Life, Styled
What was once just space to check your email quickly or jot down your to-do list, the home office is now essential for many who work from home. This shift from the nice bonus feature to the necessary has caused many homeowners to reevaluate their current condition, with many finding it lacking. Productivity and efficiency are linked to a functional space that gives you exactly what you need to get the job done. Here we share some tips on designing the perfect office away from the office.
Location
The location of your home office is determined by several factors, including your personal preferences, work style, and requirements.
- Do you like to work alone in absolute quiet?
- Do you prefer being near your family if the children need you?
- Do you enjoy an office with a view because it helps your creativity flow?
- Do you require a large area for your current projects?
- Do you need a location that allows you to take calls easily?
These are essential questions to answer as they will help you decide the best place for your office. The basement, spare bedroom on the main floor, bonus loft area, or renovated attic are great options. Be sure to talk with your designer about your office’s specific needs.
Function
Staying inspired to work can sometimes be difficult when you are at home and accustomed to the comforts of your work office. Organization is key to any task, especially when you are working from home. When designing your space, here are some ways to make it a functional and inspiring area.
- Keep it clean: A cluttered desktop can hinder performance because you can’t find anything. Consider having only the essentials, such as your computer, writing utensils, and a current project, on your desk. By hanging a grid on one wall, you can keep some additional supplies like extra papers, work notes, and tacks near but not on your desk.
- Think about your routine: Consider when and how you complete your tasks. Are there certain things you do every morning before moving on to your afternoon routine? Perhaps once you have finished your morning routine, you can put those things away and pull out the necessary items for your afternoon tasks.
- Place things together: When things that belong together stay together, it makes it easier to find and utilize them. Writing items such as paper, pens, highlighters, and paper clips should be kept in a separate bin. Supplies like tape, staples, tacks, and envelopes fit together nicely. Consider adding a shelf with decorative baskets or boxes to help everything have a place.
Your home office is meant to be tailored to fit your unique needs and specifications. When planning for this space, be sure to consider all the tasks you will need to accomplish.
Design Tips
Now that you have chosen the location and functionality for your office space, it is time to start thinking about some of the fun items, the selection of what will make your office yours. It is important that your space reflects your personality, but here are a few things we believe are essential to having a great home office.
- Chair: An office would not be complete without one, yet a person can’t concentrate if they are uncomfortable, which is why you need to find an office chair that works for you. Whether it rolls, has a straight back, or has an extra cushion, it needs to say you, making it easy to go the distance in your work.
- Color: This can have a direct effect on your mood. The color of your office is your choice. Some need a bright space with happy colors like yellow, while others prefer calm colors that help reduce stress, such as blue and green.
- Natural light: This is an essential element for many reasons. Artificial light can only mimic a few of the elements of natural light, which can have negative effects on the mood. Adding some natural light to the room can help boost your health in several ways, so be sure to include it in your design.
- Decor: Be sure to include pictures that mean something to you and art that simulates nature. Blues and greens can help relax the eyes after staring at a screen all day.
Be sure to have a list of things that are important to you written down or even some inspirational pictures ready to show your designer so they can help you find exactly what you need to create that dream office.
Greenbrook DesignRecycling old styles with a modern twist is a phenomenal way to honor the past while creating the future. Nostalgia is a valuable part of the creative process, especially in designing homes, our little personal factory of memories. So, don’t be afraid to try out some of these forgotten interior design styles that are making a comeback. It’s nice to freshen up your whole concept and take a little walk through a time capsule. Let your creativity fly in the limbo of styles, and wonder what else will be new soon.
Walker WoodworkingWe all have an idea of what our dream home would look like, after all, that is what places like Houzz and Pinterest are for, right? You wish you could have those little personalized spaces and upscale feel in your home that makes it stand out from the ordinary. Sometimes we believe that the home we envision is far too luxurious for our budget, but that is not true. But with a little creative thinking, anything is possible! There are many ways to stretch a budget through good planning and a few helpful tricks that can give you the luxury you desire without breaking the bank. Let’s explore the various ways to achieve designing a luxury home on a budget and bring your dreams to life.
Greenbrook DesignThese products usually come in refillable, recyclable, or compostable packaging and containers. Some have no packaging at all if you buy them from your local health food stores. You can also switch to more sustainable cleaning products, such as vinegar and hot water. For toilet paper, look for options with compostable packaging. You can also switch to a bidet to achieve complete waste-free status.
Being eco-friendly is at the heart of minimalism. If you want to adopt this light, sustainable, and freeing lifestyle, making eco-minimalist changes in your bathroom is a great first step. For more tips on achieving an elevated lifestyle, visit us here at Greenbrook Design.
Walker Woodworking As one of the most used areas in the home for our intimate needs, the bathroom should be designed as a place of refuge and relaxation from the cares and stresses of life. This means that it should reflect your personality in every way, from color to pattern; everything should make it a place you enjoy using, rather than just serving a purpose. Design details matter, and with traditional rules being replaced with out-of-the-box thinking, it is easier than ever to accomplish this task. You deserve to have a well-functioning and lovely bathroom that is designed with you in mind. Designing a bathroom should be all about you!
Greenbrook Design It’s hard to believe that the farmhouse style has only recently become so popular, thanks to its warm colors and romantic charm. It was once a haven for those seeking to escape city life and return to simpler times. Nowadays, farmhouse design is about elegant simplicity in every piece of furniture. Whether you live in a bungalow or a mansion, incorporating modern farmhouse design into your home is easier than ever. Here are some tips to help you get started.
