The appeal of working from home is undeniable: the freedom from commute, the comfort of wearing just sweats and pajamas all day, and the flexibility to work whenever you feel most productive. But let's be honest, the home environment can sometimes get too stifling to do any work. If you feel this now, you should find a way to boost inspiration.
You may not need to look far: inspiration can be cultivated in our spaces. Our surroundings profoundly impact our thoughts, feelings, and actions. By creating an inspiring office setup at home, you can empower yourself and stay motivated. So, how exactly can you do this? Where do you start?
Here are some tips that might help you keep the spark alive in your workspace at home:
Understand Your Needs
The first step to creating an inspiring workspace is introspection. Understand what you need and want. Do you like working in quiet solitude or prefer a vibrant atmosphere? Do you work in one spot all day or find yourself moving every few hours? Are you energized by natural light or calmed by soft colors?
Consider your personality, daily routine, and creative pursuits. Recall your favorite places to find the kind of vibe you want to encapsulate. This self-awareness can help you set up a space that truly resonates with you.
Establish Defined Zones
Some of us prefer an actual home office, while some are nomads by heart and love to move around. Some of us have a spare room to work in, while others make do on the kitchen table and couch.
Whatever your situation or preference, it is important to establish defined productive zones when working from home. This helps maintain a sense of order and allows you to focus on the task at hand.
If you have the extra room, you can have a home office—and nothing beats a full office setup to show that a zone is for working. If you have a multifunctional space, you might find it challenging to create a defined workspace. But don't worry, there are ways to subtly set boundaries without overpowering the entire area. You can use rugs, furniture, color, and lighting to designate the working zone.
Take this video as an example. The space featured is a home studio, where you can see everything at once. But each zone is distinct, even the work area that sits right beside the TV. [Watch: How A Creator Made Her Tiny 441 Sqft Studio Feel Big | Manila, Philippines (youtube.com)]
Design for Focus
Having a dedicated space for work is the first step to designing for focus. Even if you move around quite a bit throughout that day, you always have that one area to go "home" to whenever needed. It helps train your made to stay focused and be productive whenever you're in that area.
Aside from this, you also need to design around your comfort to stay focused. Invest in an ergonomic chair so your body is supported when you sit for an extended period. Consider a nice solid wood office table or a standing desk, too.
At home, you're your own boss, and you deserve a really good office chair. Here's one: the Stressless® Sunrise Home provides excellent lumbar and head support, whether you're sitting upright or reclining. Find more office chairs at T.Y. Fine Furniture.
Natural light is a major mood booster, so you might want your workspace near the window. But also set up a desk lamp so you can adjust the light and ambiance whenever needed. Finally, keep stimulating visuals to a minimum so you can channel your energy into the task at hand.
Declutter and Organize
A disorganized workspace bombards your brain with visual stimuli and potentially creates a constant state of low-level decision fatigue. Every time you glance around your cluttered workspace, your brain gets distracted and has to decide whether each object is relevant to the task at hand.
Imagine trying to think clearly and be inspired by a desk overflowing with papers, sticky notes, pens, coffee cups, and takeout boxes. The surrounding chaos can simply feel too overwhelming, not to mention that the clutter physically impedes productivity. With a draining energy level, it's challenging to get some work done let alone stay inspired.
High-quality office desks to keep you comfortable and organized. Left: Enso Solid Wood Desk, complete with a drawer and a cable port. Right: Enso Solid Wood Sit Stand Desk, a superior-quality adjustable office table that is stronger, quieter, and more reliable than mass market sit-stand desks. Leg colors are available in black, silver, and white. Contact us to learn more about your options for the sit-stand desk.
So, it's really important to organize your workspace. But remember keeping things organized isn't the same as sterile minimalism (but if this inspires you, why not?). Keeping things that you need, including those that inspire you, isn't only necessary but also adds depth and character to your space.
Embrace Inspiring Colors
So, you have avoided the office whites and greys only to work at home surrounded by almost the same whites and greys, and oh yes, some varying shades of beige. While you can't do anything about the office walls, you certainly could with your personal workspace.
Colors have a profound effect on our emotions. Take this opportunity to surround yourself with colors that evoke the feeling you want to cultivate in your home office. Blue promotes calmness and focus, while green fosters creativity and growth. Yellow energizes while red sparks passion. If you don't repaint the walls surrounding your workspace, you can easily incorporate these colors through accessories.
Stimulate Your Senses
The tips we've shared so far mostly concern the visual aspect of creating an inspiring workspace. But it also helps to consider stimulating your senses beyond sight. Introduce calming scents in your environment with diffusers or candles. Play soothing music inspired by sounds of nature or something comforting like soft instrumentals or lo-fi.
Of course, hardly anything beats engaging the senses, in the most tranquil way possible, than nature. Studies have shown that connecting with nature boosts our creativity and well-being. There's a reason why many companies choose biophilic design for their offices.
If you don't have a good view of the outdoors, try bringing it in through houseplants. Choose varieties that thrive in your lighting conditions and require minimal maintenance. Even a few small pots of succulents can help make a difference.
Check out the Apollo Desk in Maple. The look of natural wood is simply gorgeous, timeless, and versatile. Even as your style evolves, this desk remains a constant, adaptable piece.
Personalize Your Workspace
Surround yourself with the things that you find inspiring. Hang artwork that evokes joy, display photos of loved ones who motivate you, or showcase travel souvenirs that spark your wanderlust. If you love coffee, perhaps you can set up a mini coffee bar beside your desk. However you wish to personalize your space, remember that it should be a reflection of you.
Take Care of Yourself
While creating a beautiful and functional space is key, remember that true inspiration transcends the physical. Fueling your drive from the inside is just as important (or more) than designing an inspiring space.
Establish a Work Schedule
Working from home offers flexibility, but it's still important to have a sense of structure. Challenge yourself to stick to a work schedule most days of the week. This helps create normalcy and routine, which is crucial for maintaining focus. Set clear start and finish times and schedule breaks throughout the day.
Sleep and Eat Healthy
Taking care of yourself is key to staying inspired. Get enough sleep, eat healthy food, and stay hydrated. One perk of working from home is the easy access to the kitchen. Without needing to drive or commute to work, you have more time to sleep in and prepare decent meals.
Move Your Body
Sitting for extended periods can cause sluggishness and a decrease in creativity. Short bursts of movement throughout the day will help to get your blood flowing and improve your mood. Take a brisk walk during your lunch break, stretch at your desk, or practice a quick online yoga routine.
Work Outside Sometimes
Staying cooped up at home all week can be stifling and uninspiring. You need an occasional change of scenery to get your creative juices flowing. Head out to a coffee shop and work there for an hour or two. Explore the co-workspaces in your area. Make it a goal or some form of reward to do this at least once every two weeks.
Celebrate Your Wins
Honor your achievements, no matter how big or small. Take a moment to appreciate your progress and reward yourself for reaching milestones. Celebrating your wins keeps you motivated and reminds you of the value you bring to work.
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A beautiful workspace certainly doesn't hurt. But creating an inspiring space where we can work comfortably and creatively takes more than aesthetics. It pays to do an inventory of our individual needs and wants so that we may be able to personalize our workspaces in a way that inspires us to keep going.