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Create The Perfect Home Office

By on May 26, 2016
Create The Perfect Home Office - Writer's Life.org

Whether you are a freelance writer who spends every day working from home, or you just love to find a quiet moment during the day to sit down and write that novel, it is important that you have a place where you can be free of distractions, and be at your most productive.

Creating the perfect home office is all about making a space that’s right for you. Naturally, as wth any room of the home, different people are going to have different tastes, so when it comes to decorating or picking out furniture, we’ll leave that up to you!

However, there are some common elements to consider that every home office needs to make it a fantastic space for you to produce your finest work.

Make the most out of your space

Having a room that you can use as an office in your home is great, but it is often the smallest room in the house! Making the most out of the space you have is imperative, particularly if you work a lot from home. You don’t want to spend your days sitting in a tiny cramped room, so be clever. Pick furniture that is going to fit, and carefully choose clever storage solutions so that you have places to put things away. A good bookshelf and a desk with large draws is always useful

Keep it tidy

Staying tidy and organised is so important. Your office should be a place where you can sit down with a clear head and really focus on the task at hand. If you can barely find room on your desk to put your laptop, or can’t move without knocking something over, you probably need to have a good sort out. Make sure everything has its own place and be meticulous about putting things back where they belong. Get rid of papers and notebooks that you no longer need, otherwise they’ll just pile up, gathering dust and taking up valuable room.

Make it just for you

We realise that some home offices will be shared workspaces but if you can make your office your own personal heaven then it will grow to be a room that you really love. You’ll look forward to each day knowing that you can escape to your own personal sanctuary and the rest of your household will know that when you are there it’s work time - and therefore know not to disturb you!

Make it interesting

This is particularly true for writers, who should work in rooms which are inspiring and interesting. Use the wall space for noticeboards or pin boards where you can collect your ideas, hang up a picture that inspires you. Stick quotes from famous authors on the wall. Make your office a place that inspires you and helps your creative juices to flow.

Buy a kettle

This is actually a neat little time saver, particularly if your office is upstairs or far away from the kitchen. You may think it is ultimately very lazy, but there is something rather lovely about being able to make a fresh pot of coffee without having to leave your desk, and can be great if you are getting really into an idea and don’t want to break your train of thought!

Get a plant

Plants are not only aesthetically pleasing but they can also actually reduce stress and help make the space you work in more environmentally friendly too! Plus you can talk to it on those days where you need to bounce your ideas off someone - we won’t tell anyone, promise!

Having a fantastic working environment can really make a difference to how productive, creative and efficient you are, so perhaps it is time to give your home office a revamp and see what effect it has on you!

Bethany Cadman -author of 'Doctor Vanilla's Sunflowers'

Bethany Cadman -author of 'Doctor Vanilla's Sunflowers'

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