Odds are you’re working from home (if you’re able to), and it looks as though you might be for a little while yet. These 5 tips will help you improve your home workspace to make you more comfortable and more productive.

1. A comfortable chair

You’ll be spending a lot of time at your new desk, and the last thing you want is an uncomfortable chair. Find one that is the right height and promotes good posture so that you’re not left with any aches and pains at the end of the day. But most importantly, make sure it is comfortable to ensure that your work time is a more pleasant experience.

2. Clear workspace, clear headspace

Get your space organised and clutter-free – everything you need, nothing you don’t. Make sure you have the essentials within reaching distance so that you don’t have to keep getting up, and remove anything that’s going to inhibit you. But remember, your workspace is not just physical, it’s mental too. Get yourself into the right headspace to boost your productivity. The radio is a good idea if your space is a little quiet and you want to feel like you’re not alone in the world. But if your environment is a bit noisy, try using headphones and listening to lyric-free music like film scores, this will help eliminate distractions and improve focus. There’s loads to choose from on most music streaming apps, just search for your favourite movie.

3. Bright ideas come with light bulbs

Make sure your workspace has optimum lighting conditions, especially during wintertime. You don’t want to be straining your eyes, so a spot with good natural light would be ideal. Look for a North-facing window, if possible, for an abundance of sunshine. Our range of exquisite shutters and blinds will help you manage the flow of light into your workspace, while controlling the amount of direct sunlight you get; you don’t want your equipment to be baking in the heat. Adequate artificial light is also vital as the sun doesn’t stick around as long this time of year.

4. Introduce some life

A plant or two will not only boost your mood, but improve the air quality in your workspace too. A glimpse of green has also been proven to stimulate creativity. But don’t forget to water them! After all they do for you, they don’t deserve to die. To ensure a healthy atmosphere, it’s also important to open some windows and let in some fresh air, a stuffy environment will only make you frustrated.

5. Surface tension

Whether your work requires just a notebook or a multi-screen setup, your desk area needs to be sufficient to accommodate your entire operation. Create a setup that works for you and your needs, and remember to allow some room to manoeuvre. If you know you’re likely to have paper building up, have a plan to deal with it before it gets out of hand. Try your best to separate work from home life, your workspace should also be reserved for just that, work, and should be a permanent set-up. This will prevent you from taking work “home” with you, and will hopefully allow you to focus on your work while you’re there.

Your home workspace should be a place you enjoy being in, a place that makes you happy. Keep this in mind when setting up or optimising it, and see your focus, creativity and productivity soar.