Re-design and boost your Workspace at Home

With the sudden work from home scenario, there must be a few still struggling to make it through. Not everyone has a dedicated space at home for this situation or it may be a space that you do work from once in a while, but definitely does not live up to the beautiful interiors that you are used to, at your workplace. And it goes without saying that this is not the best time to consider buying furniture online or visiting a furniture store. So here are a few tips for the non-designers to re-design (read boost) their workspace at home.

Bring in enough air and light. With the health advisory against air conditioners, if you are not stuck with fixed furniture, you should attempt to find a space near a window, if that means moving your table, then so be it. Ensure the space where you are spending a major part of your day gets enough fresh air. The light and fresh air from the window will surely help in keeping you refreshed, uplifting your spirits and keeping you alert.

Find the best chair in the house and use it as your work chair. This may be a chair from the dining table set or any other but make sure it helps you sit upright and gives enough lumber support. You can also place a cushion on a hard chair as you don’t want to be burdened with a backache in the midst of work. Enough cannot be said about a good posture while working long hours.

Pick up a piece of art or an artifact that you like which may be lying in one of your closets or elsewhere in the house - the brighter, the better - and place it in your line of sight. This can be a strong reminder that you are “at home” (pun intended) while at work. This will not only make the space somewhat lively but also bring some cheer whenever you are distracted from work.

Make use of articles which you rarely have time for during ordinary circumstances like candles, diffusers, fresh flowers from your home garden and place them close to the place where you are working from. You also have the choice of picking up a pot from your balcony, windowsill or home garden and place it in the room from which you are working. Plants have a great way of purifying the air around you. Some plants can be of great help (look up "air purifying plants" on google) in these trying times, especially if you already have one at home.

If you like to stand and work but don’t have a high enough table consider putting a lap breakfast tray on top of a table so that you can stand and work. Once you are able to step out again this may be your most desired work table.

Your workspace at home should be self-sufficient. Ideally, the space one works from at home should be as free as possible distractions. To minimize distractions, ensure you have space for a bottle, a drawer/tray with bare minimum office supplies and a place to rest a cup and whatever else that you need to be productive at work and not end up taking unnecessary breaks to get supplies for yourself.

Last but not the least, ensure that the space you work from is always clutter-free!