Customizing Your Home Office

The COVID-19 pandemic forced many people to work from home for the first time. Even now that things are settling down, many are choosing not to return to the office. They’ve found they can actually be more productive at home, contrary to employers’ fears.

One of the secrets to a productive work-from-home life is customizing your home office so that it’s a dedicated work space where you can escape from distraction and get into the business mindset. So if you’ve been waiting out the pandemic from your kitchen island, it’s time to upgrade with a custom home office design.

Designing a Productive Space in Your Home Office

In a study by ConnectedSolutions, 77 percent of workers reported being more productive at home, plus feeling happier and less stressed. And customizing your home office can compound all these benefits. 

Productivity looks different from person to person. A multitasker might work best with a large desk to spread things out on. And someone easily distracted might benefit from ample storage to keep other projects out of sight and out of mind. Your work—and your brain—are unique, so you’ll need a unique environment to be as productive as you can be. 

Nonetheless, there are some qualities we all want in our ideal work space. Read on to learn about the three core components for productivity.

Space

There are many tricks to make office space feel bigger, even if you can’t physically expand. With the right paint color and natural light, even a small office can feel open and airy. Try trading out a clunky bookshelf for floating shelves so you can see the whole wall. If you still struggle with your small space, try a different layout and consider whether your office furniture is really the most efficient for your needs. 

Comfort

An uncomfortable office chair can be distracting and have you counting down the minutes until you can get up. Plus, it’s really not good for your posture. Getting an ergonomic chair or a standing desk can alleviate back and neck problems, making it easier to spend long hours at your computer.

Organization

Clutter is productivity’s worst enemy. Make sure you have enough storage space to keep your desk clear of office supplies and make everything easy to find when you need it. File drawers work for many, but investing in custom cabinetry can provide file storage with a more elegant look and use vertical space more effectively.

Including Elements You Need in Your Home Office

Creating an ideal workspace depends largely on what you’ll be using it for. Does most of your day involve being on the computer or working by hand? Will clients and coworkers need to visit you? Do you have a large number of documents that need to be stored? What kind of tools do you use? All these factors will affect what kinds of furniture and storage solutions you need for your home office.

What Every Home Office Needs

Desks are, of course, the staple and centerpiece of any office, and with any desk, you need a chair. Though minimalist desks are all the rage right now, they lack storage, so make sure you have the space to compensate elsewhere. Luckily, a wide variety of home office organizers and custom desk options exist to make sure you have all the storage you need, where you want it.

Another crucial component of a functional home office is task lighting. Work can strain your eyes, particularly when staring at a computer for hours or trying to read documents in dim light. Task lighting is ideal for office desks, as you can adjust and angle it where you need it.

Adding Your Own Personal Flair

Your home office might be just a place to work, but you still deserve an enjoyable space that makes you actually want to be in it. Your office should reflect the design and comfort of your whole home. Most importantly, it should suit your work style.

Decorate your walls with artwork, and don’t sacrifice beauty or function when it comes to furniture and storage. If you have the space, include a spot to relax, whether it’s a comfortable reading chair or a large window.

Choosing Colors for Your Home Office

Your office walls will set the mood for your entire space, so it’s important to think carefully about what colors to use and how they will work together—and it’s not just a matter of taste.

Color Psychology

The best color for your home office environment is one that reflects your personality and makes you happy, but colors also have psychological associations that can affect mood and productivity.

Color theory studies the meanings behind each color as well as how to use them together in a pleasing way. Read on to learn how you can use this theory to take the guesswork out of creating a color palette.

Home Office Paint Colors

There are many good choices for home office paint colors. For example, yellow and purple are both known to stimulate creativity. Blues and greens, on the other hand, improve focus and clear thinking. 

Bright colors like orange and red show optimism and charisma, a great choice if you plan to host meetings in your home office, but they can be overpowering. They’re best used as accents on one office wall. Choose a neutral color for the other three walls to create balance.

Using Gray in Your Home Office Space

In the past few years, shades of gray have become the interior designer’s color of choice in all areas of the home for its calming qualities. The right hue can be used to complement virtually any accent color. 

Warm-toned grays like repose gray create coziness, while cooler grays say “I mean business.” When choosing a shade of gray, consider your accent color as well as how much light you have in the office. Cooler grays may need more light to brighten a space.

Finding Furniture Styles for Your Home Office

A home office space needs, at minimum, a desk, an office chair, and some storage. It sounds simple, but when it comes to style, there are endless options. 

If you want a warm, traditional design, choose furniture with wood and soft fabrics. For a contemporary home office, metal fixtures give a sleek and serious look. Whether your home is modern or classic, follow the theme with office furniture that’s as beautiful as it is functional.

To maximize storage, extend these design choices with custom closets or cabinets that sit back into the wall for a seamless visual flow. If you’re tight on space and can’t build into the wall, desks are the best place to find extra room. Consider custom home office organizers for a desk with large drawers. Or swap out a cabinet for floating shelves.

With more people working from home than ever, we at Drury Design know how important the interior design of your office is. Request a Design Consultation today for help customizing your home office to suit all your business needs.