Be it a corner in your living room, just a desk in your bedroom or an entire home office, the first step is to make sure that you have a designated space for work. A dedicated space or area ensures that you are mentally conditioned to work there without compromising on productivity. 

A dining table that serves as a work desk in the morning, lunch table in the afternoon and the kids’ homework station by evening will not only disrupt your routine but also deplete morale. 

Dedicate an area that you can call your own, where nobody will disturb you and you can attend all those zoom calls stress free. 

If your home is too small to dedicate an entire room for a designated work space, try to create a work office with the least possible distraction. It could be a storage room that you convert into a workspace, or the unoccupied guest bedroom. Whichever corner of the house you choose, make sure that it’s comfortable, gets enough light and is as secluded as possible.

Choose a desk that has some drawers to stow away papers and stationery, a wire manager to hide all those computer wires and chargers and enough surface area for you to be able to spread out all your belongings without getting them lost underneath each other.

Always choose durable materials like hardwood, solid plastic or even a thick slab of metal for the tabletop as this is a high use surface, it should be able to handle scratches, pen stains, hot beverage cups and multiple things at the same time without getting too damaged, chipped or scratched.

While a good desk is important, a good chair is even more important. An ergonomic chair with ample back support, the correct height and cushioning is an absolute must have.

A well-designed chair does not cost too much but is definitely worth every penny. If there is only one item you invest in for your home office-it should be in a good chair.

An ergonomic chair gives you good arch support for your spine, support for your neck and head, has armrests, is made of good quality foam that does not deteriorate or decompose in a short time, is upholstered in a comfortable and soft fabric like leather and is overall well and solid structured.

Those long days and endless hours in front of the screen make this item an absolute non-negotiable!

The most important morale and serotonin booster found in nature is sunlight. Make sure to place your desk in a space or room that has ample sunlight. Facing a window or in a room that is in the east or northeast part of your home are ideal locations. Try to face the desk to a window or towards the room. 

If you are someone who needs to work at night, or have a setup that causes you to depend on artificial light, make sure that your setup is such that your screen does not reflect light. It’s important to factor this in before finalising your seating position.

The artwork you choose should be subtle and in neutral colours. Alternatively, you can also opt for art that’s monochromatic or in sepia. 

Pro tip: Make sure to use non-reflective glass in the frame so as to not reflect the light of your screen and cause disturbance.

Just like clutter can dampen your design, in the home office especially, it can not only hamper design but also seriously damage productivity. Always ensure to have a clutter free desk. 

Create storage space around your desk in the form of small cabinets or dedicate a cupboard in the house to home office supplies. Stationery, files and paperwork should be neatly labeled and tucked away so that they are not only easy to access but also quick to find.

One of my best hacks is to place all computer and gadget chargers and adapters in a plastic box, and paste or screw the box to the underside of the table. This way it is all out of sight but well organised at the same time.

Since you will be spending the bulk of your day in the home office space, be sure to paint the walls a colour you like. Being surrounded by a colour that makes you happy is sure to keep you cheerful all day round-even when the boss is in a bad mood! 

Pro tip: If you do not have a dedicated room as a home office, try and paint the wall behind or beside your work desk or even the ceiling to achieve the same!

It’s important to choose the view from your work space carefully. Whether it’s a garden outside the window, a bird’s eye view of your living room, or even near the kids’ room to keep an eye on them; the view should make you happy and not stressed.

Pro tip: Do NOT underestimate the difference fresh walls and a great view can make. Trust us on this! 

Even if you feel happiest with white paint, make sure to give the walls a fresh coat of paint to keep your surroundings looking neat and fresh.

Any space you design is not yours unless it tells a story about YOU. A family photo, a small desk plant, gifts from loved ones, memorabilia collected from travels or just an article of beauty- they all help to personalise your space. 

While leaving your desk and surrounding area bare can feel sparse and too clinical, overcrowding with personal items can also create clutter and chaos. Place a few personal items to keep you motivated and help bring back fond memories every now and then.

Introducing some plants into the mix is a great idea, as they not only make the room look more stylish but also purify air and supply oxygen. If you are looking for an easy, affordable way to accessorise your home office, adding a snake plant or a ZZ plant is an excellent start!

Adding an interesting rug is also another great idea you might want to try. You can play around with colours, patterns and textures on the rug to tune in to the amount of visual interest you want.