ENHANCE YOUR HOME OFFICE

**Transforming the environment you work in to be a place you actually want to be is a great way to create a safe place for your mind to focus and to increase your productivity.**

The importance of place is critical within our daily life. Our built environment plays a vital role in defining our creativity, mood, and productivity. Transforming the environment you work in to be a place you actually want to be is a great way to create a safe place for your mind to focus and to increase your productivity. The importance of a positive atmosphere will change your life, and as someone in their mid-twenties I find ways to design a desirable space on a budget. Let’s dive into how you can enhance your home office with these 5 tips!

1. Focus on Natural Daylight & Accent Lighting

Natural daylight has a plethora of benefits within an interior space. Increased natural light can boost vitamin D creating a good mood, offering a connection to the outdoors, increasing productivity, and creating a welcoming atmosphere. My recommendation is to always have your desk close to or facing a window to reap the best benefits of natural light. Your office’s orientation to the sun is crucial in the amount of daylight you get. Some things to keep in mind in terms of sun orientation & daylight:

- If your office window faces East, you’ll have lots of early morning sun

- If your office window faces West, you’ll have lots of afternoon sun

- If you face north, you get indirect light all day which is optimal for solar gain

- If you face south, depending on the season, you’ll get direct sun around noon and indirect daylight the rest of the day

It’s important to be mindful of the orientation because you don’t want glare. See my sketch floor plan of how I laid out my office and see if this helps guide you!

For an added benefit, providing mirrors within an interior space provides the reflection of light creating an even brighter space. However, I would avoid placing a mirror in the direct line of sight of the sun to avoid glare.

Ambient lighting is my favorite way to add warmth and a "homey" vibe to a space. Overhead lighting, although sometimes crucial, is extremely harsh & creates a cold atmosphere. Accent, task, and ambient lighting are excellent additions to a room to create an environment that feels comfortable to be in. For me, this included an accent lamp. I prefer a warm or soft white color temperature within an office space because it provides the perfect warm atmosphere while encouraging productivity.

2. Add Personality Through Decor

An office is a place of focus, so you don’t want too much clutter that you aren’t able to focus but you want enough so that your personality shows. I’m a huge believer in getting the best bang for your buck when it comes to creating an interior space. Yes, you could opt for luxury brands for furniture & organization methods; however, I find an amazing amount of home, organization & design items at off-price department stores for way less the price at the same quality. Of course, I love a good DIY, but some items aren’t worth the hassle to make and are best to buy. Some of my favorite go-to office items are:

- Books

- Candles & Incense

- Lamps

- Faux Plants

- Shelves & Bookcases

- Storage Items

- Frames & Mirrors

- And the list goes on!

My favorite Go To off-price Department Stores are:

- Marshalls

- Homegoods

- Hobby Lobby

- Ross

3. Opt for Organization

Are you a minimalist or maximalist? Do you enjoy a nice and tidy workspace, or do you enjoy the clutter? If you’re like me & enjoy an office with just the right amount of stuff, then allow me to guide you in terms of organization.

My favorite go-to for organizational furniture is to look at local places like Facebook marketplace or thrift stores to see what can be repurposed. Items like bookshelves, storage bins, shelves, & baskets are my favorite items to add to an office space. My recommendation is to have a variety of finishes, so there is personality within the room. For example, since my desk was oak, I opted for a black storage organizer with rattan storage bins.

4. Add Plants to Enhance the Vibe

The addition of plants is a great way to enhance an interior space. Plants, real or faux, not only add color, but they bring life into a room. If you opt for real plants, make sure you research the amount of daylight & water they need to thrive. From my experience, I’ve found snake plants, philodendrons, ZZ plants, and succulents to thrive in an indoor environment which require low maintenance care. Enhance the office space with plants strategically in terms of plant variety and size. For extra contrast, I love a beautiful vase that brings warmth into the room.

5. Go for Light Colors & Warm Tones

Light colors & warm tones provide the perfect combination to create a comfortable & inviting interior space. In your office, you want your mind to feel at ease, productive & ready to conquer your everyday tasks. In a calm, collected, & warm environment you’ll feel focused & ready to go! These are some of the tones I used within my office, use this as a guide to kick start your journey!