Working from home has become a norm thanks to the COVID-19 pandemic. Even though the coronavirus isn’t as big a concern as it was in previous years, businesses and employees are realizing that working remotely at least part of the time can be just as productive, if not more, than spending every day in the office.

Among the challenges of working from home is being able to think creatively despite being surrounded by distractions. In order to maintain a high quality of work when performing creative tasks, optimizing your home office for focus and productivity can make all the difference.

If you’re looking for ways to make your home office more inspiring, you’ve come to the right place. Keep reading to learn how to design a home office that inspires creativity. 

Keep your desk free from distractions 

Most of our day-to-day tasks require the use of a computer, particularly when working from home. Set a desktop screensaver that sets the right tone for your day. Perhaps it’s an inspiring landscape shot, or a family photo. You can merge images to create a motivational collage, whether it’s affirmations, loved ones, or something you’re aspiring to through your work.

Whether you need to write content, send emails or edit promotional material, laptops and PCs are an unavoidable part of most working days. Because of this, creating a space that’s conducive to computer use is essential. First, you need to keep your desk free of unnecessary distractions. Don’t litter the table with dozens of knick-knacks that might draw your eye away from the screen.

If there’s any other equipment that’s essential to your job, you should keep it within arm’s reach of your chair. For instance, store important physical documents in a filing cabinet below the desk. If you’re a graphic designer who works with a tablet, leave it in a drawer so you don’t have to stand up and scour the room every time you need to use it. By following these tips, you can focus better in front of your computer when doing creative work. 

Optimize home office lighting

When choosing lighting for your home office, remember that you might be spending hours there each day. This means that eye-straining options like harsh overhead lights or certain LED lights might not be the best option. You should also avoid lighting fixtures that emit blue light, as they may lead to eye strain or fatigue. 

Embrace natural lighting where possible, although it doesn’t necessarily have to be direct. In fact, it’s recommended to place your desk to the side of your window, rather than directly in front of it. Make sure you choose a room with plenty of windows, but use blinds or sheer curtains for when it gets too bright.

There are plenty of benefits to improving your lighting. For one, you can avoid eye strain, allowing you to remain creative and productive for longer. Proper lighting installations also help you avoid conditions like seasonal affective disorder when the winter months roll around.

Declutter your office

Nothing gets in the way of creativity like clutter. Having a messy workspace is the surest way to decrease the quality of your output and stop you from maximizing productivity. This problem is heightened when you’re working at home, where you don’t have officemates to keep you accountable. 

It’s essential to create a neat, clean space when designing a home office. This means getting rid of distractions like video game consoles, novels and musical instruments. An office is for work, not play, and your setup should reflect this. Besides helping you focus on creative tasks, taking a minimalist approach also helps you design your home office without spending too much. 

You should allocate enough storage space to organize your essentials. We discussed the importance of filing cabinets and desk drawers in the previous section, but some other storage options include segregated bookshelves, rolling carts and storage cubes. By organizing your office well, you can cut down the time you waste looking for things and focus on producing your most creative work. 

Choose a high-quality chair

An underrated aspect of building a home office (or any office, for that matter) is choosing the perfect chair. Your body needs comfort for your mind to thrive.

Finding the right chair largely comes down to personal preference. Some people prefer ergonomic gaming chairs, while others like the feel of a plush executive chair. Whichever style you choose, make sure it’s one you don’t mind spending hours sitting on. This means that it has to be comfortable, but not so comfortable you doze off when working. 

Choosing the right chair is essential if you want to do your best, most creative work for hours on end. Explore the different options out there, try them before purchasing if you can and consider alternating between sitting and standing at work if you can. 

Design a home office that supports your creative workflows

Working from home has many perks, but it also comes with unique challenges. One of the most significant is maintaining a high level of creativity without being in a traditional office environment. In this article, we’ve explored some key office design tips to produce your best work at home. Make use of them as you perform a makeover of your home workspace and you might find yourself working more efficiently than ever.