Whether you work on a side gig from home or you work from home all the time, it is important to make sure you are optimizing your home office space, not only to maximize your productivity but to cultivate a space you enjoy. After all, you could be spending over forty hours a week in your home office—why not make it an area you love? Check out the following tips to help you optimize an area that speaks to your aesthetics and optimizes your work flow.

1.      Choose your colors carefully. One of the big advantages to working from home is getting out of a sea of beige cubicles. However, you want to be careful to avoid going so far the opposite direction that it becomes a hinderance. You might think you love lime green, but staring at a lime green wall day after day could start to feel like you are working inside of a highlighter. A lighter, neutral color can create a calming base for your aesthetics, and you can always spice up the space with colorful accessories. It is also important to remember that dark colors can make a space feel smaller, but if you are really committed to having a darker wall color, you can counterbalance the hues with lots of light. And speaking of light…

2.      Play with natural light. Natural light is your friend, but it can quickly turn into a frenemy if you are not aware of how you are using it. Putting your desk by a window can be a great idea, but you should be mindful to angle your desk so that you do not have to deal with glare on your computer.

3.      Utilize vertical space and storage. Home office storage often has lots of unused space on the wall, so instead of building out, build up! Plus, because you are working from home, you can customize the storage to fit exactly what you need. Plus, a wall unit does not take up as much space as desks, bookshelves, or cabinets, which is ideal for smaller spaces. You can also get creative with how you keep things neat and sorted, including using things like magazine racks, display shelves, color coded binders to keep things tidy.

4.      Go with the green! Houseplants can both literally and figuratively bring some life into your home office. If you do not have the greatest history with keeping plants alive, never fear—you can still bring some greenery into your space. Succulents do not require as much attention as other, more delicate plants which can be great if you tend to be forgetful with plants. Or, if you want to eliminate the need for watering all together, invest in a couple of fake plants you love!

5.      Get comfy. No, we are not just talking about wearing your pajama pants and fuzzy socks during Zoom calls. A comfortable chair can make an enormous difference for your work day, and investing in one that provides adequate support for your body can be key. Yes, it is true that while working from home you can get up and take more breaks than in a conventional office space, but you do have to sit sometimes and you will want to be comfortable while you do. The same goes for your desk—make sure you get one that can be adjusted to the right height to maximize your comfort for the times when you need to spend long stretches at your desk. Alternatively, you could invest in a standing desk if that is something you feel inclined to try.

 What are your favorite ways to optimize your home office while you work on your main gig or your side gig (or both)? Tag us on social media @therealbodepro and let us know!