Whether you are seeking a remote position, starting your own business, or have the option to work out of your home—it’s important to set up your home office to work for you. Functionality and organization is key to productivity. With planning and research, you can create the perfect office that you’ll never want to leave! Use these go-to home office tips to set up your perfect space.

Establishing Needs
Your home office will need to be tailored to your specific needs. Your first step is to make a list of what you need and want in your work space. If you have a current workspace, start making a list of what you use daily. Consider things such as:  

• Storage and organization
• Desk size and filing cabinets
• Lighting
• Supplies and materials
• Equipment (computer, keyboards, scanner, etc.)
• Furniture
• Décor

As you go about your day, write down everything you use, how often you use it, and areas you think you can improve. Now is the perfect time to assess your current situation and find better solutions for a more functional space.

Discover Your Style for Design and Layout
A great benefit of creating your own space is being able to customize it to exactly the way you want. Think about what colors you’d like, how the layout would be most functional, what furniture to incorporate, art to hang on the walls, and more. Pictures of friends, family, or special events can be design highlights that help provide encouragement during the work day. Be sure to choose colors that will help you maintain focus and choose pieces that create a calming environment. Natural woods are great for bringing warmth and comfort into an office space.

Ergonomic Features
Ergonomic furniture can be extremely important in your work space, as is not just for comfort but can prevent injuries due to improper posture. So, what exactly is ergonomics? Ergonomics is a method of arranging a work space that complements an individual’s needs. It includes seating that encourages proper posture, which may be complemented with foot rests. It also ensures your arms are at the appropriate length while working on a computer, your monitor being an arm’s length away to avoid added eye strain, and keyboards and a mouse that keep your hands at an appropriate distance while you type. There are other ergonomic features you might incorporate as well, such as standing desks to help avoid sitting for extended periods of time.

Organization and Storage
One of the top priorities you should set during your home office renovation is to ensure your storage and organization needs are met. Today, there are many types of versatile storage furniture allowing you to choose unique statement pieces, instead of standard metal filing cabinets. Proper organization can be essential in improving productivity in the workplace, and customized options can be made to suit your specific needs.

The newest development in office organization is to switch to electronic methods of storing and retrieving data. You can take advantage of services such as Google Drive or Dropbox to share files with clients, or to keep online documents secure. For paper you need to store, make sure to use file folders with labels, categorized in an order that makes most sense to you. Keep items you review or file frequently within quick reach.

Hardwood Floors
Another quality addition you can incorporate into your home office renovation is to add hardwood flooring. It’s sleek and professional, yet warm and inviting. You can add in personality by adding rugs into the space. Hardwood has longevity, whereas carpet does not, and is especially helpful if you will have clients coming into your office space. Hardwood floors are easy to care for, meaning that after a stressful week at work you do not have to worry as much about cleaning and can spend your weekend relaxing instead. 

When it comes to hardwood flooring and design for your home office renovation, Ward Hardwood Flooring has you covered. As your quality hardwood specialist, we will add warmth and charm to your space, making it relaxing and professional. Give us a call today to discuss how we can help in your office space, we are available Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., and our specialists will help you to create a customized workspace that you will cherish daily.