Are you thinking about designing your home office (or already have)? It can be super daunting. It’s also expensive. But it doesn’t have to be. It can be really affordable and easy, if you know what to do. Read on to find out what 8 mistakes to avoid when designing your home office.
Mistake 1. Not doing your research
If you can, look online for inspiration. There are so many great examples of home office designs online, from old to modern and functional to creative. You can also look at blogs and other websites and ask your friends about their home offices. Learn what works for them. Mistake 2Not using good furniture and designing Your furniture will make a huge difference. Use solid, solid-colored furniture. You don’t want dark, bulky furniture that is hard to move around. Mistake 3Not budgeting your furniture wisely Ask yourself: How much would I spend on this and how long do I want to live with it? Make a plan and save for the right pieces of furniture that you can afford.
Mistake 2. Too much furniture
As a home office owner, you’ll want to create a functional space that’s cozy, right? But how to put everything together? How to match everything? Wrong. You don’t need the whole world’s furniture in your office. What you do need is a few core pieces. But don’t go overboard. The balance should be in the accessories you’re able to afford. Mistake 3Appealing to all levels of skills A home office design shouldn’t be about showing off a person’s skills. Having all of your team members sit in the same area doesn’t make your space more efficient. It makes your space more boring. Take, for example, a home office for a pianist. You need to provide the perfect set up. The pianist’s piano should be at the same level.
Mistake 3. No natural light
Why do I say this? Because you’ll need natural light to best work. You might think you’re working at a desk. But you’ll actually be working from an angled table. You’ll need to sit or stand in order to work most effectively. It’s not uncommon for your eyes to be drawn to the view from your windows. From this angle, you’ll think you’re working at a desk, but you’re really not. You might want to bring a lamp with you in order to increase the lighting in your workspace. It’s also a good idea to keep an eye out for open-plan offices. If the open-plan office has windows (which most do), then you’ll be able to bring your laptop and work from there if you work at the desk. You’ll be able to take in the natural light and get some work done.
Mistake 4. Overspending
You’ll spend money you don’t have if you want a home office and think you have to have the latest and greatest technology. Remember, your home office is not an entertainment center. You don’t have to invest in everything that might interest you, just a few things you can justify. Here are the most essential features to focus on: Windows Either a single or double-sized window, but big enough that you can see the outside world without being totally transparent. If you don’t see any outside, you can’t see the outside costs, right? Do not overlook a window or skylight. Sunlight can be the best thing for productivity. This was one of the most important aspects of my office. You can even add in skylights or artificial lighting with small fixtures for a bright, open environment.
Mistake 5. Poor ventilation
One of the worst mistakes to make in your home office is poor ventilation. You don’t have to use high pressure HVAC systems, like your air conditioner, to make it work. The point is that you should be open to more kinds of airflow. It can help to design the office around a fireplace, or using glass sliding doors. But even smaller fans, positioned toward the back or on top of the desks can help keep the air circulating. It also helps to keep yourself updated on the air-quality issues in your area. If you’re in the East Bay, expect to deal with pollution because of the surrounding factories and refineries. And if you’re in the Los Angeles area, try to keep your eyes peeled for smog alerts.
Mistake 6. Too cluttered
A big mistake that people make with home offices is using a great space but making it too cluttered. Too many chairs? Too many electronics? Too much stuff? It’s all too tempting. But clutter just makes it too difficult to use. Your home office should be clear of clutter, and it should be clutter-free. I always recommend visiting www.spoonflower.com as it has an extensive selection of colorful desk and storage bins that can help. Spoonflower’s Bamboo Storage Tote: It looks like a big book. But inside it is all the storage space you need. See also: My Favourite Organizing Toys For Office Toys Mistake 7Too big Another mistake people make is to try and create a huge office space that’s too big. I actually would suggest avoiding a huge office space altogether if possible.
Mistake 7. Wrong furniture placement
It’s more than just how you can fit your furniture in. It’s also the rest of your office’s surrounding environment. As you can see above, I used a “box desk”, which is a large desk with several drawers. This is the right furniture placement for me. I love boxes, because they keep my desk neat and organized. Plus, my box desk is in the corner, which gives me privacy. I don’t have to worry about anyone peeking over my desk. Here is another design idea to consider when fitting in your furniture. You want to put your box desk next to a large window, so it faces the outdoors. If your home office is near a bus stop, bus windows would be ideal. I put my box desk near my front door. This gives me peace of mind. Here is another design idea to consider when fitting in your furniture.
Mistake 8. Poor layout of space
According to Palms Plus, there are 8 design mistakes you should avoid if you want your home office to be the best it can be. 1. Designing your home office in the wrong corner Your home office doesn’t need to be in the middle of the house. Especially if you don’t have a view outside. The smartest way to design your home office is to place it in a quiet, out-of-the-way corner of the house. You don’t want it to be right next to the kitchen or to a main floor bedroom. No one wants a bedroom or living room too close to their home office. They’ll be tempted to snuggle with the spouse or go on the computer when they should be working. 2. Doing the same things all the time We all know that to be productive, we need to be able to do different things at the same time.