When you work from home, you have to be extremely disciplined. Not only are there no bosses leaning over your shoulder to make sure the work is getting done and keep you on track (which is actually a good thing), but you have a host of distractions that you wouldn’t deal with in an office space.
Whether it’s your children, a pet, having your TV so handy, or your bed just being in the next room (and naps are always tempting), there are plenty of elements that seem like they exist to ensure you don’t get any work done.
In order to resist these temptations, you have to be mentally resilient. But you also need a dedicated office in your home, where the only thing you do is work.
When you design your office, you need to approach it with one key aspect in mind: productivity.
Whatever colors, fabrics, textures, and other design elements you choose, they need to make you feel comfortable, focused, and energized, so that you can produce your best work.
This will be different from person to person, but there are certain items that you should definitely include in your office.
The following can help you achieve the high degree of efficiency you’ve got to have when working from home.
1. A Comfortable Office Chair
No matter the setting, when it comes to work, you’ve got to be physically comfortable, or you’ll be focused more on the pain in your lower back, than you are the work that’s in front of you.
This starts with your office chair – where you’ll be spending 90% of your time anyway.
There are plenty of options out there for high-quality chairs that look great, and don’t cost an arm and a leg. Try out different styles until you find one that suits you best.
Keep in mind – you want a chair that’s durable so it supports your weight well, as well as the constant strain of you getting up and sitting back down, and offers great lumbar stability. You can also try floor chairs.
The same is true of the material – leather may look sleek and elegant, but if all it does is rough up your skin, it’s the wrong choice for you.
2. A High-Quality Area Rug
This may not seem obvious at first, but to get the most out of your office space, you need a quality area rug for a variety of different reasons.
First and foremost, an area rug will help to increase the comfort on your feet. You’ve got the benefit of being able to work without shoes on, if you choose. And again, the more comfortable you are, the more productive you’ll be.
Second, an area rug will help to protect your floor, which is actually critical for your state of mind also.
When you see scuffs and damage in your space, it implies a lack of caring, which will nag at you until the issue is resolved. This is just another distraction that you don’t need.
Finally, certain colors and patterns foster energy and action, and the design of a rug can achieve that for you, without being distracting.
Go with brighter but subdued colors, with simple, elegant patterns that inspire, but don’t dominate.
3. A Loveseat or Sofa
It may sound contradictory, but you need a space in your office to break the routine of sitting in an office chair all day. It’s better for your body, and can actually help you maintain your mental focus.
A loveseat or sofa is the perfect piece to allow you to stretch out or lounge while you review a document, do some research, where you need to focus, but aren’t strenuous.
That way, you get a break, your back gets some movement, and you remain productive throughout the day.