Upgrade Your Home Office on a Budget

 Lucy Reed(Guest)     06-10-2022

Image via Pexels

Remote work has become the new normal in the U.S., as the amount of workers staying home at least once a week has risen to 58%. Of course, working from home means you need a quiet space without distractions. Fortunately, you can create a productive home office without hurting your wallet.

Do you plan to meet clients in your home office? If so, you can create a comfortable yet professional atmosphere with the right furniture. For example, you can buy a couch for client seating. You should also take care when arranging furniture to ensure clients can easily navigate your office without bumping into equipment.

You also have to keep comfort facilities in mind. It’s a good idea, for instance, for a home office to have its own bathroom, especially when you entertain clients and have staff working in it. A bathroom is generally not something you can DIY, however. In particular, DIY plumbing repairs can be challenging and are best done by bona fide professionals. So do your research beforehand, and compare offerings and reviews. Better yet, get contractor recommendations from people you know.

If you work from home full-time, you may need certain equipment:

• Printer

• Keyboard

• Home cloud server

• Noise-canceling headphones

Before spending money, make sure you find the best-rated, most affordable options. You can do so by looking at customer reviews and reading articles from established, unbiased sources.

Colors significantly impact psychology, so set yourself up for success by choosing productivity-boosting hues. For example, purple can encourage creativity, while orange increases motivation. Blue may be a good choice if you meet with clients since it has a calming effect.

Working from home usually involves a lot of technology, and that means wires. Excessive wires are unsightly, and they can also be a tripping hazard. If they're unorganized, you may struggle to determine which plug belongs to what. The solution is to use low-cost organizational tricks to keep wires out of sight:

• Use toilet paper rolls for bundling

• Label cords with bread tags

• Utilize power strips

• Secure cables with painter's tape

Storage solutions help you stay organized so you don't waste time looking for what you need. For example, you can store branded stationary on a secretary desk, along with writing utensils, envelopes, and stamps. You can also make use of vertical space with floating shelves and stackable wall racks, leaving you more floor space for a desk and chairs.

The right chair can be the difference between a productive day and a backache. Sitting at a desk for hours may increase your risk of musculoskeletal disorders, as the human body didn't evolve to sit for so long. However, an ergonomic chair offers better comfort, posture, and blood circulation. As a result, you'll feel better and be more productive.

Whiteboardsare excellent for brainstorming, jotting down lists, and posting a schedule. You can purchase a small whiteboard for a few dollars and hang it on your wall. Alternatively, you can get a standing whiteboard to move around the room, providing greater flexibility when working with clients or peers. If you have the time, you can even turn an entire wall into a whiteboard with special paint.

Adding greenery is an excellent way to create a welcoming atmosphere, but did you know houseplants also have health benefits? Having a plant or two can increase air quality, helping you breathe easier and focus more. They can even boost creativity and productivity, making them perfect additions to any workspace.

A comfortably and efficiently designed home office can help you stay productive when working remotely. You don't even have to spend much — you can transform a spare room with a relatively small budget.