Working from home has grown tremendously in popularity over the past several years. For many employers, this dynamic is here to stay. If you are going to use part of your home as a workspace, put some thought into what you can do to optimize your productivity. Here are a few helpful tips for designing a functional and comfortable home office.

Set Up an Ergonomic Workstation

Occupational injuries in administrative roles are common. To prevent orthopedic problems and work comfortably throughout the day, be sure to design your workstation with good ergonomics in mind.

Use an adjustable chair that has arm rests. Position your monitor where it will be eye level so you don’t have to crane your neck up or down. You may also find it advantageous to use ergonomic equipment such as a split keyboard or a vertical mouse.

Be Attentive to Air Quality and Temperature Control

When you’re spending a substantial amount of time in your home office, you need to be able to breathe easily. Ideally, the room that you use as an office should have good ventilation. Installing a ceiling fan is a good way to keep air circulating. That could also reduce your reliance on air conditioning and help you maintain an energy efficient home.

Create a Space That Facilitates Focus

A lot of things can distract you when you’re working from home. In particular, noise from other areas of your home or street noise could be extremely disruptive. Equip your office with acoustic insulation to avoid disturbances.

When possible, try to situate your office from other areas of your home where there tends to be lots of activity. When you have to be productive, a little bit of isolation can be a good thing. In general, segmenting your workspace from your living space supports your work-life balance.

Integrate Storage Solutions 

Disarray in your home office can really hinder your productivity. Excessive clutter can evoke stress, and you might lose track of things too easily or have a hard time finding things when you need them.

Outfit your workspace with practical storage solutions. In addition to a filing cabinet or two, include a couple of places for supplies or electronic accessories. To add storage without detracting too much square footage, consider wall mounted cabinets or shelving units. Ultimately, smart storage solutions will help you sustain an orderly workspace.

Get the Right Technological Infrastructure

Your home office has to meet all of your basic technological requirements. It should have excellent connectivity. If your office is a good distance away from your modem or router, use a repeater or signal booster.

Evaluate your energy and outlet needs practically. Overloading one outlet can be problematic, and extension cords can create trip hazards. Install outlets exactly where you need them to be.

Make the Most of Your Surroundings

When you work remotely, it’s really important to have a home environment where you’ll be happy spending most of your time. Contact Gallery Homes at (386) 260-2454 for help finding a move-in ready property or designing a new construction with an ideal living space and workspace.