
A resource for those seeking information on organizing and transforming spaces.
How to Stage a Home Office for Client Meetings
Since more and more people have learned the pros of working remotely, home-based businesses are having a moment. If the chance to run a company completely on your own terms and in your own space excites you, then it might just be your next big career move. Make sure you do it right by creating the perfect home office.
Since more and more people have learned the pros of working remotely, home-based businesses are having a moment. If the chance to run a company completely on your own terms and in your own space excites you, then it might just be your next big career move. Make sure you do it right by creating the perfect home office.
Although having a dedicated workspace is important for at-home productivity, this is also an important step to consider if you plan to work with clients over video chat or, once it’s safe, in person. Your home office needs to give the best impression. House to Home Organizing is proud to offer services that can help, as well as this primer on how to create a home office that sends the right message.
Get Your To-Dos In Order
Before you can get to the work of making your business look great, you need to make sure it has a strong foundation. The most spectacular office is nothing if there isn’t a solid business to back it up. That’s why it’s important to start by knocking out the basic to-dos of establishing your company, such as forming an LLC or creating your mission statement.
These tasks don’t just give your business a strong start, but they should also inform how your office is decorated. After all, any part of your business that clients see should be a part of your overall brand. Keep that in mind as you start creating your company, and try to think about how you can manage brand consistency in your workspace and beyond.
Start Strong with Organizational Advice
Messy offices give clients the impression that you’re unable to keep up with your tasks, so make sure your space stays neat and organized. The best way to do that is to establish a strong organizational system from the very start. Professional organizers can help you get rid of clutter and develop habits that keep your space functional and looking great.
If you’ve already gotten started, it’s not too late to start building strong organizational habits. That said, it may be a little tricky to bust up the old habits and stick with the new. Go easy on yourself, and remember to focus on consistency. Once again, having a pro on your side during this process can help you come up with an effective plan to get your workspace back on track.
Decorate for Productivity
An office that customers see needs to look nice, so put some thought into your decorative process. Focus on decorative features that will boost your productivity while also ensuring clients feel welcome. Avoid highly personalized or unique items unless you’re interested in having a conversation about them, and make sure any humorous decor remains professional. It’s also important to give particular thought to the wall behind your computer, as this will be what people see on video calls.
There are a few simple decorative features you can use in your office to help you feel more energized and productive during the day. For example, you can use decorative mirrors to boost the amount of light in your room. Decorating with plants is another great move, as this can help reduce stress and improve air quality. Finally, invest in an ergonomic chair and desk set up so you can avoid developing aches or pains throughout the day.
When starting a home-based business, the way you set up your workspace can go a long way toward boosting your odds for success. Focus on creating an office that looks great - in person or online - and that helps you stay productive throughout the day. The right office can help you build the career you’ve been dreaming of.
Need a hand getting your home-based business organized? Contact us today to start your decluttering journey!
How to Set up a Remote Office at Home
Considering the recent trend of remote works, flexible timing for the employees is on the rise. Setting up a remote office at home is not just about establishing a cubicle or arranging a floor to window cabinet at any corner. For some, working from home means constant distraction, dealing with temptation and moods while handling the pressure of daily life. Office setup at home can be made easier and unique when you are thinking in a different way.
Considering the recent trend of remote works, flexible timing for the employees is on the rise. Setting up a remote office at home is not just about establishing a cubicle or arranging a floor to window cabinet at any corner. For some, working from home means constant distraction, dealing with temptation and moods while handling the pressure of daily life. Office setup at home can be made easier and unique when you are thinking in a different way.
Choose the right setup
You must know about the basics when setting up a home office in your room. These are:
Ergonomically designed chairs and desks
Desktop monitor holder
Tablet holder
Cable guide and cable tray
Strong WiFi connection
Calendar setup
Artwork, inspiring elements, etc.
Making the right adjustment according to the existing setup can be a bit challenging. In such cases, you can switch to some smart setups like Monitor arms, CPU holders, and others. These unique add-ons make the office-home space ergonomically befitting and keep it organized.
