Unlike in the past, when most people were only familiar with the offices in their workplaces, home offices have become increasingly popular, especially with the current global health crisis that has forced many employees to work remotely. Most employers have certain standards for their staff who work from home. However, in many cases, it’s the responsibility of the remote employee to create an environment that not only fosters productivity but also client interactions. Regardless of the space available to you, you can still set it up to fit your needs. Here are a few tips to help you learn how to set up a small home office like a pro.
Get Your HVAC in Order
Energy efficiency is imperative when doing an air conditioning installation in your small home office. Most modern buildings have adopted the latest air conditioning installation procedures, which are much better than the previous ones. Architects and interior designers usually try to incorporate outdoor lighting in their house drawing designs. During the Covid-19 period, it is vital to know how to set up a small home office like a pro. The HVAC (Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning) system should moderate airflow, sieve, and clean the office air without fault. Remember, a small space may have poor ventilation and poor airflow, causes the room to stifle with stale air. This makes the environment unconducive and can significantly affect your productivity. Having an air conditioning installation with filters to combat the odors is the only remedy to this problem.
During winter, a cold room can be quite uncomfortable. Investing in a good HVAC system means you will be able to heat up your home office when it’s cold. You can also invest in furnace services if you want to upgrade or repair your small office’s heating system. You can consider installing sensors in the HVAC system as an energy-saving tip when setting up your small office like a pro.
Decide Whether You Want to Renovate
When thinking about setting up a small home office, it is pivotal to carefully consider whether renovating an existing room can be better for numerous benefits like cutting some costs. Do thorough scrutiny of your anticipated workspace, noting exact issues that require a makeover. This is the time when services of home remodeling contractors also ring into your mind. An architect or an interior designer can give you professional advice, including a summary of the physical work required in renovating your small office. This information is necessary because renovation exercise often turns out to be enormous, especially if you’re creating an entirely new space with doors and shelves. Hiring home remodeling contractors to help you create a space for your office even if your house’s initial model does not include an office space is the best option.
Things to consider when renovating your home office include:
Your Budget
When undertaking an office renovation, you need to be sure of the total cost you require for the exercise. Every single expense of renovation must be properly estimated before summing up to arrive at the total cost. Do proper research and consider professional consultation to develop a realistic budget. This process is time-consuming but worth it because it eventually saves you from stress and anxiety during the renovation. In case you can’t do it yourself and want the help of an expert, home remodeling contractors are the people to call.
Your Timeline
Weekends are the best time to carry out renovations since they pose minimal disruptions. Such convenient time can’t be set aside simply without first looking at your itinerary and picking on weekends you will be free. Doing the renovations on a weekday may coincide and interfere with some important work engagements.
You need to consult an expert to inform you of the duration of the entire renovation exercise. An expert will allocate time to each renovation task in developing the amount of time that the renovation will consume. This is important for you to spare more time for the work if you underestimated it. Thus, none other than experienced home remodeling contractors can provide you with such information for better planning.
What Needs Renovating
Renovation entails numerous aspects. These include improving the floors, doing some decorations changing the furniture, and improving on lighting, among others. Consulting home remodeling contractors will help you be specific about the tasks you want to be done. This not only helps you develop a proper budget but also to allocate adequate time for the renovations.
Rental Regulations
Caution should be taken into account if you live in a rental house and want to renovate your small home office. Some rental regulations require you to get permission from your landlord before undertaking the renovations. In most cases, as a tenant, you need to agree to meet the cost of undoing your renovations when vacating the residence. Most experienced home remodeling contractors are conversant with such regulations, and they can advise you accordingly.
Have the Walls Painted
If you understand how to set up a small home office like a pro, you will choose your office colors with care. Color brings out the ambiance in any space, and offices are not an exception. A nicely colored environment also attracts a good mood and brings forth a relaxed and comfortable feeling, and this translates to enhanced productivity.
On the other hand, Dull colors can make your office seem more like a prison, and your productivity will be affected. No one wants to spend much of their time in a dull office. So, talk to your painters and make sure you select that color that will pump energy into your soul as you indulge in activities within your small office.
Colors are also known to reflect personality. Green and blue colors can motivate and allow you to achieve serenity to propel you to succeed. Blue is considered an intellectual color and is recommended for offices that require mental focus. On the other hand, the color green brings balance and reflects nature and restoration, thus bringing that relaxing feeling as it’s easy on the eyes. For the ladies who love luxurious spaces, purple is a good pick. Painting your office walls purple can bring a feeling of comfort. However, do not overdo it. You can also paint your walls gold as a sign of how you immeasurably value your home office. Other nice office colors include orange, grey, and yellow.
