5 Tips for Working Remotely

If 2020 taught us nothing else, it showed us how many of our jobs can translate to remote work. And, according to studies from companies like Deloitte, working from home isn’t going to change any time soon. Even after the pandemic, companies are expected to keep some form of remote work in place because it’s more efficient, cost effective, and productive. So that means having a dedicated home office is even more important than ever. Here are 5 home office design tips that will make you enjoy working from home more than ever before!

1. Inspire with Design

Having a dedicated workspace is key, and you want it to also be designed to inspire you and keep you motivated through the work week. The best way to do that is with the right colors, art, mementos, and accessories that will create a room that showcases your personality and makes you happy. You’ll be more likely to enjoy “going to work” when your workplace is gorgeous and suits your style. And it’s really important to have a fabulous backdrop for all of those Zoom calls, too. Nothing supports your style and professionalism more than a well-designed room that your coworkers and clients will appreciate.

2. Remember Ergonomics

A gorgeous space makes work so much more fun, but the fun stops if your desk chair is uncomfortable or if your desk doesn’t give you enough space to work. And of course you need plenty of task lighting and even ring lights for online meetings. Carefully consider the number of hours you’re going to be working in that one spot and be sure that everything is set up to support you and keep things comfortable.

3. Move It

While it’s important to keep your productivity humming, that doesn’t mean you should be glued to your desk chair for 8 straight hours – that isn’t good for anyone’s health. We like to add secondary chairs and guest chairs in a home office. They give you a great place for people to sit when they’re able to visit your office, but they also give you another perch to work from. You may want to move to another chair to read over paperwork or to check your emails. Or you may be the kind of person who thinks well on their feet and needs space to pace. And don’t forget other creative prompts that will keep your brain moving, too! In the office we designed above, we included our client’s guitar to give him a great way to inspire his thought processes while he strums.

4. A Need for Speed

This may not be a design detail, but the one thing that will drive you craziest is not having enough bandwidth, especially when you have kids trying to take remote classes and another spouse or partner working from home, too. Any investment you can make in high-speed or fiber optic internet will pay off in the long run. And while we’re talking tech, you can also consider outlets with USB ports, air purifiers, remote monitors for laptops, Sonos speakers, and high-speed chargers. Those will all add to your work-from-home satisfaction rating!

5. Plenty of Storage

Last, but definitely not least, is the idea to include plenty of storage in your home office. Clutter has been shown to be a top distraction for people who work from home, so you want to be sure you can hide away all of those papers, books, and files when they aren’t needed. The Pulp team likes to include built-in shelves and drawers, as well as credenzas and chests that can also store printers, scanners, office supplies and more.

Need help designing an inspiring home office? Give our team a call!