Home Office Decor Ideas: How To Keep Work And Home Separate
Due to COVID, many of us work from home, and many wish to continue doing so. With this, comes countless perks but also a few downfalls. For example, how can you truly separate work and home when you’re working from your home? Well, we have the answer for you, it’s all in the decor! Keep scrolling to discover all our home office decor ideas. Plus, a few pros and cons of remote working.
Home office decor ideas: the basics
Whether you’re remote working for now or indefinitely, here are the basics to transform your home into an office:
1. A desk
Regardless of whether your home office is a whole room or next to your bed, a desk is essential! Consider investing in a new desk that compliments the rest of your decor.
If you have the cash to splash, you could even purchase a bike desk. Oh yes, a bike desk is exactly what it sounds like, an exercise bicycle and desk in one. It may sound ridiculous, but it’s a great way to keep active while working from home.
Or, if you’re short of space, consider the following:
● a fold-up table/desk;
● a fold-out desk like a bureau;
● a floating corner desk;
● or a multifunctional desk, think desk by day and vanity by night.
2. A comfortable chair
Now you’ve got your desk space sorted, it’s time to think about a chair. Comfort is key here, after all, you’ll be sitting on it for several hours a day. Purchase a cushioned chair with a supportive back and perhaps some armrests. Here, it’s less about style and more about practicality.
3. Some storage space
If your job requires papers, files, and note-taking, consider your storage space options. Most desks come with built-in drawers, which could be handy for stationery. Don’t shy away from investing in file tray drawers or overhead shelves. Plus, you can find plenty of cheap organizers and containers online.
4. Good lighting
A study by the found that lighting is one of the main factors that encourage productivity and well-being at work. Opt for a workplace with natural lighting if you can. If not, supplement with lights and desk lamps but make sure they don’t reflect on your screen. Have a little play around with your lighting. Whatever you choose is bound to an improvement to the frightful overhead lighting most offices seem to have…
5. A whiteboard
Hang a magnetic whiteboard above your desk. Here you can stick all your important memos, jot down your to-do list, or plan for the week ahead. Fancy some extra panache? Lick on a coat of magnetic chalkboard paint and have an entire noticeboard wall, jazzy!
How to turn the space you have into a home office
Remote working looks different for everyone, depending on the space you have. Scroll down to your setup and discover how to use decor to create the best home office possible. Don’t forget to include all the elements mentioned above.
1. If you have a spare room
If you have a spare room, you’ve hit the home office jackpot! Here, you can dedicate the entire space to your office. Plus, you never have to go in there outside of work. For a stylish and comfortable home office, consider purchasing:
● An armchair: have a separate place to sit other than your desk. A place where you can flop in between calls or eat your lunch.
● Some decorations: add a pinch of your personality to your office by adding ornaments or picture frames. Create an office space that is beautiful and meaningful to you.
● Some wall art: no, we aren’t suggesting you hang cheesy motivational posters above your desk. This is your home, so decorate your walls as you would any other room in your house. Have some fun with it!
● A good rug: for comfort and style, invest in a good rug. This will also come in handy during colder months as you remote work through the winter.
● Some indoor plants: add plenty of greenery to your office. Plants not only look good, but they can also boost your productivity. A popular study found that college students in a computer lab worked 12% harder and were less stressed if plants were nearby.
2. If you’re working from your bedroom
Working from your bedroom isn’t ideal. If you can, avoid doing so since your bedroom should be a place of rest. However, if you have no other option, here are some ways to help separate work and downtime:
● Consider a room divider: physically separate work and play with a room divider. Opt for a wooden or fabric divider for both function and aesthetics. If your room is too small to have it out 24/7, only use it while working. Then, simply fold it away or store it flat against the wall.
● Consider a Murphy bed: a Murphy bed is a furniture unit with a foldable bed tucked away inside. Some models even come with shelves for additional storage. Each morning, fold up your bed and use the space as your office. You could also use a fold-up desk during the day for additional space-saving. It might seem like a nuisance, but it’s still better than commuting, right?
● Hide your desk: the last thing you want is to be looking at work while you’re in bed. If you have a built-in wardrobe, consider putting your desk in here. Open the doors, pull up a chair, and voila, you’re in work mode. Come 5 pm, simply shut the doors, and leave work behind you. If you don’t have a built-in wardrobe, consider using a curtain for a similar effect.
● Desk positioning: consider the view from your desk. If possible, work facing your window for a bit of scenery. If your desk faces a wall, opt for some interesting wall art. Avoid looking at your bed while working, even if it means you have to move your desk each morning.
● Get creative with space: if you’ve got the space, play around with your furniture. For example, place your bed in the center of your room with your desk behind the headboard. Then, when you’re in bed, you won’t see your desk. Or, use bookshelves at the foot of your bed to create two sections. This can be your workspace with your bed neatly out of sight.
