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Home / Home / Home Improvement / Interior Design
Designing A Home Office
By:Carmen Natschke
Quick Tip #1
When buying furniture TRY IT OUT. Sit in the chair, bring the chair up to the desk. Can you reach comfortably, do your feet touch the floor, do you feel support for your lower back? This is important because a bad chair will lead to bad posture which will make you tired and achy both of which are not conducive to working successfully.
Quick Tip #2
If using a standalone monitor position it 16” to 28” from you and align the top of the monitor even with your head. Your eyes will thank you.
This is not so easy to achieve with a laptop. If you are a laptop user take more eye breaks.
Quick Tip #3
Reduce eyestrain and the early need for glasses by simply adjusting your monitor to match the lighting in the room. If you have monitor glare, purchase a glare screen or MOVE your computer setup. If you move, make sure that the computer is at a 90 degree angle from the source of glare.
Quick Tip #4
Having a problem because you feet don’t touch the floor when you sit back in your chair? Buy a foot rest…Don’t make one out of phone books or old folders! You need a good support system or you will eventually experience numbness and pain in your legs.
Quick Tip #5
The color you choose for your office is important. Green’s and Blue’s are always good choices. Studies have proven that green’s and blue’s lead to less eye strain and to better concentration. Neutrals work well but can be less than inspiring. I HIGHLY recommend staying away from bright whites and yellows since they tend to reflect the most light and that leads to eyestrain.
Quick Tip #6
A clean, pleasant smelling office will invite your clients in. Your perfect office image can be ruined in 2 seconds if it smells bad. All your hard-work to create an office for success is GONE if there is a bad smell.
Quick Tip #7
A cluttered desk may work for you but not your client. Keep an organization system close by so that you file away documents and keep your desk open for your current project. Trust me stacks of folders from your last 5 projects which are precariously close to sliding off your desk will not impress your clients.
Quick Tip #8
Buy the best office furniture you can afford. Don’t think short-term. For example you may think that your kitchen table and a few chairs you picked up at a garage sale would be great for your office. NO. Invest in your business success. If you don’t believe in your potential to succeed your clients aren’t going to buy into it either.
Quick Tip #9
When home is work and work is home it becomes difficult to make a clean break. Set fixed hours that you are at work and stick to them. It’s tempting to work more when you should be focusing on other aspects of your life. That rule also holds true for when you decide that the laundry needs to be done or the garage cleaned out. Set your hours and honor them.
Quick Tip #10
Use plants liberally in your office they will liven the office immediately. Plants add color, soften hard lines and work great for hiding unsightly areas! Silks are beautiful and easy to care for or if you have a green thumb life plants are perfect. IF you do have life plants don’t let them get brown and look like they are dying or your client will interpret that as a lack of paying attention to detail.
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Article keywords: home office design, ergonomics, work from home, decorating home office
Article Source: http://www.articles2k.com
Carmen Natschke is an award winning designer and co-founder of roominakit.com an online home decor shop and decorating resource. Carmen is passionate about decorating and has shared that passion with hundreds of women through her Decorating Divas workshops and seminars. She is currently working on her book "Decorate Like A Pro" which is based on the innovative approach to decorating taught in her workshops and seminars.
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