Get Inspired: Updating Your Home Office

A home office is always handy to have. Whether you work from home, use it as the kids study room or to organise the running of the house, a home office can be utilised in several different ways and should be decorated accordingly. Having a home office also gives you a private space away from the usual hustle and bustle of the house. If you are wanting to update your home office and turn it into a more useful/relaxing/creative space, see our handy tips below. 

In our opinion you can never have enough storage. Having a place for everything means you are less likely to become stressed. "Clutter bombards our minds with excessive stimuli (visual, olfactory, tactile), causing our senses to work overtime on stimuli that aren't necessary or important... it also distracts us by drawing our attention away from what our focus should be on" (Sherrie Bourg Carter PSY.D from Psychology Today). Start small by using folders to organise paper work or jump right in by getting some proper office furniture with drawers and shelves. Put your best looking items on display or add some family photos to personalise the space.

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Plants do so much more than just filter oxygen. Their benefits to our mental and physical health make them the perfect office companions. Plants have been scientifically shown to reduce stress, creating a relaxing atmosphere as well as increasing productivity in office spaces. They also release moisture in the air decreasing the incidence of dry skin, coughs or sore throats. choose one large pot plant or several small ones to place around your office. Just make sure you choose the right type of plant for your space otherwise all your time will be spent trying to keep it alive!

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Lighting can aid productivity and combat fatigue making it important to consider in a home office. As mentioned in previous posts, there are three main lighting types; ambient, task and accent. Ambient lighting should include downlights giving you an overall light throughout the room. Make these lights dimmable so you can alter the light as the day goes by. Use desk lamps for tasks such as reading and writing. The Green Bankers Lamp is a popular choice from the 1920's as green was thought to inspire creativity. For a more modern lamp choose the Industrial Table Lamp which has a joints allowing you to change the position of the light. To add some fun to your office space choose a bold pendant or a chandelier in the middle of the room.

Image via Pinterest

Image via Pinterest

 Although the home office is meant to be a place for work or study, adding a place to relax such as a couch or futon gives you an outlet for when you want to take a break. It also offers another workspace to use as some people find themselves more productive when they aren't sitting at a desk. 

Image via The Block

Image via Pinterest

By considering these tips you can ensure you create a useful and productive home office that you will want to be in!