Find Storage Solutions
For you to be successful, you need to work in an organized environment. Just because you have a beautiful office space with a fancy desk and comfortable chair doesn’t mean you have set your office like a pro. You need facilities for storing important documents and items, and there are many storage companies offering such facilities at affordable prices.
Storage systems are useful for storing all office supplies organized and neat. They come in a variety of shapes and sizes to meet your specific needs. They include shelves, racks, and cabinets. Custom-made indoor storage facilities may be made out of a variety of materials, including aluminum, wood, and vinyl, thus bringing that crafty feeling into your office space. If you purchase the right kind of storage system, you can save a lot of office space while creating ample storage for all your office paperwork and equipment.
As you plan to purchase a storage system, remember to put your needs first. Some people purchase office storage equipment just because they look fancy, or they’re cheap only to find that they don’t fit well into their office space or do not serve their purpose. Do some research and find a company that offers what you need. Many storage companies have experts who can guide you to purchase the perfect equipment that will make your office look like a pro set it up.
Make Electrical Upgrades
Setting up an office like a pro also involves upgrading your electrical system or doing some electrical repair. For instance, you may need to add more sockets in your office space to cater to all electronics. It is risky to do electrical repairs on your own. Besides, you may not know the right type of cables to buy and the quality to go for. For safety, contact a certified electrician to assist.
Here are four electrical upgrades that you need to implement:
Let There Be Light
A poorly lit office may put a strain on your eyes, make you feel exhausted, and lower your productivity. Invest in good bulbs that project the appropriate type of light for an office space. Warmer yellow or orange lights are preferable for relaxing, and colder blue and white lights are preferable for working, getting up, and focusing. If at all possible, the temperature and color of the lighting should be adjusted depending on the time of the day.
Invest in Good Cables
Having your devices connected using quality electrical cables will prevent surges and keep your office electronics running for long. However, remember to arrange the cables well to avoid a mess on the floor. One way to organize cables is by using clips such as the readily available squeeze-type paper clips.
Install Surge Protectors
Electronic equipment is prone to electrical surges. If you don’t protect your computers, printers, photocopiers, and other office machinery, power surges may end up inconveniencing you even after you upgrade your office equipment. You also do not want to spend on repairing new equipment that you just bought. In this case, investing in surge protectors is the best idea.
Invest in Great Floor Coverings
Your office floor should motivate you once you step into your working space. A good floor should be durable, comfortable, and practical. If you want to insulate your office from noises, try using carpet or carpet tiles. Vinyl floors are durable and offer a great sense of style. Hardwood floors will give your floor covering a classy look. When investing in a floor covering for your home office, consider the cost of installation and maintenance. Do not use cheap material as this may turn out to be expensive in the long run if you include the cost of maintenance or frequent replacement. Wood, laminate, vinyl, or carpet are great options to choose from.
Furnish Your Space
Your office space needs to be furnished with office furniture that is comfortable and has some professional aspects. Office furniture should be appropriate for daily use while attracting clients. To make your home office furniture outstanding, you can customize your pieces of furniture with your company’s name or business logo.
Also, strive to provide your office with a great ambiance. This can be done by hanging your professional photos and those of your immediate family on the wall. You may also place them on your office desk or shelf to give your office that homely feeling.If you’re planning to share your small office space with a family member, or roommate, a desk shield may come in handy. Apart from protecting you from harmful pathogens, a desk shield will help you define boundaries on a shared desk.
Other ways to improve your office’s look and feel are by burning scented candles, hanging charts with inspirational quotes, and keeping some green plants or artificial flowers. If you’re not going for a contemporary look when furnishing your small office, choose extras that enhance the comfortable atmosphere of your home office, such as a nice mug for a pencil holder, stylish notepads and sticky notes, and a fashionable waste bin. You can conceal utilitarian bookshelves using curtains that match their material. Also, hand inspiring prints on the walls, even if it’s your kids framed artwork.
If you have not had a great office experience working from home, the problem could be that your office is poorly set up. Remember, your work environment plays an important role in determining your productivity, and it’s high time you tried setting up your small home office like a pro. Go for it!
