A home office is a sacred space that can either be designed and decorated to inspire and increase productivity or just crammed in a closet in the hopes that burrowing oneself away will prevent distraction and things can be accomplished. However, psychologically speaking, the design of the home office is crucial to the work that is created inside the walls. The design flow can literally expedite work and create a space that is enjoyable to work in, which in turn creates better, more creative work.
When decorating a home office, start with the basics. The desk, filing cabinet, printer, fax machine, and all other pertinent work space materials should be the focus of the room. By placing the desk where work space will be optimized (such as in front of a window for some and away from the window for others) the room can be created to draw away from the desk. From there, artistic inspiration becomes a key focus. This isn't just for those who are in creative fields. Even though the inspiration is different, creative inspiration works just the same for a writer as it does for a business professional. After all, we all work toward a goal. By blending that goal into our workspace, we can produce more efficient areas to work because we have given ourselves a psychological boost by surrounding our psyche with decor that motivate us.
To draw the room together as more than just a collage of inspiration, home office decor should also correspond with each other. If you choose a traditional theme and add to the decor with traditional nautical pieces, the total space should be indicative of a similar theme. Implementing a mishmash of diverse pieces produces confusion and fails to be cohesive which can psychologically detract from the inspiration of the room. Your home office is also employed for working on projects like reading, journal writing, and self improvement. A chaotic home office is really not conducive to this sort of creative energy.
While illumination is crucial any room in the home, a home office space that is poorly illuminated can be very unhealthy for the eyes. While overhead fluorescent lighting will make it seem too much like the office away from home, a few strong, preferably adjustable lights can add to the decor while providing adequate lighting. Until you settle on lighting for the home office, three way four lamps will suffice. However, floor lighting usually does not afford direct lighting over top a keyboard or your desk. Pendulum lamps offer good overhead illumination while adding to the area. Fortuitously, pendulum lighting is becoming sleeker in style, which makes it ideal for your home office.
When selecting from wall decor items for the home office, opt for items that are inspiring to you. Not many people include the home office in a tour of the home, which offers you the freedom to make this room as private and personal as you choose to. If you want to be surrounded by play and fantasy, a few pewter dragons can add class to the fantastic. If you wish to be surrounded in watercolor paintings of the beach, then you can bring the beach home to you. Place metal wall hanging and carved wooden panels above your desk and bring in some seashells and natural driftwood to accentuate your bookshelves. We can not always surround ourselves in the world that soothes us and makes us feel at peace. The home office decorating quest is a perfect place to allow the decor to take on a world of its own.
By:Carol Mcguire
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