How To Transform a Room Into an Office [Infographic]

Sophie Bell-Rhone http://www.heitonbuckley.ie 3m 863 #homeoffice

The views of this article are the perspective of the author and may not be reflective of Confessions of the Professions.

Working In A Home Office

When it comes to working at home, you may feel that your bed is just as good a spot as any to work comfortably, but working in bed may not be the best thing for getting into the mentality of work. You may even believe that sitting on your couch or the kitchen table is a good spot to get some work done, but without the proper setting of a work office or home office, chances are, you cannot make the association with being at home and being at work. Don’t let that stop you from working at home though, because with a few changes, you can turn a room into a home office.

In order for your room to be turned into an office, you need to have the right set up, including a desk, proper shelves, and storage for your paperwork. Your home office should be completely associated with work and not play. In other words, you need to set boundaries and rules for not only yourself, but your family when it comes to your home office. For example, when the door is closed, it means you are working and are not to be disturbed, or if you have chosen to turn your basement into an office, during certain hours, the basement is completely off limits to the rest of the family. Add a Do Not Disturb sign to make sure your family understands that you are working.

If you are unable to dedicate an entire room to become your office, than associate at least half of it to being a multi-purpose room for some of your office space and setup a portable desk which you can roll out of your room when finished. Be sure to eliminate any and all distractions and set boundaries to not be disturbed during a certain time frame while in the room.

This infographic covers more on how to transform a room into an office.

Infographic submitted by Sophie Bell-Rhone of Neomam.com, summary article by Matthew Gates

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How To Transform A Room Into An Office

Don’t be tempted into the lure of procrastination when working from home. With the right set up, you can make any room in your house a functioning office in no time.

Working from home: the numbers

2.6% of the US workforce have their home as their primary place of work (excluding self-employed workers)

24% of Australian workers work at home part of the time

13.9% of the UK workforce work from home

Creating your home office

Whether you’re telecommuting, catching up on work or your home is your office — here are some helpful tips to get you started.

1. Max out on space

Home offices tend to be short on space, often being housed in a spare room or corner — so furnish wisely.

• Use wall storage such as racks and display shelves to take up less space than filing cabinets.
• Create more room for working by using a pull-out desk — put it away when you’re done.
• Make the most of awkward corner spaces with an L-shaped desk.

2. Have the right set up

If you’re planning on spending most of the day in your office, invest in quality equipment.

• Buy a chair that’s comfy and supports your back. Good seating is a must when it comes to productivity.
• Position your desk in a light area. Research has shown exposure to daylight while working makes you more active, improves sleep quality, and even your quality of life.
• Use mobile furniture to locate your office to a desired location when working — once done store your portable office out of the way.

3. Make it a multipurpose space

If you don’t have the luxury to dedicate a whole room to an office, create a double duty workspace.

• Pick office furniture that blends in with the rest of the room’s decor.
• Transform your office into a guest bedroom instantly with space savers such as foldaway beds.
• Use curtains or room dividers to make your office space disappear when not in use.

4. Don’t mix work and play

Even with the best intentions, there’s bound to be overlap when working from home.

• Examine your working area and remove any distractions that may have crept in. Add a ‘Do not disturb sign’ to your office door if family members tend to disturb you.
• Maintain a physical boundary for your workspace — this will help with mentally creating a more productive office.
• Have lunch out of your office to keep it strictly business.

5. Don’t forget the finer details

Just like any other room in the house, finishing touches will make your office feel more homely [uk] homey [us].

• Add plants: It has been proven they can enhance concentration and improve productivity.
• Dedicate a comfy space away from your desk for reading and thinking breaks.
• Add some personality to your office with some art. Create DIY canvases for a more personal touch.

Creating the perfect home office can sometimes be trial and error.

See what works best for you by innovating and staying inspired — just as your work will be.

Heiton Buckley
BUILDERS MERCHANTS

Source: http://www.heitonbuckley.ie/blog/how-to-transform-a-room-into-an-office/

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