Natural lighting
There are different types of devices and fancy lamps available in the market to deal with cross-eyed and bleary feelings while working. However, it is also important to prioritize the allowance of natural lighting. Even if the room space is limited, find any source that allows natural light. Natural lighting is inspirational for the employees who are working from home. Having natural lighting also saves your electric bill to some extent,
Height-adjustable tables
It is known and quite devastating when it comes to the health consequences that arise from seating for a prolonged time when working. Height-adjustable tables allow you to work at any sitting posture. Some tables even match the height that is suitable for a person when standing. Make sure to get the best or matching tablet floor stand if you love working while standing. The most important thing is, the height of the table can be adjusted as per the requirement.
Establish your home-office that enables clear communication
Communication is very important when working from home. Naturally, there is an added layer of complexity when other employees are not sitting beside and working with you. Make sure to choose an area that allows setting up clear communication with the clients or other employees in a company. Setting up a strong WiFi connection is pivotal for home-offices if you want to work seamlessly.
Comfy chair
Like height-adjustable tables, comfortable chairs in a home-office are also an important consideration. To suit the remote lifestyle, it is suggested to bring in comfortable chairs that suit the ergonomic style of other furniture pieces. Comfortable chairs with their cushiony surfaces are tempting and make the room aesthetically beautiful.
The state of modern work allows us to introduce ample options of furniture and additions that make the space look smart as well as welcoming. Remote offices are common these days, especially when the world has been passing through a challenging time. With the best office set up at home, you can keep yourself as productive as you were in the office.
How to Create a Home Office That Will Inspire Productivity
Working from home has many advantages. For one, workers save time, energy, and money since they don’t have to commute to and from work every day. Working parents also have more time to spend with their children now than ever before. Theoretically, working from home gives employees more personal time to do whatever they want to do, be it starting a new hobby, catching up on their favorite shows, or working toward their fitness goals. Unfortunately, that isn’t always the case.
Working from home has many advantages. For one, workers save time, energy, and money since they don’t have to commute to and from work every day. Working parents also have more time to spend with their children now than ever before. Theoretically, working from home gives employees more personal time to do whatever they want to do, be it starting a new hobby, catching up on their favorite shows, or working toward their fitness goals. Unfortunately, that isn’t always the case.
For people who are new to remote working, it can be a huge challenge to adapt to this different work setup. Moreover, working from home has its own set of drawbacks that need to be remedied before workers can return to their usual levels of productivity. If you’re struggling to stay productive while working from home, a conducive working environment may help improve your focus and efficiency.
Below are five tips to create a home office that encourages productivity.
Designate a Dedicated Working Space
Find a place in your home to designate as your workspace. Whether it’s a portion of your kitchen table or a room in your house, you should have an area where you can work comfortably, without any distractions. Designating a dedicated workspace helps you create a boundary between office hours and personal time. When you’re in your home office, you only have to focus on work and nothing else. Having a dedicated workspace at home also allows you more privacy, boosts concentration, and gives the psychological effect of working in the office.
Get Your Work Tools Set Up
You can’t work efficiently if you don’t have your complete set of work tools at hand. If you’re forced to work from home because of the current pandemic, ask your manager if you can take your work tools home. This way, you have everything you need to get the job done. For those who are unable to bring their tools from the office, the most important equipment you need to have is a quality computer with a stable internet connection.
Organize Your Desk
An organized desk or workstation encourages focus and peace of mind. That said, make sure to keep anything that may distract you away from your desk. These include nonwork-related gadgets and items, such as game consoles, televisions, and entertainment sets. Most importantly, organize your work tools neatly and systematically. Keep cables and wires out of sight, and place your tools at arm’s length so you can access them without having to stand or make big movements.
Let Natural Light In
Aside from boosting vitamin D production, natural light offers many benefits to the mind and body. Exposure to natural light also helps you sleep better and longer, and everyone knows how important sleep is to one’s mental acuity and overall well-being. One study at Cornell University also found that exposure to natural light helps reduce issues, such as blurred vision, eyestrain, and headache. Therefore, pull up to those blinds or ditch those drapes, and let natural light into your home office.
Create an Ergonomic Workstation
If you’re going to be working from home for some time, you may as well invest in improving the ergonomics of your workstation. You can do the following improvements to make your workstation ergonomic:
Use an adjustable chair with lower back support.
Place your monitor and other displays at eye level.
Make sure your lighting does not cause glare to your computer screen.
Situate your keyboard and mouse in such a way that will help you maintain a neutral position.
Utilize ergonomic accessories, such as footrests, headsets, balance ball chairs, and wrist rests to help maintain a neutral position.
