{"id":19124,"date":"2021-11-10T08:00:00","date_gmt":"2021-11-10T13:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.zolo.ca\/blog\/?p=19124"},"modified":"2021-11-28T23:35:56","modified_gmt":"2021-11-29T04:35:56","slug":"home-office-design","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.zolo.ca\/blog\/home-office-design","title":{"rendered":"4 Home Office Ideas That Will Inspire Productivity"},"content":{"rendered":"\n\n\n<p>When the global pandemic hit, over&nbsp;<a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/globalnews.ca\/news\/7910724\/work-from-home-after-covid-19-pandemic\/\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">three million Canadians<\/a>&nbsp;scrambled to find a space in their home that could serve as their remote office. For some, it was a spare bedroom, while others sought refuge in their finished basements. Unfortunately, most of these spaces didn&#8217;t come with design plans for full-time duty as a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.zolo.ca\/blog\/setting-up-a-home-office\">home office<\/a>, and as a result, many were woefully under-equipped. However, remote work is here to stay for many Canadians, and it&#8217;s time to dedicate time and money to make your home office a place of peaceful productivity with these ideas.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Whether you have an entire room or a small corner designated as your home office, these ideas will elevate your space and take it from a thrown-together short-term solution to a thoughtfully designed space where you can do your best work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"<strong&gt;key-features-of-a-great-home-office<\/strong&gt;\"><strong>Key Features of a Great Home Office<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/www.zolo.ca\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/essentials-for-your-home-office-ideas-1024x683.jpg\" alt=\"Home office in living room with modern interior design, comfort sofa, laptop computer, paper documents on work desk near armchair\" class=\"wp-image-19126\"\/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Whether you are working in a dedicated office at home or you&#8217;ve cleared a space at your dining room table, all home offices should have these features in common to create the most productive and positive space possible.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li><strong>Lighting<\/strong><\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Whether you&#8217;ve set up your home office in a dimly lit basement or a sun-filled spare bedroom, lighting is a crucial aspect of productivity. Too much or too little lighting will make you feel like either a cave-dweller or an overexposed photograph, so it&#8217;s essential to choose a space with customizable lighting. That means adding in additional light sources (at least three total) if you&#8217;re working in a basement or sheer curtains to filter light if you are near a direct source of sunlight.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li><strong>Sound<\/strong><\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Having a quiet place to focus on a virtual meeting or intense tasks is essential to a good home office. Adding soundproofing is an excellent option if you are in a separate space, but also consider noise-cancelling headphones or a secondary location (like a spare bedroom or coworking space) if you can&#8217;t escape the hustle and bustle of your home during critical hours.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li><strong>Ergonomics<\/strong><\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>While you may have started your remote working career with fond thoughts of working from bed or your kitchen island, you may have found that many hours spent in these less-than-optimal positions have left you with aches and pains. This discomfort is caused by ergonomics, or how your body interacts with the physical objects around it. You can improve your discomfort by setting yourself up with a proper desk and chair that allows you to be seated in a comfortable position.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li><strong>Organization<\/strong><\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>While many offices are on a quest for paperless operation, that doesn&#8217;t mean your home office will easily stay organized. You&#8217;ll still need to deal with many cords, webcams, microphones, notepads, and pens. However, keeping these items tidied away will improve your focus and help you stick to the tasks at hand.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"<strong&gt;our-top-home-office-ideas-to-inspire-productivity<\/strong&gt;\"><strong>Our Top Home Office Ideas to Inspire Productivity<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"621\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/www.zolo.ca\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/Noise-cancelling-headphones-for-your-home-office-1024x621.jpg\" alt=\"Remote worker listens to music \" class=\"wp-image-19127\"\/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>We&#8217;ve listed broad topics above that you&#8217;ll need to consider when designing a great home office, but here are our favourite design ideas for a comfortable and productive home office setup.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"<strong&gt;#1.-smart-lighting<\/strong&gt;\"><strong>1. Smart Lighting<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Good lighting is an essential aspect of a productive home office. Smart home lighting can be an excellent way to achieve a vast range of lighting options without investing hundreds of dollars and dozens of hours of research on different bulbs with different levels of colour warmth and brightness. While most corporate offices are known for their blindingly bright white fluorescent lights, in your home office, you are in charge. That means if you&#8217;d like to spend your evening working under the warm, dim light of a table lamp and a few candles, you can! At the same time, sometimes the best productivity is achieved with a light and bright space.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>With smart home lighting like the&nbsp;<a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.philips-hue.com\/en-ca\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Philips Hue<\/a>&nbsp;system, you can add smart bulbs, light strips, and lamps to your office, and these are controllable from a central app on your phone. In addition, the app allows you to control the brightness and hue of your lighting, which means that with a few taps on your phone, you can take the lighting in your home office from cool, bright light to a dimmer cozier, yellow light.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"<strong&gt;#2.-noise-cancelling-headphones<\/strong&gt;\"><strong>2. Noise-Cancelling Headphones<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>If you need a quiet place to work, you&#8217;ve most likely chosen your home office to be a bit removed from the hustle and bustle of your main household. You may have chosen a secluded spare bedroom or even a corner of your basement. That said, you&#8217;ll most likely never totally escape the sounds of other members of your family or even outside noise. For those moments when quiet is essential, a good pair of noise-cancelling headphones can do the trick. We like this Soundcore by Anker Life option ($80,&nbsp;<a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.ca\/dp\/B07NM3RSRQ?ascsubtag=AwEAAAAAAAAAAcX5&amp;linkCode=gs2&amp;tag=thewire0f-20\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Amazon.ca<\/a>). These headphones have a 40-hour runtime and are &#8220;over-the-ear,&#8221; which are more comfortable than earbuds for extended sessions. The Bluetooth function means you can move around freely without snagging yourself on cords. If you need to take meetings while wearing headphones, these Noise Cancelling Wireless headphones ($80,&nbsp;<a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.ca\/Cancelling-Lightweight-Srhythm-NC35-Microphones-dp-B07YFW5DG6\/dp\/B07YFW5DG6\/ref=dp_ob_title_ce\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Amazon.ca<\/a>) have a built-in microphone.