Transforming Your Office into an Inspirational Haven
by Evelyn Long
If your home office is dull and lifeless and suppresses your creativity, it’s long overdue for a change. Instead, it should reflect your personality and help you improve your mental health, capacity to innovate and job satisfaction.
Close your eyes and imagine an office designed to inspire. What stylistic choices get you excited to start each day and motivate you to reach your goals? Explore ways to turn your work environment into an inspirational haven for success.
The Rise of the Home Office
When COVID-19 shut down offices globally, workers rapidly transitioned to work-from-home arrangements. Although this was an adjustment for many, it soon became ingrained in everyday routines.
Many employees have preferred remote work — mainly because of better work-life balance — pushing back against their companies' return-to-office (RTO) requests. Some have even taken legal action against their employers for denying reasonable remote work accommodations for disabilities and illegal firings after not following RTO mandates.
Workers who are allowed to conduct business at home typically do so. In fact, two in three would opt for working remotely over taking bonuses, paid time off and retirement benefits, citing greater happiness and productivity.
The home office is now a staple, with more people converting spare rooms and unused areas into workspaces. Additionally, 63% of homebuyers call it a must-have or desirable feature in their purchasing decision.
If you're among the fortunate ones with this luxury, you understand the importance of a designated office space. However, not just any office will do — yours should inspire you to achieve your greatest potential.
How an Office Workspace Impacts Well-Being
An office setup should nurture one's imagination, originality and well-being as much as it plays up aesthetics. A thoughtfully designed space can significantly affect physical, mental and emotional health. It also benefits the employer, with one study suggesting workers who experience greater well-being are more engaged and happier in their roles.
So, what makes an ideal workspace? You want an environment with optimal air quality, a supportive desk and chair, and mood-enhancing lighting. Somewhere quiet and relaxing is also essential for concentrating on critical tasks and taking virtual calls without distractions.
Considering the average employee works 2,080 hours annually in a traditional 40-hour workweek, creating a comfortable area where you can do your work efficiently should be a priority.
Inspire Greatness With These 8 Office Upgrades
Whether you plan to transform an extra bedroom or a corner nook into your inspirational office, you'll want to be able to log onto your computer with a positive outlook for the day.
From more extensive design updates to personalized touches, here are eight things you can do to create the ultimate at-home workspace.
1. Organizational System
If your office is in disarray, you'll get nothing done, which is why you need an organizational system. Staying organized improves your productivity, helps you with time management, reduces stress and allows you to streamline tasks. It also encourages you to maintain a professional image while working from home.
There are many ways to optimize your organization, even if you have a small space. Wall-mounted shelves and bookcases will keep clutter off the floor without taking up too much room. A file cabinet, paper trays and drawer dividers are other excellent ways to tidy your desk.
You should regularly go through your belongings and eliminate clutter to avoid piles of paperwork and other items you no longer need. Likewise, storing documents digitally in a secure cloud service will help you free up more space to work.
2. Pops of Color
Color can significantly affect work productivity. Although some prefer to work in a non-distracting, neutral setting, pops of color can induce feelings of calm or high energy. It depends on what you're after.
If you work in a stressful position with tight deadlines, consider painting the office a soothing blue-gray shade. In color psychology, blue connotes a sense of peace and relaxation for a more pleasant workspace. This way, you can take a deep breath while on important phone calls with clients or your boss.
Yellow is a somewhat unique color choice, representing optimism, happiness and innovation. While you might not be enthusiastic about painting all the walls a bright shade of lemon, yellow decorative items may fulfill your desired color inspiration in moderation.
3. Biophilic Design
Nature's calming effects can greatly influence how you feel and work in your office space. Studies show immersing yourself in natural environments helps you regain concentration, combat mental fatigue and improve cognition. It’s also associated with enhanced mood.
Biophilic design has become popular as more people seek to deepen their connection with nature in their living and work spaces. At its core, it embraces greenery, earthy colors, sunlight, and other natural elements, tones and textures.
