Photo by Vadim Kaipov on Unsplash
Working from home can be a welcome relief from an exhausting commute, a reprieve from a noisy open-concept office, or simply a cost-effective way to run your burgeoning side hustle. Of course, simply saying you’re going to ‘work from home’ and actually doing it are two very different things. The trick to being more efficient is creating a dedicated home office space where you can sit down, focus up, and seize the day. So, how do you carve out the optimal workspace within your home?
Step 1: Find a spot with minimal distractions
This could be a little corner of your kitchen that faces away from the TV…and away from the dirty dishes that you’ll use as an excuse to procrastinate. If possible, try to find a space with some natural light. While a desk lamp can be effective, the sunshine will help the space feel bright, open, and inspiring.
Step 2: Take your personal work style into account
Do you need absolute silence, far away from the blaring sirens that go by your bedroom window? Or do you prefer to gaze out at the view from your kitchen, where you can fully appreciate the tree-lined street you paid a little extra for? Once you have chosen a spot, give it a test run. Spend some time in that area while you work to see how you feel before committing to converting it to the work-from-home space you’ve always wanted. If your neighbor’s baby seems to be screaming every time you sit down, you could test out a different spot, away from the wall that you share with her. Check-in with your temperature, too. That ancient air-conditioning unit may actually be too effective, causing your fingers to freeze while you type. But if you’ve spent some time there feeling like your best professional self, then you’ve found your work from home space.
Step 3: Consider your storage needs
This is especially important if your desk is in a shared living space, like the kitchen. After all, you don’t want to be staring at your professional to-do list while preparing your favorite pasta dish on a Friday evening. Installing some shelves above your desk is a great way to display some of your favorite decor items while also creating space for your work. A few bins or baskets in between photo frames or a pretty vase could give you the room you need to store folders or files so they don’t start to pile up. Alternatively, you could find a small filing cabinet to put under your desk to help you stay organized. This may be especially helpful if the desk you’ve chosen lacks drawers.
Step 4: Make it your own
Creating a work environment that is not only functional – hello, power outlet! – but also beautiful can help improve your mindset before you sit down to tackle your day-to-day task list. Plus, this space is in your home so it certainly does not have to look like a standard-issue cubicle. For your desk, you may want something compact, that won’t take up too much space. Or, if storage is a concern, consider an all-in-one piece so you can access last year’s files or a secret snack drawer without getting up from your seat. Maybe you want a traditional office chair that reclines so you can lean back, put your feet on your desk, and channel your most powerful self – even if those feet are covered in fuzzy bunny slippers. Or perhaps you’d prefer something that fits more seamlessly into the room. Play around with textures and patterns to see what works best for your productivity as well as your physical space.
Keep an eye out for pieces that make you feel like, well, a boss. Of course, your version of ‘boss vibes’ may be totally different than what you see in the office. You’re at home: enjoy it! Throw on a pair of sweatpants with a blazer and congratulate yourself on re-inventing business casual.
Ready to pick out some pieces for your new work from home office space? Browse Kaiyo’s sustainable and stylish collection here.
