Remote work has become the new normal in the U.S., as the amount of workers staying home at least once a week has risen to 58%. Of course, working from home means you need a quiet space without distractions. Fortunately, you can create a productive home office without hurting your wallet — The Insider Lab presents some ideas below.
Create a Comfortable Atmosphere
Do you plan to meet clients in your home office? If so, you can create a comfortable yet professional atmosphere with the right furniture. For example, you can buy a couch for client seating. You should also take care when arranging furniture to ensure clients can easily navigate your office without bumping into equipment.
You also have to keep comfort facilities in mind. It’s a good idea, for instance, for a home office to have its own bathroom, especially when you entertain clients and have staff working in it. A bathroom is generally not something you can DIY, however. In particular, DIY plumbing repairs can be challenging and are best done by bona fide professionals. So do your research beforehand, and compare offerings and reviews. Better yet, get contractor recommendations from people you know.
Find Top-Rated Office Equipment
If you work from home full-time, you may need certain equipment:
- Printer
- Keyboard
- Home cloud server
- Noise-canceling headphones
Before spending money, make sure you find the best-rated, most affordable options. You can do so by looking at customer reviews and reading articles from established, unbiased sources.
Related: Top 8 Best Laptops for Office Work in 2023
Choose Colors That Boost Productivity
Colors significantly impact psychology, so set yourself up for success by choosing productivity-boosting hues. For example, purple can encourage creativity, while orange increases motivation. Blue may be a good choice if you meet with clients since it has a calming effect.
Organize Your Wires
Working from home usually involves a lot of technology, and that means wires. Excessive wires are unsightly, and they can also be a tripping hazard. If they’re unorganized, you may struggle to determine which plug belongs to what. The solution is to use low-cost organizational tricks to keep wires out of sight:
- Use toilet paper rolls for bundling
- Label cords with bread tags
- Utilize power strips
- Secure cables with painter’s tape
Install Storage Solutions
Storage solutions help you stay organized so you don’t waste time looking for what you need. For example, you can store branded stationary on a secretary desk, along with writing utensils, envelopes, and stamps. You can also make use of vertical space with floating shelves and stackable wall racks, leaving you more floor space for a desk and chairs.
Get an Ergonomic Chair
The right chair can be the difference between a productive day and a backache. Sitting at a desk for hours may increase your risk of musculoskeletal disorders, as the human body didn’t evolve to sit for so long. However, an ergonomic chair offers better comfort, posture, and blood circulation. As a result, you’ll feel better and be more productive.
Related: Best Office Chair For Heavy Person
Hang a Whiteboard
Whiteboards are excellent for brainstorming, jotting down lists, and posting a schedule. You can purchase a small whiteboard for a few dollars and hang it on your wall. Alternatively, you can get a standing whiteboard to move around the room, providing greater flexibility when working with clients or peers. If you have the time, you can even turn an entire wall into a whiteboard with special paint.
Adopt a Houseplant
Adding greenery is an excellent way to create a welcoming atmosphere, but did you know houseplants also have health benefits? Having a plant or two can increase air quality, helping you breathe easier and focus more. They can even boost creativity and productivity, making them perfect additions to any workspace.
Take Advantage of Tax Deductions
Running a business from home can offer some significant tax advantages, which you can use to help expand and grow your business or, possibly, make improvements to your office. Many of the expenses associated with running a home business are tax deductible, provided they meet the criteria of being both “ordinary” and “necessary.” This includes things like business assets, startup costs, and improvements made to the home for business purposes. For example, if you buy a new computer to use for your home business, you can deduct the cost of the computer as a business expense. Similarly, if you convert a spare bedroom into a home office, you can deduct a portion of the costs of the renovation as a business expense. However, it’s important to keep receipts and documentation of all business-related expenses in order to claim them on your taxes.
Bottom line
A comfortably and efficiently designed home office can help you stay productive when working remotely. You don’t even have to spend much — you can transform a spare room with a relatively small budget.
The Insider Lab’s mission is to help everyone make SMARTER PURCHASING DECISIONS. Our goal is to Give You Clear Insight about Products and Brands that allows you to pick out great products that meet your specific needs.
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