6 Ways to Define Your Workspace at Home

If you’re ever had the opportunity (some might say misfortune) of working from home, you know that the distractions are endless. Every time you look up from your computer, there’s a stack of personal mail that needs attention, a glass that should be washed or a household member eager to tell you a story. All you want is to be transported to a secluded island (preferably with Wi-Fi) so you can refocus on the task at hand.

You deserve a dedicated space that promotes concentration and creativity, with a bulwark to protect you from diversions lurking around every corner. Here’s how to get it.

1. Create a Threshold

Thresholds help designate where work physically starts and stops. They are a visual cue that says, “Step into my office.” The sliding doors shown here not only help block out noise, but they also act as a visual indication to other residents that work is in session. If a separate, closed-off room isn’t possible in your living situation, look for places where you can introduce a threshold.


This elevated loft area is an ideal work nook. As with a threshold, the level change indicates the point where a new zone begins. The stair takes you from the home’s living area to a defined space for working, even though no doors or walls are present.


Outlining a work zone can be as simple as switching the flooring material, signaling a different space identity to the home’s other occupants.


A dark band defines the wall opening leading to this understair work area. This visual cue makes the change in zoning apparent as you enter and leave.


2. Allocate a Pinup Area

Show off examples of what inspires you to do your job. Leave a blank section of wall that can be filled with ideas as they develop. The pinup area could be a framed space for visual thinking.

By locating this in your office space, you’re categorizing the tasks as work related, as opposed to writing them down in a notebook that might include a personal to-do list.

What Does Your Inspiration Board Say About You?


Or you could jot down ideas and keep track of tasks on an erasable surface.


Ask yourself: Do you work better when images and personal mementos that inspire you are pinned up in an orderly fashion?


Or does it motivate you more to have a variety of colorful, overlapping content? Something that’s seemingly chaotic to one person may provide the perfect amount of visual interest to another.

Determine which method positively impacts your creativity. The more you surround yourself with what you love, the more time you’ll want to spend in the space.


3. Get Equipped With an Ergonomic Chair

If you’ve ever worked from home, you and your couch may have a complicated relationship. It’s time to move on. The couch may seem comfortable at first, but over time you’ll feel it impacting your motivation as well as your spine.

A proper chair and work desk will greatly increase your productivity. They will also define your office as a professional workspace.


The search for a great chair should be twofold. Get a chair that is a) comfortable and b) stylish — something practical and beautiful that you will want to spend hours in, because you will.


4. Centralize Your Technology Equipment

Invest in any equipment that you may need solely for your office environment. For easy access, place everything you use on a regular basis closest to your workstation. If your printer is in another room, you might find yourself leaving your office to pick up a print and getting lost in a variety of distractions.


By confining equipment to one zone of your office, you may gain extra horizontal space for tasks that are not technology dependent — such as sketching and letter writing.


5. Know Your Personal Productivity Style

Are you more productive in minimalist surroundings? Or do you need visual clutter to inspire you in your line of work? What might seem bland and lackluster to one person may be another’s ideal Zen zone.


If you are easily overstimulated, try stashing things behind closed doors and drawers, leaving just enough objects on your workspace to keep you on track.


When you combine open and closed shelving with multiple work surfaces, it’s an all-around win. This type of layout works especially well when more than one person (and personality) is sharing the space.


6. Let the Light Shine In

It doesn’t take much natural light to fill a small space and elevate your mood. Working with the windows you have, let light be a space-defining tool.


This unexpectedly placed window provides a connection to the exterior world while still allowing ample wall space for a television screen that’s used as a computer monitor.


The beauty of letting natural light in is that it usually comes with views to the exterior. Looking out to vegetation helps ease our mind and aids in contemplation and meditation. This simple strategy can be extremely powerful, and can affect your overall productivity within your work area.

Allocating a distinct workspace sets the foundation for a productive home office.

We want to hear from you: How do you distinguish your home office from the rest of your home?

More: What My Kids Have Taught Me About Working From Home

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