The Takeaway
Working from home can be tough, especially if you’ve never done it before. However, creating a conducive work environment at home can help reduce the challenges of this new work setup. From designating a dedicated working space to improving the ergonomics of your home office, these changes can make working from home much easier and help you stay focused and productive.
What are your personal tips to stay productive while working from home? Share them with us in the comments section below.
6 Ways to Make Your Home Office Look Professional
Whether you are new to freelancing or want to spruce your workspace, you can always have a professional-looking home office. And it does not take rocket science and thousands of dollars to do so.
In this post, we will share with you six tips on how you can make your home office look professio
Whether you are new to freelancing or want to spruce your workspace, you can always have a professional-looking home office. And it does not take rocket science and thousands of dollars to do so.
In this post, we will share with you six tips on how you can make your home office look professional.
Invest in a Functional Desk
The secret to a professional and productive home office is a functional desk.
To some, it could mean an office table, chair, and laptop. To some, it could mean a standing desk, swivel chair, and dual monitor. Regardless, the key here is to look for office furniture that allows you to house your work essentials.
However, you should also consider ergonomics. This means ensuring that your office table and chair will fit your space.
Another thing to look at is whether your essentials are giving you comfort. Sure, working from home is like music to your ears, but you would not want to develop carpal tunnel syndrome in the long run.
Keep Your Essentials Close
Now that you have a suitable office table and chair, the next step is to determine and keep your essentials close. And these work essentials will differ depending on the nature of your work.
If you work as a virtual assistant, a laptop, stable internet connection, and noise-canceling headphones might be enough. But if you are a graphics designer, that would mean your large monitor and drawing tablet.
Nonetheless, only place items that are relevant to your work. Otherwise, unnecessary items will distract you from getting things done.
Install Proper Lighting
Another vital factor in a professional home office is to let natural light in.
According to a study conducted by Professor Alan Hedge, natural light can decrease these systems by 84%:
Headaches
Blurred vision
Eyestrain
Mind you, these symptoms can be counterproductive.
No windows in your home office? No problem! All you need is adequate lighting.
This is artificial light that is neither dim nor harsh. That's because dim lights force your eyes to work hard to see things clearly. This can lead to eyestrain, drowsiness, and lack of focus. On the other hand, harsh lights are believed to cause migraines.
That said, we recommend installing LED lights in a windowless home office. That's because LED lights are abundant in short-wavelength light that resembles daylight. Based on Brigham and Women's Hospital's research, short-wavelength (blue) light can help you perk up and be productive.
Sure, you have read somewhere that blue lights can make us active at night, hurting our sleep patterns. But that is debatable.
Nonetheless, we advise that you turn off your devices an hour before sleeping.
Have Indoor Plants
A 2014 study revealed that having indoor plants in the office can increase employee productivity to 15%. Hence, it would make sense to add even a small cactus plant near your desk if you want to stay motivated.
Here are other benefits of having indoor plants in your home office:
They are natural filters, helping improve the indoor air quality in your home office.
A pot of small plants can help reduce stress, ease tension, and decrease anxiety.
The introduction of plants reduces the risk of "sick building syndrome," although there is insufficient evidence to back it up yet.
Luckily, some plants thrive in a windowless room. Some of them do not even require tending. But if you are not fond of tending a plant, consider hanging a poster or painting of a lush garden.
Paint Your Wall an Inspiring Color
Whether you have a windowless home office or not, you should consider repainting your walls. And we suggest picking something inspiring.
Instead of staring into a blank, white wall, consider painting it in any shade of blue. It is soothing and can boost concentration.
Another option would be hues of green since it relaxes the eyes. This is ideal if your line of work makes you sit in front of the computer for eight hours.
But if you want something uplifting without being too loud, color your walls orange. It is a combination of red and yellow, which are ideal if you have a physically-demanding job and want your creative juices flowing.
Maintain Your Home's Office's Cleanliness
Of course, the home office will not look fancy and professional if it is messy. Hence, we always tell our clients at Maid Sailors Commercial Cleaning Service New York to keep their office clean.
Here are some quick cleaning tips you can do:
Wipe your desktop and office table clean before or after work.
Organize your work essentials.
Always declutter.
A professional-looking home office does not necessarily mean you should occupy a room. Nonetheless, it has to be inviting and should motivate you to be productive. And the tips listed above will enable you to achieve that.