
This year, our lifestyle saw some massive changes due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Arguably, the biggest one was the shift to remote work. Many people stopped going to their offices and started working from home. That worked out pretty well, and now a lot of companies are even thinking of making it permanent. Some of the global giants, including Google, Microsoft, Shopify, Amazon, and Facebook have already extended their work-from-home policies indefinitely. So, it appears, remote work is here to stay.
But working from home can be a challenge when one doesn’t have a comfortable home office. The ideal option is to have a separate room dedicated to work, but most people don’t have those. That’s why mixed-use areas in interiors are now hotter than ever. Using the space you have in a smart way, you can actually have a perfect home office without spending a fortune. You can see some amazing setup examples in this article. And to make it even more informative, we illustrated it with CG images created with 3D interior rendering technology.
Now, are you ready to create a perfect home office? We’ve rounded up the 5 best tips to help you do that.
#1. Figure Out Your Ideal Setup

First things first, you’ve got to make a list of everything you need to work productively. Don’t hesitate to invest in a good desk and a comfy chair — you don’t want to get back pains or ruin your posture. And if you’ve always wanted to buy a gaming chair, this is the right time to do it. Also, you should keep in mind that it’s best to have a lot of natural light in the place where you work. So, the most optimal location for your desk is next to a window.
As you’re figuring out the setup, remember that organizing a perfect workplace is not just about buying new stuff. To have more space and fewer distractions, you need to declutter first. For instance, do you have a printer or a pile of paper sitting on your desk collecting dust? If you haven’t used it for years, you probably never will. So, sell it, gift it, or just put it away so that it doesn’t take up valuable space.
#2. Find a Way to Separate Workspace from Rest Space

Most people who started working remotely during the pandemic experienced difficulty maintaining a healthy schedule. Naturally, when you spend a whole day at home without anyone watching, you get distracted a lot. It’s so easy to give in to procrastination and spend the day doing chores, chatting with friends online, playing with your pet, or binge-watching TV shows. And if you have kids, that’s a whole different level of distraction. That’s why it’s absolutely crucial to find a way to separate workspace from rest space.
Basically, it will help you imitate that office environment that you’re used to. This way, you’ll stay more focused when you’re at your workplace. One of the most popular ways of separating the working zone from the rest of the room is to install a partition made of lightweight material. It can be glass, wood, plaster, etc. The partition doesn’t have to form a solid wall because that can make the room seem smaller. So, another great idea here is to use an open shelf unit to divide the space into functional zones.
Most importantly, you need to get your bed out of sight. But that might be tricky since many people choose to set up their working areas in their bedrooms. So, if that’s your case, you must at least cover that bed so that it looks as uninviting as possible during the day. Overall, following those tips will ensure that your work time and pastime don’t blur. This way, you will actually work during the day and sleep during the night like you’re supposed to.
#3. Use the Right Colors


Some people work better when they’re surrounded by calming soft neutral colors like white, beige, and gray. Others prefer energizing bright colors like green and yellow in their home offices to stay productive. In any case, color is a very important thing to consider when planning a workplace at home.
You can start adding color to your dream office by making an accent wall. Using contrasting paint or printed wallpaper helps to add depth and character to the room. Another way to create the right atmosphere is to select some staple furniture pieces and decor items in your favorite colors. This way, you’ll feel focused and ready for work every time you step into your home office.
#4. Choose Smart Lighting

As we mentioned before, one should try to get as much natural light in their workspace as possible. However, most of us still work when it gets dark. Especially in the wintertime, when the sun goes down early in many parts of the world. Therefore, it’s important to carefully choose artificial lighting for a home office.
So, why is smart lighting the best option? Because it allows you to adjust the brightness and temperature of the light to every time of the day and every task you perform. For instance, it’s better to have a soft, warm light when you’re working on your computer. And for reading, you need a bright white light. If you mostly work at your desk, you don’t have to change all the lightbulbs in the room to smart ones. Just a smart desk lamp will be enough. You can use it to adjust the lighting so that your eyes don’t get too tired from spending hours looking at screens. Also, it’s a good idea to set a timer on the lamp to make sure you don’t stay up all night.
#5. Surround Yourself with the Things You Love

Designing your own home office is your opportunity to do what you’ve always wanted but couldn’t do in a regular office. You can finally get that scented candle, an aroma diffuser, a humidifier, or whatever you think will make a good addition to the place. Also, if you’re one of those people who are embarrassed to bring their collectibles to work, it’s your lucky moment. Then, you can put on your favorite music and your perfect home office will be complete!
Those were the 5 tips that will help you design the home office of your dreams. Staying productive while working remotely can be a challenge. So, it’s really worth it to spend some time and plan an optimal solution. Make sure that you have everything you need in your workspace, and that it has the right mood. If you’re not sure what you want exactly, you can always find inspiration on Pinterest or Instagram. Just relax and think about it as an opportunity to improve your work setting.