Good design is as functional as it is visually appealing. It acknowledges a need and offers a solution to address that need.
Speaking in the context of workplaces, this couldn’t be more true. A dreary, gloomy, and poorly-designed environment while working will do little in the way of inspiring you. In fact, it might leave you feeling exhausted. The last thing you want is to feel completely and utterly blah while working. It will reflect in your work, and you don’t want that.
Typically, there are two things that are achieved through how an office is set up.
A Boost in Morale
Whether you’re working from home or are back at the office, a contemporary workspace will do wonders for your motivation at work. And why wouldn’t it? Imagine stepping into a well-lit space that is free of clutter and features furniture that embraces the perfect balance between functionality and panache.
Improved Productivity
A boost in morale directly translates to higher levels of productivity. It goes without saying that the quality of your work is largely dependent on how inspired you are.
Inspiration is often regarded as some elusive goal that few can get close to, let alone touch. Well, let us tell you that while it is in the very nature of inspiration to strike, it can also be summoned. In the case of professionals, it all starts with a contemporary workplace.
Ready to Design a Home Office You Love?
When designing an optimized workspace, there are many factors to consider ensuring productivity without compromising on the cool quotient. If you’re looking for tips and ideas, look no further. Let’s go over some design basics that are sure to elevate any space and make it go from mundane to modern!
What is the First Step in Setting Up a Workstation?
Pick a room with ample lighting
When setting up your home office, make sure you choose a room that gets a lot of natural light. This is key. Trust us; there’s nothing better than good ol’ sunshine to supercharge you and rev up those dawdling spirits!
It is common knowledge that natural light is nothing short of a miracle worker in keeping people happy, content, and motivated. Suffice to say, your workspace needs to be bright and cheery. While you’re at it, make sure you have some shades or curtains to pull down, especially during those sweltering summer months when the sun has the ability to bring more distress than relief.
A plus point to maximizing your use of natural light also means you’ll be saving money on power consumption. That’s a win-win situation if you ask us.
Artificial lighting
If, on the other hand, you’re a night owl and thus used to working well into the early hours of the morning, you should invest in some quality artificial lighting. Whatever you do, don’t buy anything that emits blue light. If you don’t already know, blue light can disturb sleep patterns and even impact your mental health in the long run. You’ll be better off furnishing your workspace with floor lamps or desk lamps that provide just enough light to lend an ambient touch without making you feel drowsy.
How to Make Your Office More Productive?
Clean lines
This refers mainly to the furniture you wish to place in your home office. If you’re confused regarding how to go about this, start by searching for pieces that aren’t bulky. The idea here is that you want to keep your workplace as clutter-free as possible. People tend to think that clutter alludes only to messes, but we’re here to tell you that it also has to do with what kind of pieces you end up choosing to decorate your workspace.
Let minimalism take over
If you haven’t inferred it yet, we’ll say it again. Office furniture does not have to be in the “chunky eyesore” category. There are plenty of amazing options available that will uplift your office decor and reflect your signature style in understated ways.
Minimalism also refers to other, smaller items in and around your workspace, such as stationery and office supplies. Ifyou have a weak spot for notebooks and highlighters like we do, make sure you don’t stack them out in the open; put them away in a drawer until you need them. No matter how well-decorated a space is, stacks of books and papers can look quite unsightly.
Get the right furniture
For example, there are some chair designs in the market that are boring to look at and require you to purchase additional accessories in the name of back support. We can’t stress this enough; stay far, far away from such purchases that will only cause you great regret.
Instead, consider buying the Sit2Go 2-in-1 Fitness Chair by Flexispot. Compact and streamlined, this chair is a godsend because A) it looks spectacular, and B) it allows you to exercise while working! Raking in stellar reviews since it hit the market, professionals everywhere are raving about the revolutionary features it offers, not to mention the truly futuristic aesthetic it embraces.
Flexispot designs furniture that delivers on both fronts i.e., design and functionality. The Sit2Go 2-in-1 Fitness Chair is a product of that same goal, and is it a marvel or what!
This chair is built for comfort. It cradles your back while the soft padding on the seat makes for a relaxing experience. That’s not all; you can adjust the height as and when required - even while seated! This is a fantastic feature considering the fact that the Sit2Go 2-in-1 incorporates a bike for exercise on the go.
In case you still aren’t sold on it, the Sit2Go 2-in-1 comes with a built-in calorie tracker and the option to fit in a cardio session during work hours. And just like that, you don’t have to schedule a separate time to hit the gym; you’ll be fitter in no time.
Who says you can’t mix business with pleasure? Probably someone who hasn’t yet had the pleasure of getting acquainted with the Sit2Go 2-in-1.
That it comes with durable caster wheels speaks to the portability of the Sit2Go 2-in-1. You can place it anywhere around the house without any heavy lifting. Furthermore, the wheels don’t make a sound. You don’t have to worry about causing a disturbance across rooms or floors.
Add some color
Adding color to spaces can be fairly tricky. While we’re not going to discourage you from tackling this one all on your own, we are going to offer you some advice to help you make the right decision.
Choose a color palette
Since there are just so many colors to choose from, you may want to start by doing some research. You can use online resources to bookmark some great ideas and narrow your options down to about 5 or 6 colors. No, don’t use all of them; these are just so you have an idea about what colors you can design your workspace around. The rest will get discarded automatically.
While researching and putting together a digital mood board of sorts, you will observe that some colors are speaking to you more than others. Go with your gut because these are the colors you will be looking at day in and day out, and you should opt for the ones that are clearly inspiring you.
Buy accent pieces
Accent pieces can range from eclectic finds you happened upon while rummaging through section after section of an antique store to family heirlooms that hold great sentimental value along with a quirky charm.
Be wary as these pieces will dictate the tone of your workspace. You might want to steer clear of pieces that distract. If, however, you want to include such a find, make sure it’s placed behind you rather than in front, so you can’t see it.
That said, there is an unsaid rule when it comes to plugging in accent pieces: don’t go overboard. Anyone guilty of this will end up having a cluttered home office and will defeat the purpose of this exercise altogether.
Put up some art
Needless to say, we aren’t talking about expensive pieces straight out of a gallery. There are lots of fun renditions being sold online of famous artworks and paintings by renowned artists. No, they’re not pricey and usually, all you need to do is make an online payment, after which you will receive a link through which to download the art you want!
Don’t forget to add some green
No home office is complete without little planters that sit quietly on or around your desk. Opt for the real deal and not artificial plants, and they will quite literally be the breath of fresh air you so desperately need.
Green is soothing to the eyes, and when you want to take a quick break without getting up from your desk, look towards these potted beauties, and you’ll feel yourself calming down almost immediately.
Let your Personality Shine Through
Whatever you do, don’t lift an idea off of the internet and copy it as is. You want your personality to come through in all the decisions you make for your home office. The whole point of this exercise was to make you understand the foundations of contemporary design in the context of workplaces, not to detract you from being yourself.
So be bold and uninhibited because, at the end of the day, this is your space, and you need to own it.
