Top Tips for Creating the Perfect Home Office

It has been an unusual and difficult year, with the global pandemic changing the way we live. Home working has become the norm and looks set to stay. So how can we create an inspiring place to work at home? Some may be lucky enough to have a separate study; others may have created a study of sorts in a nook of the house, away from the hustle and bustle of everyday life. Perhaps your workspace is just a temporary solution and you want to find a more permanent one. Here are some useful tips on how to create an inspiring home office.

Let There Be Light

Aside from the essentials you’ll need (WIFI connection, computer, desk and chair), light is one of the most important factors to consider. Not every space will be bathed in natural light, so artificial lighting is essential. For a home office, task lighting is essential. It will provide the light you need to be able to carry out work-related tasks (hence the term ‘task lighting’) and is easily achieved with a desk lamp. There are so many brilliant desk lamps on the market, in an array of colours and styles to match your interior, and to suit all budgets. Layering light in a room by adding lamps in addition to ceiling lights, bring practical benefits, as well as creating a warm ambience.

A Multi-Tasker

Few of us have rooms that we can dedicate to the sole function of a home office. If your study doubles as a bedroom / guest room, there are other issues to consider. To make effective use of the space during the times that the bedroom is not in use, a sofa bed, a single chair bed or futon is an excellent piece of furniture that can be ‘put away’ when not needed. Attractive pegs can provide hanging space for guests whilst remaining unobtrusive when not in use. Stick to a neutral colour scheme – you’ll want to avoid a Disney wallpaper as a backdrop to your Zoom calls!

Happy Place

To inspire creative thinking, promote positivity and kick start your motivation, create a happy space. Surround yourself with things that you love: artwork, photographs of family and friends, treasures and trinkets from your travels. Remind yourself each day of the important things in your life and the reasons why you are doing what you’re doing!

Go Forth and Organise

A cluttered workspace is not inviting. Get organised with storage and try to maintain a tidy environment. Disorder and distraction are not conducive to efficient working so invest some time to get the work area tidy at the end of each day. You deserve a clutter-free, organised, calm and inspiring place to work.

Build From the Ground Up

Investing in the right product for your home office flooring is important, whatever its purpose is. Whether you need to be able to roll from PC to filing cabinet, soundproof your music studio or stream your work-out videos to the nation from your home gym, choose a flooring company that will work with you to discuss your needs. Here at Versatile we are confident that we will have the flooring to meet your needs. From laminate to vinyl, bespoke leather to wood, we have the perfect solution.

Underfloor heating is also an option to consider, particularly as we head into the long winter. For existing homes, the most economical option for installing new heating is electric underfloor heating pads. The alternative is to have a plumber install the pipes under the floor for a hot water system but unless you are having building work, this is an expensive option and is not always possible. Always seek professional advice on what best suits your home.

So as this unusual year draws to a close, let us look to new beginnings, embrace new ways of working and enjoy our homes and the comfort that they bring.