How to Create an Affordable Custom Home Office

2020 is finally over and it’s been a trying year for most people used to working in an office environment. However, with the uncertainties of social distancing, the average employee who typically works out of an office now has the option to work from home. That being the new norm, it makes sense to create a home office space that increases productivity and organization. Here are some tips and home office ideas to make that transition a lot easier and more comfortable. These tips are great for small or large home office setups.

Step 1: Location, Location, Location

First, find an ideal space free from distractions, meaning skip the kitchen table, living room, dining room and bedroom. If you live in a small apartment think about sectioning off a part of the room with a divider or a shoji screen. Your initial home office design and location will go a long way towards creating the perfect home office environment.

Step 2: Painting 

Let’s start off with paint; a nice light blue is ideal for giving a calming effect (we can all use a little less stress in our lives). If you’re working in a space with wall cabinets or planning to install cabinets, a designer friend of mine suggested going for a sleek glossy reflective sheen that gives the semblance of a larger space. For home office decor ideas, try looking at Pinterest office space photos for some inspiration. For information about our painting services, check out our professional painting services page.

Step 3: Organization

Skip the bulky file cabinets, today it’s more sensible to store files on the cloud or in separate drives. That will give you more working space and free up paper clutter. Regarding organization, not everything can fit on the cloud so think of building wall shelves that can hold books, important files, and office supplies. Be sure to do some research on best printers for home offices and treat yourself to a nice, large monitor for your laptop or desktop. 

Step 4: Office TVs

Depending on your business it might make sense to install a wall mounted TV to get up to date news and financial information. A little background music also helps to keep you from getting bored and makes the day more enjoyable.

Step 5: Home Office Desks

A popular popup desk today gives you the option of working standing or sitting down, this is ideal for getting out of your chair which keeps you from being sedimentary in one sitting position during a full workday. You may also want to update your chair with something that has sufficient lumbar support.

Step 6: Home Office Lighting

Finally, getting some natural light from a window dressed up with a few plants will make your office less of a sterile environment. Look into desk lamps and free standing lamps to brighten up darker rooms and of course, to make zoom meetings well lit.

Step 7: Finishing Touches

Finally, you may want to look into home office deductions. Putting all these tips together can help you create a productive an affordable custom home office. But remember, definitely use your own good judgment to make your space your own.

If you need any help getting your custom home office set up or would like personalized recommendations, feel free to call or text me at 848-667-1400 or fill out our free estimate form to get a free quote. You can also contact us via our contact form with any inquiries, big or small. Happy New Year and speak to you soon!

Till next month,

Marshall Gemal, Owner of Garden State Renovations