It’s common knowledge by now that your working environment has substantial effects on your productivity levels. While in certain workplaces, the best you can do is add a few personal touches and hope that the office manager keeps things nice, when it comes to your home office, you’re in complete control.
When it comes to styling your office space, there are multiple things to be aware of, from which window coverings you choose to how you light your desk. We take a look at what you need to know, with insights from the Woodyatt Curtains team.
Pay attention to your lighting
Your choice of lighting can have a significant impact on your energy levels and productivity. While we hear a lot about how blue light can negatively affect our sleeping patterns, when we’re working, those brighter tones can actually make us more alert and work more effectively. Ideally, you’ll be exposed to that kind of light by access to daylight. Putting your desk right by the window would be the best solution, but if that’s not possible, then you can use smart light bulbs that allow you to change the kelvin range. If you’re working into the night, then it can be a good idea to switch to a warmer light as it gets later; you might not feel as awake, but it’s normally more important that you get a good night’s sleep for the next day than it is to work for an extra ten minutes or so.
Choose the right curtains
When it comes to managing light, another important element is your choice of curtains. If your office window gets direct sunlight during the day, it might be too dazzling. Rather than blocking the light completely, you can try using net curtains. This can block direct light, while keeping the space well-lit. Net curtains can also prevent people from staring in at you while you work, and if you’re particularly prone to distraction, they might even keep you a little more focused.
Choose ergonomic furniture
While it’s essential that your home office looks good, you also need it to be functional and comfortable. It’s vital that you choose an ergonomic chair and desk, making sure that both are at an appropriate height. There’s no single correct option here, in fact, most studies suggest that a variety of postures are the best thing for our spinal health. If you can, try having a space where you can work standing up, in addition to one where you sit down.
Optimise your storage
A lot of workers waste a significant amount of time looking for things, often documents. You can massively decrease this by taking a smart approach to office storage. Before you buy a chest of drawers or a shelving unit, really think about your requirements. You want it to look good of course, and that doesn’t have to result in a non-optimised unit.
Your home office will likely be a space that you spend a lot of time in. It’s worth investing in – if you spend a certain amount and it manages to increase your productivity, the investment will soon have paid for itself.
