Working from home has become a popular routine for many working class people since the pandemic. Home offices have become popular. While some working class Nigerians are still trying to adjust to this new norm, it should be noted that it has its advantages.
Apart from the flexibility that you enjoy when you work from home, you also save money and time spent commuting to the office. To ensure maximum productivity while working from home, it is best to set up a proper home office.
Setting aside a professional workspace in the home will help you concentrate and be productive. It is also an exciting experience because you get to select everything that is needed and determine what your home office should look like.
Below are some very useful tips to help you style and furnish your home office space to increase productivity.
Select a space
First, you have to select a spot in the house with less noise that you think is suitable to be a workspace. If you have an empty room, you can choose to use it as your office space. That way you can shut the door to avoid distractions while working. If you don’t have an empty room, you can look for another spot like the closet, basement, dining area or even under the staircase. Just make sure that whatever spot you choose is conducive and less distracting.
If your selected workspace is not a room, you can use a privacy divider or curtain to demarcate your workspace from the rest of the house just to avoid distractions.
Shop for what you need
Create a list of needed items for the office. Your kind of work will determine what you need. However here’s a list of general items commonly used in the workspace
Office Desk – You’ll be spending a lot of time on your desk, make sure you get an ergonomic desk that is comfortable and allows you to stretch your feet when needed.
Office chair – While it might seem like a good idea to just grab one of the dining chairs and substitute for an office chair, you need an ergonomic chair that is comfortable. A comfortable chair would save you from back aches in the long run. Make sure the chair is an adjustable and swivel chair.
Broadband modem and network router – You’ll need internet access. A broadband modem and network router will help you to work efficiently online.
Printer/ Photocopy machine – You might need a printer and photocopy machine to make copies of a document. Getting a multipurpose machine that can serve all purposes will be better.
Backup hard drive – To help protect all your data, get a hard drive. A cloud drive that saves your data is great, but having an external backup drive can save you from computer failure.
UPS – A UPS will serve as backup when there is power failure. It will give you some time to save up your work and shut down your system till the light comes back on.
Storage
If you’re going to be doing a lot of paperwork, you will need a file cabinet to keep your documents in an organized manner in your home office. You will also need storage spaces for pens, paper and other office supplies.
Good Light
Poor lighting will strain your eyes. Invest in good lighting for your home office. Take advantage of the natural light. If you do not have natural light in the workspace, you can get light installed to illuminate your workspace. A table lamp can help you see things clearly especially when you’re working late in the evening.
Personal touches
It is your personal home office, you get to decide how you want your office space to look. You have the liberty to decorate your home office space as you want. You can pick a style and color that you’re comfortable with. Working in an environment that you’re comfortable in will increase your productivity and make the experience enjoyable for you.
Read our article: 6 guaranteed tips for furnishing to smaller home. Furnishing a small home can be fun. Be prepared to get amazing ideas to style and design your home making it a beautiful and comfortable space to live in.
