8 Easy Steps To Create a Home Office 

We live in a very fortunate time where remote working is actually a reality. Once, just a few years ago, it was nothing more than a pipe dream for thousands of overworked staff across the UK. It’s only once you are in a remote working position that you realise making yourself comfortable and productive in a home office can actually be quite tricky.

 

In this blog, we will help you transform your spare room or an available corner in the living room into a comfortable home office in Lincolnshire. With our easy tips, storage solutions, and the use of self storage, there is no reason why you can’t make your home office a bastion of self-motivated productivity.

 

Why a Functional Home Office Matters

 

 

Creating a separate, clearly defined room in your home where you get work done is essential for a healthy work-life balance. This tightrope walk is one of the biggest struggles for most freelancers and hybrid workers, since technically, you never leave work when you work from home.

 

This is why taking the time and effort to create a distinct office space or work area in your home is essential for your mental health. But there are some equally valuable additional benefits including:

 

– A functional home office may make you eligible for government tax deductions. You can learn more about how to claim tax relief for your work-from-home expenses here.

– A home office will boost your productivity by helping you be more focused while on the clock.

– Enhance your professional appearance during video calls and virtual meetings with an uncluttered workspace behind you.

 

Step 1: Find the Perfect Location

 

Your home office space ideally needs to be located in a quiet, well-lit area. It also needs to have enough room for you to comfortably set up a desk. Many people just make use of an open corner in a room or even convert a closet or under-stairs spaces to accommodate a workstation.

 

At the end of the day, you are going to use the space you have available and try to make it work as best you can. There is, however, a secret weapon you can use to instantly make any space that much more capable of meeting your needs: self storage.

 

How Self Storage in Lincolnshire Helps You

 

Facilities like Louth Self Storage allow you to store furniture or home clutter in a secure and accessible space so that you can make more room in your home. Room enough, in fact, to easily fit a comfortable and professional home office setup. Using self storage to store furniture works out much, much cheaper than renting a commercial office space.

 

Self storage is also great for anyone in online retail. When clearing out a space for your home office, you can cut costs further by combining your personal storage with inventory storage.

 

If you are new to self storage and you could use some help figuring out just how much storage space it will take to clear space for your office, use our size guide.

 

Step 2: Choose Essential Furniture

 

In today’s age of online shopping, buying ergonomic and comfortable furniture for your home office can be a hit-or-miss affair. You are going to spend a lot of time at your home desk, so you need to invest the time to pick the right chair and desk.

 

Make the effort to go in-store to test out chairs, then you can make a note and see if you can find the chair for a more affordable price online. Remember that it’s best to balance style and function with your furnishings.

 

When you pick a desk, go for options that offer additional storage features, so that you can maximise your available space in your home office. Pick options that include ample drawer space, storage cubbies and spacious cabinets. Any extra room you can get, grab it!

 

Depending on your setup, a foldable or collapsable wall-mounted desk will allow you to use your office space for other purposes after hours.

 

Step 3: Optimise Lighting

 

Always prioritise natural light for your office. It’s better for your overall health and well-being, so try and position your work area near a window.

 

If you opt for artificial light, LED bulbs are great for your overall well-being and your pocket. A cool light (around 4000K to 5000K colour brightness). LED lights are cheaper to run (requiring up to 75% less energy than an incandescent bulb), last a long time and they offer flicker-free lighting.

 

There is a huge variety of LED light fixtures out there, including simple stick-on wall-mounted lights, to fixtures with adjustable necks for a custom lighting experience.

 

Step 4: Organise Smartly

 

 

 

To keep your home office space in optimal condition, you will need to consider how you will be keeping your space organised.

 

– Desk organisers keep your work surface clear of non-essential items and can be found at affordable prices online.

– Under desk storage cabinets or caddies provide extra room for documents, notes, or stationary and can easily be slipped under your workstation, out of the way.

– Using self storage will help you declutter aggressively, meaning less stress and worry spent on micro-managing your clutter.

 

Step 5: Add Personality and Comfort

 

Everyone’s idea of personality and comfort differs, so decorating your office space will come down to personal preference. Keep in mind that you want to avoid unnecessary clutter and ideally your decorations should inspire your creativity and motivate you to succeed.

 

A wall-mounted vision board or whiteboard is a perfect example of a multipurpose furnishing. They make the perfect brainstorming tool where you can jot down plans, ideas, or just a daily to-do list. It will also get you out from behind your PC to stretch your legs and get a new perspective on things.

 

Step 6: Secure Connectivity

 

Your internet connection is the lifeline to your work. You have to ensure that this remains stable. Have backup internet solutions in place to avoid any work disruptions.

 

Some solutions include:

 

– Use your phone as a Wi-Fi hotspot.

– Get a dedicated mobile router.

– Make use of public and shared networks, for example nearby co-working spaces or coffee shops with free Wi-Fi (just remember to use a VPN for security).

– Make use of cloud-based collaborative software and tools, like Google Drive and Microsoft Office that allow you to work offline during internet outages, and they simply sync up and update your work when the internet is back.

 

Step 7: Use Space Creatively

 

Use your limited space in the most productive ways possible.

 

– Utilise the vertical space in your office space by using wall-mounted shelves, or even pegboards that expand your storage space without taking up valuable floor space.

– Multipurpose furniture is a huge space saver. A bench with internal storage, for example, can serve as both a seat and a space to keep office accoutrement.

 

Step 8: Create a Comfortable Environment

 

 

Consider Ventilation

 

– Open a window to improve airflow.

– Use a fan for proper air circulation.

– An air purifier helps to keep your air fresh.

 

Control Noise, Control Distraction

 

Adding rugs or laying carpet in a room will absorb sounds and drastically reduce echo caused by tile floors. Noise-cancelling headphones are purpose-built to help you focus.

 

Set house rules for family or housemates, communicate with the people in your home and let them know there are periods when you would need quiet.

 

Maintain a Stable Neutral Temperature

 

– Use weatherstripping or even caulk to close gaps around your windows and doors which will prevent drafts.

– Thermal curtains help to reduce heat loss in winter and will help block heat during the summer.

 

Control Sun Exposure

 

– Blinds and shades help block sunlight while still allowing circulation.

– Window films help block UV light during the summer and help reduce heat loss in the winter.

 

Make Your Ideal Home Office Space With Louth Self Storage

 

 

Located in Manby Business Park, Louth Self Storage offers storage in Lincolnshire for a variety of purposes including furniture storage, business storage and personal storage.

 

Regardless of whether you need your home office for the short-term during an office move or refurbishment, or whether you have recently started a fully remote job and need to find a long-term storage solution, Louth Self Storage can help.

 

Contact us today and learn more about how we can give you the space you need for a comfortable and professional work from home experience.