Create your perfect home office with these simple tips

As people across the country continue to work from home, the importance of creating a comfortable and productive home office has never been greater.

Say goodbye to makeshift workspaces on the sofa or taking work calls tucked away in a corner of the living room. Now is the time to establish a dedicated home office that inspires creativity and efficiency.

For those seeking inspiration, we've gathered some top tips to help you design a home office that not only meets your professional needs but also enhances your overall wellbeing.

Select the right space

First things first, you’ll need to decide which room you’ll transform into your home office. While garden room offices are increasing in popularity, you may opt to renovate a spare room, garage or create a cosy nook in your living room instead.

Try to choose a space with ample natural light and minimal distractions if you can.

Invest in a desk

Escape the productivity pitfalls of makeshift offices by creating a dedicated working environment. Spend a bit of time finding the right desk for you, whether you prefer a standing, folding, or traditional desk. Consider options with drawers to keep essentials like notebooks, paperwork, and your laptop neatly organised too.

If buying a new desk isn't an option, a portable laptop stand that can be placed on your dining or kitchen table will also get the job done then can be easily stored away at the end of the day.

Boost efficiency

While decorating your home office can be lots of fun, it’s important your space is fit for purpose. Equip your home with high-speed internet and invest in a productivity-boosting second monitor so you can hit the ground running once you’re all set up.

Choose the right colour palette

Combat stress and distractions by introducing a carefully selected colour palette to your home office. Colour psychology remains crucial in creating an environment tailored to your needs:

• Blue: Promotes a stable and calming workspace, helping you stay focused and productive.
• White: Fresh, clean, and modern. Perfect for open spaces and, when combined with another colour, will create a more balanced and brighter room.
• Black: A powerful colour that gives off vibes of luxury and elegance. Use this as an accent to complement other colours.
• Red: Bold, confident, and stimulating, red is often associated with passion and energy which is perfect for high pressured jobs. Use strategically to avoid overpowering the space.
• Green: Brings balance to your body, mind, and emotions. Introduce it through plants, furniture, or accessories.
• Yellow: Linked to happiness, positivity, and optimism so adding in splashes of yellow can boost creativity and happiness.

Bring the outside in

Whether you’re working in a smaller space or have a large home office, bring the natural world inside with an array of lovely houseplants. Aside from being pleasing to the eye, houseplants are highly rated by both interior designers and medical experts for their positive effect on our bodies and workspaces.

Keep your space light and airy

A well-lit room is crucial for staying alert throughout the working day. The right lighting makes all the difference when it comes to needing a creative boost or inspiration as a dark space tends to leave us feeling tired and unenthused. Consider buying a desk lamp or installing light fittings over your desk to bring warmth to your workspace.

Opt for a room with ample natural daylight and hang mirrors on the walls to reflect as much light as you can. If your desk faces a wall, consider adjusting its position to enjoy a stunning window view instead.

The cost of transforming a home office

While costs can vary based on preferences and room size, there are a few elements to consider when transforming a room into a home office:

• Furniture: You may need to buy a new desk, chair and storage solutions which could cost upwards of a few hundred pounds.
• Technology: It’s likely you’ll already have the technology you need, but upgrading your computer or monitor may involve a significant financial investment costing thousands of pounds.
• Décor and accessories: You’ll be able to select your décor and accessories to fit within your budget, so think about how much you’re prepared to spend on items like plants, artwork and desk accessories.
• Lighting and fixtures: Adequate lighting is crucial, so be prepared to invest in ceiling lights or desk lighting that suits your space.

In summary, you should expect to spend anywhere between a few hundred pounds up to £5,000 on transforming a room into a home office.

While it can be more expensive to convert a loft, garage or garden room into an office, experts do predict that adding an extra home office can increase your home’s value by up to 10%, so your investment may well be worth it in the long run.

Need a helping hand creating your own home office?

Our low-cost home improvement loans are perfect for getting your home office plans on track. You can borrow between £1,000 and £35,000 with competitive rates from as low as 7.4% APR Representative (£7,500-£25,000).