Creating a Functional Home Office: Key Elements for an Effective Workspace

Since the pandemic wreaked havoc on our world in 2020, home offices have become increasingly common. And though many people have transformed areas within their homes into workspaces, I'd argue that many of those workspaces are not especially functional.

A laptop on your kitchen table amidst bills, kids homework, and crumbs from last night's dinner? A desktop on a nightstand in the guest room with file folders spread out on the bed? Yes, these may be workspaces, but they're far from highly functional. I'm confident you can do better - even with limited space and on a limited budget.

So what does it take to create a truly functional workspace within your home? Here we'll take a look at some of the key elements that make up an in-home office where you can actually get shit done.

Designing a Functional In-Home Workspace

There are several important things to consider when setting up an effective home office. Keep in mind that even simple, inexpensive changes can have a big impact when they're made in an effort to achieve some of these home workspace design elements.

Location 

When setting up a workspace in your home, you are likely somewhat limited in terms of location since you have to work within the confines of your current residence. That being said, it's important to choose an appropriate location in your home to define as your workspace. You'll want to look for a place where you can shut out household noise and distractions - ideally a room with a door. You'll also want to choose a place that has some natural light, and has adequate space for the equipment required to do your job.

Flexibility

Flexibility is an aspect of office design that's pretty unique to home workspaces. Offices at a corporate location only need to function as... well, offices, while home offices often need to serve other purposes as well.

If your office sometimes functions as a guest room, perhaps your desk will need to also serve as a bedside table at times. If you've set up shop in a shared space within your home, you may need a storage system that can also function as an end-table. Designing your home office with flexibility in mind will help you to make the space both functional and practical, even when working within the limitations of your current home's footprint.

Furniture

Furniture can make or break a home office. There, I've said it. If you've cobbled together a standing desk from various pieces of wood you found in your basement, or you're balancing your computer monitor on a stack of books, it's probably time to reassess. Comfort is key when you're hard at work, so investing in furniture that functions both within the space and to support you is imperative.

Additionally, when designing a home-office, it's important to recognize that the furniture you choose may need to serve various functions. The goal is to find aesthetically pleasing furniture that works for the space, serves you well while you're working, and functions as it needs to when your space is filling other needs. (If you've been around for a while you know I love multi-functional furniture, so this should not come as a surprise.)

Lighting

Proper and adequate lighting is essential to create a pleasant work environment. Natural light is ideal, but you'll also need to consider task lighting and ambient lighting to create a balanced light scheme that serves you well any time of day.

Storage

Visual clutter can cause mental clutter and hinder productivity. Finding effective and aesthetically appealing storage solutions to help you keep your home office organized is key. Wall-mounted shelves are great for saving floor space and can keep files and tools easily accessible while also giving you room to display meaningful decorative items. Cabinets and drawers can keep clutter and documents out of sight. Don't be afraid to get creative! While storage systems are practical, they're also an opportunity to infuse some personality into your office space.

Style

Speaking of personality, personal touches go a long way in office spaces, even office spaces within your home. Choose art pieces, photographs and decorative items that bring you joy and motivate you. When you're creating an aesthetic for the space, choose something that aligns with the rest of your home but that also inspires creativity and makes your home office a space you truly want to spend time in. Need some help or inspiration when it comes to defining your home-office style? I'm your girl.

In Conclusion,

Creating a functional and aesthetically pleasing home office can be a game-changer for productivity and comfort. Let me put it this way: if you're working from home, your home should be working for you.

Because setting up the right environment can totally transform your work-from-home experience, it's well worth the investment to design a functional home office that meets your needs and inspires your best work.

Need a little help taking your current work-from-home space from drab to fab? Drop me a line and let's get the conversation started.