the demands of a modern workspace and then add your creativity.

One thing you should not forget when designing a room to keep the room practical for work is a desk. Put your desk close to a natural light source, and if there is none, add a lamp. Many people like looking out of the window when working, so make sure you put your desk in an attractive location. It will surely have a significant impact on your working mood.” Daniel Cabrera, Owner and Founder of Sell My House Fast SA TX

If you are placing the desk in front of the window, then consider your preferences. However, make sure that there is enough space around the home office desk that allows the user to stretch and move and be distant from any disruptions.

Storage and Shelving

As per Tiffany Payne, Head of Content at PharmacyOnline.co.uk “Storage is usually overlooked when designing a home office and can also affect your productivity. Make sure there is enough space for filing cabinets, shelving, or cupboards for storage needs. You may consider an inbox for on or off your desk, or put a shelf nearby to help keep the storage near you.”

An important tip to remember for a home office is to maintain order. An organized and clean desk is more than just making your workspace look good. It can also clear your mind, which helps you improve your focus and remove distractions.

You can utilize wall organization solutions such as pegboards, pinboards, or shelves to accomplish this. They help with keeping your desk clear and essential supplies within arm’s reach, increasing functionality.

Natural Lighting and Views

Good natural lighting is crucial for any home office space. If possible, find a location with some natural view or light. Position your desk in a space where your laptop screen will not be affected by the window.

Translucent window blinds or shades can help minimize glare without darkening your home. Moreover, you can also improve natural light by including a mirror and painting most of your walls a light color.

With an overhead ceiling light, you can have good general lighting and open-top lamps in the corners of your room. You can also include a desk light to give a shadow-free task lighting and more evening light. With some added daylight bulbs on the fixtures, you can give an extra boost. These are some easy additions, even if your office is in a darker space like an attic.

Accessorize and Personalize

Make sure not to sacrifice style. The best part of working from home is that you can decide how you want your home workspace to look and feel. Match your home workspace with the style and design of your home.

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When accessorizing, think of something that inspires you. It could be a favourite artwork, color, or even objects. When designing a home workspace, consider these personal touches throughout the room. They will make you feel at home and brighten your day while working.

The perfect home office decor should remind you of your objectives and goals. Some things you may consider adding to your office are a gallery wall, coffee table books, houseplants, or anything that can put you in a great mood. However, keep in mind to be yourself while decorating.

Painting the Walls

Many people choose office beige color, but some prefer a color that gets their work motor going. Some like cherry-colored, bright shades, while others like calming shades. There are specific colors that affect your mood, so make sure you choose the right color for your office. Make sure not to go overboard.

Here are a few rules about what color your office should be:

• Purple: Helps in concentration and focus, and inspires creativity.

• Green: Neutral, adds vitality and freshness to an office, and is good for concentration.

• Red: Intense and may give an overwhelming vibe

• Yellow: May cause distractions

• White, Grey, Tan, Ivory: Neutrals combine nicely with accent colors and provide the room energy, vitality, and freshness.

However, this is your working space, so select the right color that matches your vibe. Make sure not to paint all the walls since it will make the room look small and cluttered with all the colors. You may want to add personal touches throughout to make the space yours.

Keep Space Private

Working with your headphones on can isolate you somewhat from everything. However, you cannot go hours like that and be comfortable. Make sure your office offers you the privacy to work with as few interruptions as possible. Ideally, it would be good to have a door that separates the space to keep focus.

You can also add a little background noise to help with concentration, so you could add a fan or air filter. It can create white noise if you want to focus on that, or you can even set up a radio to play quietly. Your work may be stressful sometimes, so having a space with relaxation and privacy while working is essential.

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Make a Floor Plan

“An office floor plan is an incredible tool for organizing your thoughts and ensuring you have covered all your bases. You can easily build a floor plan online using various apps to find the best way to make your room functional.

You want to make sure the floor plan uses all the space without cluttering it. It is especially when your office is in a small space. Using apps, you can plan it out beforehand to make sure you get the right sizes so everything can match and fit perfectly in your room.” Brian Bosscher, owner and founder of Condo Control.

Design Ideas

Here are some design ideas that you can follow for your work from home space.

1. Height Adjustable Work Table

A work table is the most critical piece for a home office. With a standing desk or a height-adjustable work table, you can stand or sit throughout the day. It will give your back and body a much-needed stretch. In general, you can use a standing desk for at least 3-4 hours on a regular basis.

1. Soundproof

If you are someone who is easily distracted by noise, you should invest in soundproofing material. You can apply them to your walls and focus on your work. If you cannot buy soundproofing material, you can consider getting noise-cancelling headphones. Some white noise in the background may also help you keep focus.

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• Multi-Purpose Charging System

Invest in a multi-purpose charging system that makes things easier when you are working. It will help you to keep all the gadgets charged all day. This also makes sure you do not tangle all the chargers together and that you can utilize all of the devices throughout the day with no inconvenience.

Conclusion

Designing a comfortable and functional home office space is critical if you want to maximize your productivity. By investing in a good desk, ergonomic furniture, suitable indoor plants, and streamlining tasks with freelance software, you can build an environment that enhances efficiency and creativity in your freelance career.

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