This post is very near and dear to me because I work from home as a freelance web designer, and when my office is messy or simply not arranged well my productivity really suffers. I’ve learned by experience that a tidy and aesthetically pleasing office can make the difference between hitting deadlines or writing lame excuses to clients for late work. Do you ever work from home? What helps/hinders your productivity?
Making Your Home Study Look Professional
When you work from home, you should have a home study that looks as professional as possible. That way, you will be able to concentrate on your work without having any of the distractions of the home that can negatively impact on the amount of work and, therefore, the money that your business can earn.
There are several ways to make your home office look more professional. First of all, you should give your home study a room of its own. It does not look in any way professional, after all, to be working on the sofa in front of the television or on the kitchen table. You should instead have a permanent desk in a spare room, with all of the equipment that you need immediately to hand. The tools that you have in your office should include, at the very least, a computer, a phone and a connection to the internet for email.
One of the most obvious ways of keeping your home study looking professional is to ensure that it is kept clean and tidy. You should also set up your PC, chair and desk at the correct height so that you can work without slouching. You should also position any equipment, such as a phone and some stationery, in a place that is accessible so that you do not have to stretch to reach them.
This set up is ideal for those who need to store lots of items – papers, files, samples, etc.
I need A LOT of surface area and this L-shaped desk is perfect.
One day I hope to have an office large enough for a small settee or atleast a comfy chair for looking through magazines and art books
Though a separate room is ideal, if you don’t have one, a creative use of space can make a surprisingly adequate home office.
Love this loft home office.
Your home study should be free of too many of the distractions that would undermine its work-like appearance. This means that you should not have a television unless it directly relates to your business. Ideally you would have a window near your desk to provide inspiration and calm, although if you find it too distracting you may want to cover it with a blind. Overall, the home study should be simple, with no overly distracting gadgets and only the items that are necessary for you to be able to do your work. Another factor that has a great influence on the professionalism of your office is the home study furniture that you choose. This includes computer desks, filing cabinets and desks and chairs. You will want to find a desk, for example, that is durable and that is at the right height, in addition to a computer chair that allows you to stay comfortable for many hours of work at a time.
disclosure: this post is sponsored by Neville Johnson
One cannot have too many jars and canisters. Looks better and keeps food fresher than boxes and bags. I will cut off the label on the box and tape it to the lid of a jar if it’s something I might have trouble identifying later.
Keep a clipboard in your pantry to jot down any staples you are running low on.
Living in small NYC kitchens I learned early on to utilize the inside of cabinet doors, closet doors, etc. to store things.
Genius! Use tension rods to separate and divide lids, trays, and baking sheets.
I love the nook for the mixer and toaster!
A close up of the hall above
Great magazine display!
A pot rack is a functional and attractive solution for too little cupboard space. Check out the gorgeous tile backsplash
I’ve never seen mirrored cabinets before – what do you think?
This is a dining room for late nights sipping wine and lazy mornings drinking coffee and reading. How couldn’t you with the fireplace and settee!
A great example of how vertical space can be utilized if horizontal space is lacking
This pantry is TO DIE FOR!
A basket under the console saves surface space and keeps items neat
If you don’t have an actual room or landing strip for your entryway, create one by the door by placing a chair, console, coat rack, etc. against a wall.
Using sconces for a light source saves surface space, and a framed chalkboard makes a pretty way to leave messages.
Even if space is small like this example above, you can distinguish it with paint, and even find a small cupboard or console.
A chic entryway that still has all the essentials
This bench is welcoming and provides a seat for shoe removal. If you can do something like this, try to find a bench with a seat that lifts up to hidden storage.
So pretty!
If space is super tight, hooks on the back of the door can hold coats, a small side table for surface area, and even an umbrella holder (which could double for holding mail or as a recycling bin when it’s not the rainy season). We have a very similar white owl umbrella holder buried in the basement somewhere. Do you think I should freshen it up ? Any suggestions if I should paint it another color?
The symmetry of this wonderfully chic entryway keeps it looking neat and tidy. Even though this space is super luxe, it’s still functional – stools for sitting, a console for surface area, lamps for lighting, and a mirror.
Great antique cupboard!
