Design experts say that a successful home office is an office with the least amount of furniture that blends with the overall tone of your room.

If you have not worked from home regularly or at all since the pandemic began, you may be telecommuting in the future. According to the results of a recent Upwork poll, considering that by 2025, 36.2 million Americans will work remotely, an increase of 16.8 million from the pre-pandemic rate.

Those who start using kitchen tables as temporary workplaces will soon know that a dedicated home office is needed. However, for some people, building and improving a home office can be challenging, which is why careful consideration and planning is recommended.

"Working at home may have a negative impact on the activities of some people, because our brains are born to think that home is for rest, and the workplace is for core productivity. This is why the choice and organization of work space at home is so An important reason," said Gian Moore, an interior designer and partner at Mellowpine in Seattle.

The first step in selecting and equipping a home office location is to determine your needs.

"Ask yourself: How much space do you need? What tools do you use to work? How quiet must your office be? What kind of lighting do you want?" Boulder House, RE/MAX Alliance, Boulder, Colorado Said Greg Smith, the resource's broker/owner. He recommends an area with plenty of natural light, away from any noisy area in the home-perhaps a spare room in the upstairs corner, with a large window facing southwest to get the best natural light.

“It’s best not to choose a home office close to the kitchen or the center of the house. Distractions abound, especially if there are children around, so it’s best to have a remote space, such as a basement, attic or second bedroom. Suggested Monica Friel, president of Chaos To Order, a professional organization in Chicago.

In addition, maximizing the space efficiency of the home office space of your choice to increase productivity and reduce clutter is crucial. Desks with drawers, filing cabinets and storage boxes are especially useful.

"Consider buying an adjustable standing desk so that you can stand sometimes during the day if you want. Similarly, invest heavily in a good-quality chair because you don't want to damage your back," Smith suggested.

The L-shaped or U-shaped layout combines the desk, file cabinet, and auxiliary storage unit within a simple chair rotation device, which is usually the first choice.

"Place office furniture, filing cabinets, equipment, and other items logically where they will not hinder you but within reach. When you have limited floor space, look for ways to maximize vertical space," Suggested by David North, the broker/owner of Realtrua based in Redmond, Washington. "When there is no vertical space between the shelves, a simple thing like adding another shelf can help you effectively organize a small space on the roof. Hang a few items on the wall or on the side of a table or file cabinet in a small space. There is also a big difference here."

Moore recommends using minimal furniture that blends with the overall tone of the room; avoid using large tables that will interfere with your movement or make the space cramped.

"Also make sure that there is sufficient natural light and ventilation," Moore said. "Organize your cables and wires and make them as discreet as possible by gathering and hiding them. Paint the work area with bright colors and bright materials, because lighter tones give a larger room and more space to arrange The illusion. In addition, try to minimize the use of decorations like bulky displays or clocks."

Count on re-evaluating your home office layout from time to time and take the necessary steps to organize and simplify it.

"Regular removal of excess documents, mail, and supplies is essential to maintaining the best organization and efficiency of the home office," Freer points out.

If your home life and work life start to interfere with each other, then it's time to reconsider your home office location.

"Consider relocating to a quieter and more isolated area of ​​your home, where noise and traffic will not be distracting," Moore added.