Some ways to incorporate biophilic design in your office include:
Earth-tone paint or flora-inspired wallpaper.
Removing curtains or opting for sheers for more natural light.
Natural decor, such as wood, bamboo, clay, cork or wool.
Nature artwork or photography.
Add a few plants to your office area, too. Some — like pothos, snake plants and the Phalaenopsis orchid — thrive in indirect light and have air-purifying properties. Spider plants can also remove 90% of cancer-inducing formaldehyde from the air, keeping you healthy and safe from indoor pollutants.
Also read: Breathing Easier: How the Briiv Air Filter Improved Our Home's Air Quality and My Husband's Asthma
4. Motivational Decor
Do you need a pick-me-up during the day? You can find thousands of knick-knacks with affirmations for productivity and creativity. For instance, home decor stores may sell word blocks with sayings like "You can do this" or "Dream big." You might even find a notebook, planner or new favorite mug with an inspirational quote from a famed entrepreneur.
Some people like to hang quotes on their office walls as artwork. You can also apply large vinyl quote stick-ons as an artistic design touch. Whichever way you decide to decorate with quotes, make sure it speaks to you and makes you feel like the great success you are.
5. Sensory Enhancements
Ventilation is critical in a home office for clarity, productivity and well-being. To enhance air quality, consider incorporating aromatherapy. According to one study, many essential oils are antimicrobials with antiparasitic, antifungal and antiviral properties.
Some scents can also improve your physiological functions. For instance, the study showed that rosemary oil enhanced cognitive performance. Likewise, inhaling a blend of peppermint, rosemary, grapefruit and cinnamon increased concentration and vigilance.
Consider purchasing a small diffuser for your office — some come with lighting features and timers. Filling the room with aromatherapy will create a sensory experience, boosting your mood and reducing stress.
6. Ergonomic Essentials
Sitting at a desk all day could cause aches and pains. Ergonomic office essentials should maximize your comfort and alleviate strain to help you through the day. Some of the key ergonomic components you should consider for your space include:
Chair with adjustable height, armrests and lumbar support for better posture
Footrest if your feet do not sit flat on the floor
Monitor arm or laptop mount to raise your computer screen to avoid looking down
Adjustable-height desk to move from a sitting position to a standing position
Document holder for paperwork to make reading at eye level easier
Keyboard and mouse wrist pads to prevent strain on your hands and wrists
Of course, the best ergonomic setup is personalized to your needs. Try different products to see what provides the most comfort and allows you to work efficiently all day.
7. Optimal Lighting
Eye strain is a serious problem when working at a computer for eight hours. Fortunately, sufficient lighting in your office can make all the difference in your well-being and ability to complete tasks.
Research suggests natural light dramatically affects people's mental health, focus, cognition and consciousness. This is partly due to the range of light it generates and vitamin D production in the body. Of course, brighter, more intense artificial lighting with a high color temperature will also keep you awake.
Remove curtain panels from your office windows and keep the blinds open during the day. Recessed lights on a dimmer are also a good idea, as you can adjust their strength as necessary. Floor and desk lamps are other lighting options, delivering extra brightness in a darker room.
8. Personal Effects
Adding personal touches to your home office will enhance the atmosphere and inspire your work. Family photos, artwork, awards and collectibles are obvious options for infusing the space with your personality.
However, you might also create a vision board for the room. It will help you home in on your goals and aspirations, delivering a much-needed reminder of what you're working toward. Include magazine clippings, sayings, photos and more for different areas of your life, such as career, relationships, finances, travel or health.
Your Office Is a Canvas for Your Vision
Whether you work from home or need a place to care for personal effects, designing an inspiring office will propel you toward your dreams. Allow the space to fuel your creativity, enhance your productivity and reshape your outlook to achieve every goal you set.
Evelyn Long is the Editor-in-Chief of Renovated Magazine, where she writes on interior design and home organization content. She is passionate about making home styling easier for all homeowners and renters by writing about home interior trends. Subscribe to renovated.com/subscribe for more posts by Evelyn!
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