The rise of remote work has revolutionized how we think about our jobs and our workspaces. With more companies embracing the flexibility of remote work, the demand for a dedicated home office has surged. However, transitioning from a traditional office environment to working in the comfort of your home presents unique challenges.
One notable downside is the tendency to feel too comfortable, almost as if you’re not really at work, which can impact productivity and motivation.
Creating a custom home office that achieves the perfect balance between comfort and professionalism is crucial. It’s about designing a space that not only feels inviting and cozy but also promotes focus and efficiency. A well-designed home office should be a place where you can concentrate on tasks without the distractions typical of informal home settings.
In this blog post, we’ll explore how you can achieve this balance and ensure your home office promotes both creativity and productivity.
Custom Home Office Location
When creating a home office, the first step is choosing the right location.
You need to choose a room that provides privacy, which is especially critical if you share your home with children or pets. A space that minimizes interruptions and external noise will help you maintain focus and professionalism during work hours, particularly during virtual meetings and deep work sessions.
The best location for a custom home office is typically a separate room that can be dedicated solely to work-related activities. If possible, choose a room with a door that can be closed, providing a physical barrier that signifies the separation of work from home life. This can help you mentally transition into work mode and provide a boundary for family members, signaling that you should not be disturbed.
If you don’t have a separate room, choose a less frequented area during working hours. This could be a guest room, a loft area, or even a well-insulated corner of your basement. The key is finding a space where you can set up a permanent workstation that remains undisturbed when you’re off the clock.
Good Locations:
- Separate room with door
- Low-traffic areas
Bad Locations:
- Kitchen, living room, and other high-traffic areas
Home Office Lighting
Lighting can influence productivity and energy levels throughout the day.
Natural light is the best option for a home office, as it not only brightens your workspace but also offers health benefits, like boosting serotonin in the brain and improving sleep. If possible, position your desk near a window to maximize exposure to natural light. However, be mindful of direct sunlight that can cause glare and potential sunburns. Translucent window coverings can help diffuse light more evenly.
When natural light isn’t available, especially in winter, supplement with artificial lighting. A combination of ambient lighting (overhead) and task lighting (such as a desk lamp) works best.
Avoid overly harsh fluorescent lights, as they can cause glare and are not conducive to prolonged work. Instead, opt for LED lights that mimic natural light and can be adjusted in intensity and color temperature.
Additionally, color temperature can either boost your alertness or help you wind down. When choosing LED lights for your custom home office, you’ll want cool white or daylight, which is 4000 to 6500K.
The 4000-5000K range is a cooler, neutral white light that mimics daylight during the morning and afternoon, which helps reduce eye strain and keeps you focused and energized. The 5000 to 6500K range is closer to direct noon daylight and overcast skies, which is bluer. The blue-enriched light could help reduce fatigue and boost alertness, mood, and performance, which is especially important when you need to combat afternoon/post-lunch slumps.
Good Lighting:
- Natural light
- Ambient LED lighting (4000-6500K)
- LED task lighting (4000-6500K)
Bad Lighting:
- Fluorescent lights
Temperature
Temperature also significantly impacts productivity. A room that is too hot or cold can distract you from work by causing discomfort. Of course, this is subjective and based on preferences. However, many people find that 70 and 75 degrees Fahrenheit is an ideal temperature range for work.
Avoid placing your desk directly next to heat sources or air conditioning units, as these can create uncomfortable hot or cold spots. If you can’t control the temperature in your home effectively, consider using a portable heater or fan to maintain a comfortable temperature in your home office.
Custom Home Office Storage
Clutter can be a major distraction and, at times, a stress trigger.
Designing a custom home office with ample and smart storage options ensures everything, from documents to office supplies, has its place.
When designing your storage spaces:
- Assess Your Needs: Take stock of what items you need daily, occasionally, and rarely. This assessment will help you create a storage system that keeps frequently used items within easy reach while keeping less essential items out of the way.
- Use Vertical Space: Often underused, vertical space can be your greatest ally. Install shelves above your desk for books, binders, and less frequently used supplies. Tall bookcases or custom shelving can also maximize the storage capacity of your office without taking up too much floor space.