3. If you’re working from a communal space
Working from a communal space is a great option to keep your bedroom a sacred place. This could be your dining room, living room, or kitchen dinner. Some decor choices to consider include:
● Differentiate between work and play: have different set-ups for the day and night. When working, transform your kitchen or dining room table into a mini-office. When you finish, put away your laptop and other appliances. Then, lay out a tablecloth and placemats. Setting up and packing away can be a little ritual to signify the start and end of your workday.
● Rearrange your furniture: during your working days, switch up the position of your table. Place it facing a window or in the center of the room for a more spacious feeling.
● Consider seating: as mentioned earlier, a comfortable chair is key. Your dining room chairs probably aren’t the comfiest but also avoid working from your sofa. Instead, consider purchasing an office chair. When you’re not working, store it away out of sight.
● Think outside of the box: if you have a hallway or space under the stairs, transform it into your home office. Make the most out of space that you don’t use.
● Consider co-working spaces: this isn’t really a decor tip, but occasionally, work from a co-working space. You can meet other remote workers there and counteract any loneliness. Some places ask for a fee while others only expect you to buy food and drinks.
4. If you’re flat-sharing
Flat-sharing is when remote working can get a bit tricky. You should discuss quiet times and communal areas with your roommates so that everyone’s on the same page. If they’re also working from home, get to know each other’s schedules. For example, who has calls, when do people usually shower, cook, or take a lunch break? Some other handy tips include:
● Consider coworking: if your roomies also do remote work, why not create a coworking space? Transform your dining room table into an office with spinny chairs and all the organizers you need. Stop for lunch together and take turns to do a coffee run- try not to distract each other too much though!
● Schedule it in: hang a whiteboard on the wall to keep up with everyone’s meetings, calls, and start times.
● Keep organized: this goes without saying but keep your communal areas organized. Working in a cluttered or messy environment can affect your concentration.
● Consider a co-living: if you’re remote working indefinitely or traveling around, consider moving into a co-living. These are usually big houses or villas designed for remote workers. They feature all the basics like a bedroom, bathroom, and communal spaces. But also offer a separate room for working. It looks like an office and has everything you need to work comfortably from home. Co-livings are quite pricey, but it’s a good way to meet like-minded individuals!
Explore your options
Remote working requires some flexibility. In most cases, all you need is your laptop and a solid wifi connection. Everything else is just for comfort. So, play around with what you have available and see what works best.
What are the pros of remote working?
According to Pew Research Center, 20% of Americans worked from home before the pandemic. In 2020, this number shot up to a staggering 71%. Out of those, 54% wanted to continue working from home even when the pandemic ends. That’s more than half, and it’s no wonder given the many pros of remote working such as:
● No commuting: crammed into an overcrowded subway carriage or stuck in aggressive traffic isn’t an ideal start to your day. Remote working offers stress-free mornings, which in turn boosts productivity levels.
● More freedom: say hello to a flexible schedule and goodbye to being stuck in the office from 9-5. Plus, you can focus more on your actual workload rather than counting down the hours until home time.
● Healthier work-life balance: with no commuting and more time at home, you get more hours with your family or for your interests.
● Increased opportunities: location and time zone limitations no longer apply. You can work for companies all over the world!
● Greater productivity: when you can create your own work-life, you feel more positive. In fact, 77% of employees claim to be more productive when working from home.
● Fewer distractions: with fewer coffee breaks and office gossip to catch up on, you can focus more on your work.
● Less stress: working from home is naturally less stressful than from an office. According to a report by Owl Labs, 70% of remote workers found virtual meetings significantly less stressful than face-to-face ones.
● Lower costs: it’s not just employees that benefit but employers also. With no rent, electricity bills, or an endless supply of coffee to provide, companies can save a ton.
And the cons?
Of course, there are never any pros without some cons. A survey by Slack found that 72% of 9,000 workers would prefer a hybrid work model rather than a fully remote one. So, why do some want to stay in an office environment? Well, the cons of remote working include:
● Isolation and loneliness: working from home reduces daily human contact. This can be especially problematic if you live alone or have a limited social life. According to Forbes, at least two-thirds of remote workers feel lonely or isolated sometimes, and 17% do all the time.
● Reduced guidance: instead of asking a coworker or manager for help in passing, everything is via a platform. You may be less likely to ask for help in this case.
● Decreased collaboration: it’s difficult to bounce ideas off each other or get inspiration from your employers behind a screen. Team projects especially are more difficult from home.
● Lack of information access: it can be tricky to locate all of the information you need for your work. New workers might also take longer to get to speed with everything.
Consider what works best for you
We all have different wants and needs. Some people love working from home, while others would prefer the office. It’s all about weighing the pros and cons and seeing where you feel the happiest and most productive. For more advice on everything career-related, check out our Dreams and Success library catalog. Or, for some more decor tips, explore our Home Design section. Only at Beginning.com.