Working from home doesn’t have to be unexciting. You can have an office that you want to work in, really! In just a few steps, you’ll be into the groove of designing your perfectly chic room.
Green Living
You don’t want a drab work environment. Having plantlife in your office can promote a healthier and happier lifestyle. Feeling better in your space will not only create higher-quality work, your accomplishment levels will soar.
Plants release oxygen and absorb carbon dioxide, which means cleaner air. They can also remove damaging vaporous organic compounds that come from other household items such as cigarette smoke, grocery bags and vinyl. Some plants that are great for boosting your productivity in an indoor work area are:
- Spider Plant- while reducing allergies and dust, this plant is perfect for high shelves and hanging baskets. Spider plants are low-maintenance and thrive in partial sun or shade.
- Lemon Balm – this plant not only contains a super fragrant smell, it’s said to elevate your mood as well. It tolerates full sun or full shade, so no matter where you house it, it will flourish. Just don’t forget to water it.
- Philodendron – this lush and leafy plant is almost impossible to kill. Along with looking nice, this plant reduces the levels of VOCs and high CO2 in the air which can cause headaches and drowsiness. Water twice-weekly and you’ll eventually be saying that going green never felt so good!
Furniture
Your office space should express your personality and your home’s characteristics, but it should also function like a business with everything in its place. Organizing and decorating start with your main pieces. You’ll be spending multiple hours in your office chair. Make this your main focus when starting to choose your decorating scheme.
Would you rather have a chair that rolls around the room, or one that doesn’t move? If you’ve been thinking about having a decorative rug in your room, then a stationary chair would suit you best. Either way, a functional yet comfortable office chair can make all the difference when you’re working those long hours.
When choosing other pieces, your desk for example, take into account the room size and shape. A corner desk utilizes more space, but won’t have many options when it comes to storage. If you need storage, opt for a tall shelf with multiple cubicles rather than a filing cabinet. If you don’t want guests to glimpse your papers, you could use pull out baskets inside the shelves, or hang a nice-looking curtain in front of it.
Decor
When you paint the walls, consider the rest of your house’s decor, but think about your office goal as well. If you want an area that gets your adrenaline pumping try painting the walls a bright red. If you’d rather have a relaxed atmosphere, a seafoam green might be your match.
When decorating the walls, you’ll want to go minimalistic so as not to cause too many distractions. Maybe a motivational painting or a scenery could add some character. When it comes to other areas, your desk or bookshelves, incorporating something that will personally resonate with you can be beneficial. Maybe a picture of your children or a painting they did would remind you of why you work as hard as you do!
Having chic yet functional office space doesn’t have to cost a fortune. Yard sales, salvage and thrift stores, online shopping and even outlet malls will have tons of choices for low prices. If you find something you like but the appearance needs some TLC, then get to crafting. Reupholstering older furniture or patching up holes isn’t difficult with a little do-it-yourself knowhow.
Your new office awaits!