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Tips to create the perfect 'work from home' space

[Archive Image]
[Archive Image]

Millions of us are now spending some, if not all, of our time working from home. And one of the joys of working in your own space is that you're the boss when it comes to design and ambience – so you can escape dull desks and bland decor and kit out your own personalised sanctuary to suit your taste. Here we offer some home office décor inspiration to help you create the perfect set-up…

Banish the bedroom

It’s tempting to start working from the comfiest spot in the house – your bed! But this possibly isn’t the healthiest idea.

Conventional commuting marks a clear divide between work and home, and it’s important for both your lifestyle and sanity that the distinction in some way continues. Not everyone has a choice of course, but if it’s remotely possible, do not work where you sleep.

Work with the light

Put your desk in front of a window; plenty of natural light is the holy grail, as it's known to significantly help increase energy, creativity and productivity.

Wood or faux wood Venetian blinds are perfect for home office windows as they filter light, which will minimise glare on a computer screen and the slats can be adjusted to control light levels when the sun moves round during the day.

Make an eco desk choice

Make your office more eco-friendly with a desk made from reclaimed scaffolding boards and simple trestle legs. Scaffolding boards can be picked up cheaply from a salvage yard, and the beauty of doing this is that you can design your desk according to your space and needs. Make sure there's room for a task light and desk accessories.

Get crafty with accessories

It needn't cost the earth to decorate your office. Charity shops and car-boot sales are perfect hunting grounds for quirky, vintage pieces, or you could indulge in some DIY creativity. Cover plain cardboard box files with wallpaper or fabric for a fabulous bespoke look.

A pin-board, made from a wooden picture frame, foam and fabric, is a great way to display photos, to-do lists or other information you want to see at a glance.

Bring nature into your space

It's been proven that plants in the workplace can reduce stress levels and increase productivity. Aside from these health benefits, plants are a cheap and cheerful way to add decoration and bring the outdoors in.

Invest in a great chair

As tempting as it sounds, dragging a chair from the dining room or a stool from the kitchen is a false economy. An ergonomically designed chair may not give you the designer feel you had in mind - but your back will thank you for it! You can always pretty it up with a cosy sheepskin or throw.

Optimise your setup

However, even the best chair in the world won’t save your spine if your tech isn’t set up properly. Remember that the top of your computer screen should be roughly level with your eye-line. If your desk is too short, or your screen too small, use a box or stack of books to lift your machine to the right height, and use a separate keyboard for a laptop so you’re not gazing downwards all day.

Every home worker runs the risk of claustrophobia, so retaining a little floor space to pace or stretch could be godsend by the end of a long week. Finally, the one thing your office is useless without – connectivity. If there are any known WiFi blind spots in your home, avoid them like the plague.