HOW TO SET UP THE MOST EFFICIENT HOME OFFICE SPACE

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The mental and physical health benefits of well considered interior design are widely known and lauded (check out the spaces of happy Home polish clients for proof!). A room's layout and aesthetic depend on its purpose, but how do you balance the function with visual preferences and practical needs? Today we're exploring the at-home workspace and I'll help you determine how best to set up yours. Whether you have a room or a corner to dedicate to working from home, it's important to consider the factors that make for a productive and efficient environment.

LOCATION, LOCATION, LOCATION!

You can't just toss a desk in any corner of your home and call it an office. Whether you have an extra room or an extra corner, the location and layout of your new workspace is very important. It's proven that sunlight aides productivity so consider sitting close to a window. Plus, having a view is nice when you need to take your eyes away from your computer screen. If, like us, you live in a small apartment in a big city, there are great options for convertible desks or fold-out tables that can be tucked away when you're done working. We love the home office our designer Shelly Lynch Sparks designed for blogger Style Girlfriend!

CONSIDER THE SENSORY EXPERIENCE

The sensory experience of a home office can make or break a work day! Dim lighting, uncomfortable temperatures, bad seating (more on this later), or relentless noise can make concentrating very difficult. If your work area has less-than-stellar lighting, get a desk lamp (there are tons of options out there that are both attractive and affordable). Working from your sofa sounds like a good idea but you'll end up with a sore back after too many hours. Noisy traffic or appliances, like a fridge, can distract you from doing your best work. If you have the room to sit somewhere quiet, do, otherwise we suggest noise-cancelling headphones (this pair from Sony is a steal, this pair from Samsung is more of a splurge). This home office is a great Homepolish example of small, functional, and attractive.

KEEP IT ORGANIZED

Great organization is the foundation of efficiency. Whether you're strictly a Cloud user or you have real life physical files (wow!), it's important to know where they are and how to access them. Filing cabinets, storage boxes, and paper folios all come in a variety of sizes, styles, colors, and space-saving shapes. No floor space? Tack it to your wall! A converted entryway serves as our designerGunnar Larsons' home office.

SEAT YOURSELF SOMEPLACE COMFORTABLE

As we mentioned before, uncomfortable seating can really cramp your work style. We aren't suggesting you invest in a Herman Miller—if you live in a studio it will look weird amongst your carefully curated other furniture—but do consider how your butt and back will feel before you buy that cute but hard antique metal chair. One eight-hour workday in the wrong chair will reveal every possible ache and cramp in your body! I love this modern option, which is streamlined without arms. This "managerial chair" has a fun gold finish and the petal office chair works at a desk but is equally stylish in the living room of your apartment.