4 Ways to Make Your Home Office Shine

More and more of us are working from home these days. Staying focused and motivated can be a challenge. A great tip to overcome the “work at home” grind is to put a bit of effort into creating an inspiring and organised work space. A jazzed up work- space will improve your focus and creativity, while brightening up your days working from home.

Your main goal should be to make your new ‘office’ look welcoming but not so comfortable that it’s not conducive to work.

See how you go with these tips:

Just like they say in real estate – location, location, location! While many will have to use their laptop where they can (hello, dining table), it’s worth having a look around your home for suitable spaces to set up a more permanent option.

Set up a small desk under the stairs, utilise that awkward nook near the kitchen or use the spare room for something other than dirty laundry. You should be able to pick up a small desk from Officeworks for under $200.

Every job is different, so factor in what equipment you need to get your work done effectively to where you set up your desk.

Where you can, your professional space should be as separate from your personal spaces as much as possible. This helps to limit distractions.

Your space doesn’t need to be boring. A vibrant pop of colour can really energise your space and make you feel motivated.

You don’t have to commit to anything major. Buy some colourful, but not too distracting art or put some treasured photos on the wall or desk.

Stylish desk accessories are popular right now; who says functional can’t look fantastic too? Pencil holders, document folders and even quirky bric-a-brac can add a little personality to the area.

Think about putting a small rug under your chair and desk. The right rug can be visually interesting, absorb sound and be comfortable under your feet if you’ve set up the desk on tiles or timber.

A small, low maintenance plant can go a long way to creating a serene, calming space. We have a great list of easy to care for plants here. Indoor plants have some excellent benefits – they can reduce noise and filter the air.

Worried about keeping your new friend alive or think your space may be too small for any of our options? Cheat the look with an artificial plant – home décor stores usually have alternatives that can look just as good.

Now that you have new, fancy desk accessories thanks to tip #2, getting organised doesn’t have to feel like a chore.

Storage boxes are handy if your desk doesn’t have drawers and filing folders (pick your colour scheme) will help you keep on top of your workload.

Place your most used items within reaching distance. Once you start working in your new space, you’ll work out quickly what items you need to keep nearby.

Try to keep the amount of clutter on the desk itself under control and let as much natural light into the room as possible. It’ll help with your alertness and getting through that dreaded 3pm slump.

Another great tip? Cables from your computer or electrical devices can get messy. Velcro tape from Officeworks will help you keep your cables neat and out of the way.