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>You may also consider more expensive options like soundproofing your office. Soundproofing your office can be achieved by adding noise-cancelling panels to the walls of your office, by adding soundproofing insulation (this requires removal of existing drywall), or by replacing your hollow-core door with a solid wood door.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"<strong&gt;#3.-paint-and-d\u00e9cor<\/strong&gt;\"><strong>3. Paint and D\u00e9cor<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Since your home office will be the space you spend the most time in (second only to your bedroom), you should make it an area you want to be. Paint and d\u00e9cor do not have to be expensive additions to your office, but they can make the space where you don&#8217;t mind spending time in a productive oasis.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>When it comes to choosing paint colours, consider your tastes. Do you crave peace and calm while working? If so, consider a slightly warm neutral paint like Sherwin Williams Alabaster. If you&#8217;d prefer an energizing space, bright colours could be the right choice. If you have virtual meetings with coworkers frequently, consider painting a colourful accent wall (we love Fading Twilight by Benjamin Moore) as a backdrop and investing in wall hangings or shelving. H&amp;M Home is a great place to start for trendy but inexpensive d\u00e9cor.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>When choosing your paint colour and sheen, make sure to account for lighting (indirect sunlight will make most greys look blue) and the condition of your walls (matte or flat paint will hide imperfections and give your walls a velvety texture).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"<strong&gt;#4.-invest-in-the-right-office-chair<\/strong&gt;\"><strong>4. Invest in the Right Office Chair<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Your office chair is the piece of furniture that you will spend the most time in during your lifetime, except perhaps your mattress. For this reason, you must choose one that is comfortable for long periods. When choosing the right office chair, here are some general rules to keep in mind:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li><strong>Height:<\/strong>&nbsp;Your thighs should rest in a horizontal position, parallel to the floor.<\/li><li><strong>Lumbar support:<\/strong>&nbsp;Your chair should follow the contour of your lower back when you are usually seated and facing straight ahead.<\/li><li><strong>Size:<\/strong>&nbsp;An office chair should be wide enough and tall enough for you to sit comfortably. Small chairs will make you feel like you may slide off them, while large ones may cause your legs and back to fall out of their neutral position.<\/li><li><strong>Material:<\/strong>&nbsp;if you tend to &#8220;run hot,&#8221; choose a mesh chair with good ventilation. Conversely, those who are always chilly should choose a leather or fabric chair.<\/li><li><strong>Adjustments:<\/strong>&nbsp;It&#8217;s unlikely you&#8217;ll find a chair that is perfectly adjusted to your size and shape without any adjustment. Adjustment controls allow you to customize the chair to your liking.<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"<strong&gt;funding-your-home-office<\/strong&gt;\"><strong>Funding Your Home Office<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"573\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/www.zolo.ca\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/affordable-home-office-ideas-1024x573.jpg\" alt=\"Checking budget for new purchase\" class=\"wp-image-19128\"\/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Setting up a home office isn&#8217;t cheap, and you shouldn&#8217;t be expected to foot the bill all on your own. However, if you are concerned about the cost of setting up your home office, you have options.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>First, suppose your company is allowing their employees to work from home full-time after the pandemic. In that case, they may offer a yearly benefit to help maintain your equipment or even furnish your home office. If you aren&#8217;t sure what is available, ask coworkers or consult your employee handbook.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Second, the federal government has recognized that millions of Canadians choose to work from home during the pandemic. As a result, there is a home office income tax deduction available for Canadians working from home. There are two ways to claim this deduction. The first is the temporary flat rate method, which allows employees who worked from home to claim $2 for each day worked from home, up to a maximum of $400. Alternatively, you can claim the actual amounts that you paid to work from home. To claim your actual expenses, you&#8217;ll need to provide documentation and have your employer sign a T2200 form.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Working from home is here to stay, and your home office space is no longer temporary. You can improve your productivity by dedicating time and money to making your home office a beautiful and functional space. Updating your home office doesn&#8217;t have to break the bank, and small changes like new paint and a better office chair can make a dramatic impact on how much you enjoy your home office. If you can work from home for the long term, updating your home office and making it into a productivity oasis is well worth it.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Transform your office into a productivity centre with these simple changes<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":59,"featured_media":19125,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[53],"tags":[],"guide":[],"class_list":["post-19124","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-home-design"],"acf":[],"zolo_excerpt":"","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.zolo.ca\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/19124","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.zolo.ca\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.zolo.ca\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.zolo.ca\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/59"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.zolo.ca\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=19124"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/www.zolo.ca\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/19124\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":19719,"href":"https:\/\/www.zolo.ca\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/19124\/revisions\/19719"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.zolo.ca\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/19125"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.zolo.ca\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=19124"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.zolo.ca\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=19124"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.zolo.ca\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=19124"},{"taxonomy":"guide","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.zolo.ca\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/guide?post=19124"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}