Making your home office work for you 

Homeworking has moved on from sitting at the kitchen table in a rickety old chair. At least 44% of the UK's higher-earning workforce now works from home at least some of the time, so there's never been a better time to invest in the space and make it your own. The correct home office design and set-up will make your working days more productive and comfortable. Here are some ways to give your home office a little love.

Paint in productive colours

There's a reason we associate colours with emotions, and that's because they really do influence our moods. For example, red has connotations of love or anger and yellow of happiness and joy. This is why choosing the paint colour in your home office is an important decision, especially because it's a space where you'll need to be focused.

When choosing your home office paint colour, consider how you want to feel in the space and choose colours that promote those feelings. Earth tones are a great way to create a relaxing space. Blue also has a calming influence and may be suitable if you work in a high-pressure industry.

However, paint colours to avoid in your home office are hyper-stimulating colours such as orange or fluorescent pink, as these may be too distracting or overpowering.

Don't forget to consider your office's size and layout too, because factors such as limited natural light or small dimensions may negatively impact your colour choice.

Make it multi-functional

Not everyone has the luxury of a designated workspace in their home. Often, spare bedrooms or kitchens double up as a home office, so make sure that the design works for both functions.

Strategic furniture will be the best way to make your home office as versatile as possible. For example, a desk that can fold away when guests are visiting or tidy storage to prevent your work files from becoming an eyesore. Our fitted home office furniture has built-in storage and can be tailored to your dimensions, whether that's an alcove or a dedicated room, to help you get smart with the space.

Furniture that doubles up, such as a sofa bed, is perfect for dual spaces, too. It allows you to alter its purpose depending on your needs. Ottomans add a level of sophistication to a room, but can also be used to store work-related items or bedding, depending on how you're using the space.

And lastly, decorate with artwork! Paintings and pictures add reassuring character to a room, changing your home office from a clinical, boring area to a warm, cosy part of the home.

Invest in an ergonomic chair

This may be a slightly boring part of picking out home office furniture, but it's probably the most important. A proper chair with back support is essential for any desk worker – home or otherwise! It'll ensure your working days are comfortable and take care of your physical health.

An ergonomic chair should:

·        Offer back support.

·        Allow you to position it so the computer screen is at eye level.

·        Let you adjust its height so your wrists sit comfortably on the desk.

Prioritise the lighting 

Having natural light in your home office is a huge benefit. The summer sun seeping through the windows does wonders for your mood. If you can place your desk in front of the window, that's even better, as it can boost your energy levels.

However, not everyone has that luxury, in which case, there are other steps you can take. Avoid a big, overpowering light and instead go for layered lighting via small lamps and feature lighting. This will help with the multi-functionality that we spoke of earlier and will be less distracting than a room-dominating main light.

Your home office, your way with Hammonds

Your home office doesn't have to be boring. It's where you'll spend a lot of time, so it deserves a little TLC. These small tips can have a huge impact when done right, and soon everyone on your video calls will be complimenting your set-up!

Need help with your home office design? Arrange a free design visit and receive expert recommendations for the best furniture for your home office.