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Feel Creative and Productive When Working From Your Home Office
Working from home is often high on convenience, but low on design thrills. Time to rethink your work space and feel the benefit
These days, more and more of us work from home, at least some of the time, but rather than perching a laptop on your knees, how about creating a space that enables you to work productively and feel great into the bargain? Research shows that your environment affects your wellbeing, productivity and creativity, but luckily, something as simple as a plant on your desk can make you feel happier and more inspired. In addition, focus on natural light, sufficient storage and details to stimulate your imagination, as you cook up a creative corner that is a pleasure to work in.
Stay tidy
If you are working in a communal area of your home, a desk with drawers and built-in space for your laptop or iPad keeps things tidy. Storage boxes on the shelves above can be used to hide paperwork at the end of the day, so that any unfinished jobs, scattered over the desk, do not constantly distract when you are trying to relax in the evening.
If you are working in a communal area of your home, a desk with drawers and built-in space for your laptop or iPad keeps things tidy. Storage boxes on the shelves above can be used to hide paperwork at the end of the day, so that any unfinished jobs, scattered over the desk, do not constantly distract when you are trying to relax in the evening.
Head for the garden
An office at the end of the garden creates an important separation between work and home, enabling you to enjoy downtime more successfully. This garden office has skylights in the roof, flooding it with natural light and saving wall space for that all important storage.
An office at the end of the garden creates an important separation between work and home, enabling you to enjoy downtime more successfully. This garden office has skylights in the roof, flooding it with natural light and saving wall space for that all important storage.
Go mobile
A mobile structure like this cute hut won’t usually need planning permission, making it a brilliant solution if you have a garden. Even better, you can take it with you when you move.
A mobile structure like this cute hut won’t usually need planning permission, making it a brilliant solution if you have a garden. Even better, you can take it with you when you move.
Disguise work materials
If you do not have a dedicated work space and use the dining room table, store work-related folders and books on adjoining shelves, but turn the spines to face the wall. This creates an attractive effect, but also helps you forget about the day job when relaxing round the table in the evening.
If you do not have a dedicated work space and use the dining room table, store work-related folders and books on adjoining shelves, but turn the spines to face the wall. This creates an attractive effect, but also helps you forget about the day job when relaxing round the table in the evening.
Pop up some pegboard
An ordered work space helps you feel calm and creative. If your work is manual, try fitting pegboard to the wall. It’s an inexpensive and versatile way to store tools close at hand.
An ordered work space helps you feel calm and creative. If your work is manual, try fitting pegboard to the wall. It’s an inexpensive and versatile way to store tools close at hand.
Be creative with a cupboard
Even the smallest area can be turned into a work space. This one is no bigger than a wardrobe and can be hidden behind closed doors at the end of the day. Of course, a pint-sized desk like this takes a little managing. You have to be super organised so that you keep the desk clear. You also need somewhere to swing the chair away to when you close the doors.
Browse 10 ways to keep your study area secret
Even the smallest area can be turned into a work space. This one is no bigger than a wardrobe and can be hidden behind closed doors at the end of the day. Of course, a pint-sized desk like this takes a little managing. You have to be super organised so that you keep the desk clear. You also need somewhere to swing the chair away to when you close the doors.
Browse 10 ways to keep your study area secret
Make walls work
Walls are the biggest surface in any room, so make them work for you. Orange is said to make you more creative, so why not paint your whole office in this cheerful hue? You could also hang a pin board with ribbon criss-crossing it. This provides somewhere to tuck inspirational images, business cards and reminders and helps you keep your desktop tidy.
Walls are the biggest surface in any room, so make them work for you. Orange is said to make you more creative, so why not paint your whole office in this cheerful hue? You could also hang a pin board with ribbon criss-crossing it. This provides somewhere to tuck inspirational images, business cards and reminders and helps you keep your desktop tidy.
Use white where space is tight
An all-white colour scheme makes this narrow space look bigger than it is, and creates a blank canvas for ideas and creative thinking.
An all-white colour scheme makes this narrow space look bigger than it is, and creates a blank canvas for ideas and creative thinking.
Keep it simple
If you only work from home occasionally, you can probably get away with a work space that doesn’t even have a desk. Park a comfortable chair near your shelves, grab your laptop and you’re away.
TELL US…
How do you stay productive when working from home? Let us know in the Comments below.
If you only work from home occasionally, you can probably get away with a work space that doesn’t even have a desk. Park a comfortable chair near your shelves, grab your laptop and you’re away.
TELL US…
How do you stay productive when working from home? Let us know in the Comments below.
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Storage is absolutely crucial to a tidy and calm working space. Here, a ladder ensures even the top shelves are accessible and adds a touch of library charm. Over-the-door shelving really makes the most of every last inch of space, too.
See 10 ways to turn storage into a stylish feature