5 Tips for Creating a Well-Organized Home Office

A lot of people have made a successful career working as freelancers, bloggers or streamers from the comfort of their own home. There are also those with corporate jobs who work from home for one reason or another. However, despite the fact that you are essentially your own boss, or at least don’t have to deal with commuting and office drama, working from home can be a bit of a challenge.

Companies have a serious work environment set up, and while most allow some level of customization, you can just clock in, do your work and go home. When you have a home office, you are the interior designer, the janitor and the IT guy or gal, on top of doing your own job. This is why it is crucial to create a working environment that will allow you to be as productive as possible, so here are several useful tips to help you do things the right way.

1. Clean the Place Up

While some people will claim that they thrive in chaos because they are creative souls or what have you, the simple fact of the matter is that if your office looks like any other room in the house, or even worse, like some messy storage room, then you are not going be able to switch mental gears effectively and focus on your work. There are plenty of simple things you can do to free up more space around the house, but you need to start by throwing away all the unnecessary junk. You should also vacuum, dust and let some fresh air in regularly, so that your home office looks and feels like a real workplace.

2. Add Some Decoration, but Keep Things Professional

The best thing about working from home is that you can put a personal touch and decorate the office any way you want, but you should still strive to keep a professional tone – if you want to relax and have fun, go to the living room for half an hour and come back when you are ready to work. You can add some flowers, framed pictures or posters, small figurines, goofy mugs, a good carpet, colorful office supplies and so on. Play around with colors and the layout, but avoid things that can be distracting.

3. Get Yourself a Good Office Chair and Work Desk

The work desk should be high enough to allow you to hold your arms at 900 and your back straight when working on the computer, with enough leg room, and preferably several drawers for storing all your office supplies, paperwork and various items that you’ll need. You can use an old desk or do some DIY, but when it comes to the chair, it is definitely worth investing in an ergonomic office chair with good lumbar support and customizable features. Your health should always come first, and a good chair can make you feel more comfortable and focused as well. A standing desk is also a good option.

4. Light the Place Up

Position your desk near a window, so you can get plenty of natural light and fresh air while you work. Make sure that your lights are bright, but not blindingly so – you can use a good lamp with adjustable brightness.

5. Invest in Useful Apps and Gadgets

There are literally hundreds of good planning, organizing and various other productivity apps available that will help you make the most out of your workday. You can get plenty of good ones for free, like Evernote, but it’s a good idea to spend a few bucks on something that can help you stay organized. In the same vein, you could look for gadgets that will allow you to get things done quicker. A high-end keyboard, professional camera or a solar charger are fairly good investments and will pay for themselves by making your job much easier.

When it comes to creating a well-organized office environment in your home, the thing to remember is that you need to be able to mentally separate yourself from the relaxed home atmosphere once you step into the office. This means that you need to make it highly functional, get all the right equipment and throw out anything you don’t really need. Make it to your liking, but remember that it is your workplace, not just another room in your home.