- Choose Modular Storage: Modular solutions, such as stackable bins and adjustable shelving, can be customized to fit your specific needs, allowing you to rearrange components based on current projects or workload.
- Incorporate Closed Storage: While open shelving can be great, closed storage options like cabinets and drawers can help reduce visual clutter. They are perfect spots for storing paperwork, electronic devices that aren’t always in use, and office supplies that don’t need to be on display.
- Opt for Multi-Functional Furniture: Consider furniture that can serve multiple purposes. A desk with built-in drawers or a credenza can provide a work surface and substantial storage space. This keeps your most needed items handy without additional furniture cluttering the space.
- Label Everything: Labeling drawers, bins, and shelves helps maintain organization because you always know where everything is and where it should go. This is particularly useful in maintaining long-term storage solutions where items might not be used often.
Furniture, Equipment, & Technology
Like everything else mentioned in this article, your choice of furniture and equipment will also impact your mood, productivity, and general well-being.
In a home office, your three most important items will be your office chair, desk, and working device.
When selecting a chair, invest in one that supports your back with adjustable features such as lumbar support, armrests, and height adjustment to suit your body size and desk height. An adjustable standing desk can also help reduce physical strain by allowing you to alternate between sitting and standing throughout the day. Avoid non-adjustable chairs or dining chairs that don’t offer support and large, bulky desks that take up unnecessary space or don’t offer efficient storage.
Choose a reliable computer with sufficient processing power and speed for your working device. An old or outdated computer will only cause you problems down the road. High-speed Internet is also non-negotiable for remote work, so be sure your home’s Wi-Fi router is in or very close to your office. The further you are from your router, the weaker the signal strength. Keep in mind that other household devices, like microwaves, Bluetooth devices, and baby monitors, can also interfere with Wi-Fi signals.
Other important items you need in your office are:
- A high-resolution monitor that reduces eye strain. If you frequently have multiple windows open, you’ll want to do a two-monitor or Ultrawide monitor setup.
- Noise-canceling headphones, which are especially important when you can’t control the noise level of your environment.
- A comfortable keyboard and mouse.
General Home Office Aesthetics
Lastly, the colors, decorations, and general layout of your office can either make or break your office.
Let’s talk about color first. For custom home offices, we recommend either blue, green, yellow, or gray. Blue is known for its calming effects, but can also help with focus and productivity, especially in high-intensity jobs. Green is easy on the eyes, reduces anxiety, and is great for people who spend long hours at their desks. Yellow, while vibrant, can stimulate creativity and energy, making it an excellent choice for creative professionals, while neutral tones like gray are soothing and non-distracting, making it great for thought-intensive work. Avoid overly vibrant colors unless used as accents rather than primary color schemes because they can be distracting.
Next is the layout; you’ll want to arrange your office so there is a clear distinction between working space and personal space, especially if you don’t have a dedicated room for your office. Also, think about how you move around in your office and place furniture in a way that supports natural flow. You don’t want to have to constantly move around obstacles. You could also split your work area into different zones for different tasks, like one area for computer tasks and another for taking calls or virtual meetings if your job requires switching between tasks. Additionally, if part of your job involves consulting or frequently having guests, set up a small meeting area with additional seating that is clearly separate from your main workspace.
Then, you’ll want to incorporate some decorations. Keep your decorations minimal—we recommend plants and a few personal items, like a few photos, or multi-functional, aesthetically appealing desk items like a pen/pencil holder. The goal is to minimize distractions—while personal items can make a space feel comforting, too many can become distracting. Additionally, if you like to decorate your space with art, go for a few small pieces versus one large, bold piece, as it can dominate your space.
How Cherry Creek Building Can Help You
Designing the right space takes time and patience. If you have ideas but need help executing them, turn to our experts at Cherry Creek Building. We specialize in constructing new ranch, colonial, and split-level-style homes. Our designer can not only help you build a custom home office that encourages productivity but also create other spaces in your home that meet your lifestyle needs. Our team can even help you find the best location for your home office based on your chosen model’s floor plan.
Contact us today to learn more about how we can help you build the best space for you and your family.