home office tips

June 25, 2018 0 Comments

4 Tips for a Home Office Renovation On a Budget

When you work from home, your home office is a space you’ll spend a lot of time in, so it’s important that it works for you. Whether you’re just starting out from home, or you need to renovate, you’ll need to make the space your own.

Renovating any room in your house can be quite a process, and it’s usually not inexpensive either. Read along for some of our tips for renovation on a budget!

Repurpose

Repurpose furniture with a fresh, new coat of paint, or utilize unused items from other rooms. Can that table behind the couch be used as a table for your printer? Take what you have a make it work!

You can take a boring chair, add some fabric, and make it new again. A little bit of paint or fabric can make a world of difference. If you have a sofa in your office, add some fresh pillows or a throw. You can also repurpose someone else’s disregarded items – look to antique or garage sales that feature desks, solid furniture, or any other items that can be spruced up with a minimal amount of work.

Get digital

With sites such as Etsy, you can get a lot of artwork in a digital format. You can simply search for art prints that feature inspirational words, photos, art from other countries, and so on. There are truly an endless amount of options!

From here, you can print out the piece and have it framed, or purchase an inexpensive frame at a local store like Target or Michael’s. Digital, print-it-yourself art is typically much less expensive, and generally runs from $3-20 per piece on Etsy. Adding just a few prints will likely run you $30-100 total, and it can really change the vibe of the room.

Spend where it counts

Some items will just always be more expensive. A good, solid ergonomic office chair is a great place to spend money! A nice desk is also a place where quality is important, but you can also find good furniture at repurposed places, such as flea markets or garage sales.

You can really go “budget” on things such as office supplies. There are plenty of cute options out there that don’t break the bank!

Make a list of all the items needed for your renovation, and jot down where you can save, and where you’ll need to spend a little bit more. Once the major items are decided on, you’ll also have a better overall view of your renovation budget.

Change slowly

Start slow! You can start as small as adding a tiny plant – it can literally breathe fresh air into your space. Paint your walls one month and get a new desk the next. If you’re budgeting, earmark a small allowance each month (or every few months) to make the changes.

Creating a cozy home office doesn’t have to be expensive! Start slowly, be economical, and spend where you need to. Over time you can transform your space into your dream office with useful and cool office supplies. In no time, you’ll have a space that reflects your taste and allows you to work in peace.

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Written by Jessica Nicklos

October 23, 2017 0 Comments

5 Ways to Add Fun To Your Home Office

If you work from home, you’ll be spending a lot of time in your home office. Since it will become your main place of business, it’s important that it reflect you and be comfortable.

If you’re stuck on design ideas, or ways to incorporate your own pizazz into the office, read along! We’re sharing tips to add some fun to your home office.

Personal style

Including your personal style in your office is an easy way to start seeing items that will fit. If you go into it assuming that offices have to be sterile and boring, you won’t be able to find the items that work for you.

Is your style eclectic? Do you like really neat, clean lines and minimal color? Once you establish your personal style, you can choose a paint color, office supplies, and systems of organization that fit your personality.

Office supplies

Office supplies can be a lot of fun! From dog-shaped staplers to taco tape dispensers, to personalized pens and binders, you can really spice up your office for minimal investment.

Check out Target’s office section or hit up the Container Store for fun storage options. Office supplies certainly don’t need to be boring!

Add some art

Add something to your walls! Even if you aren’t a huge art buff, you can include something on your walls. You can also simply do a fun paint color, accent or patterned wall, or add prints from Etsy.

Etsy even has downloadable prints that you can print at home, and most range from $3-10. This is an easy way to add color, personality, and style to your space!

Add an unexpected feature

Looking to really add some fun? Add something unexpected or unique! In an office setting, something like a zen garden is great for keeping the peace and adding another feature.

You can also add plants, succulents, a small water feature, and so on. This is just something that’s fun and unique to you, that also gives your office a conversation piece!

Make it functional

Put the fun back in functional. Seek out ergonomically correct chairs, desks and office furniture. It won’t be as enjoyable being in an office if you’re uncomfortable and feeling out of alignment each time you work. But these items don’t need to be boring! There are colorful office furniture options everywhere, as well as desks that might have a unique shape or setup that’s more suited to your working style.

Don’t forget about computer and phone cords and other functional items. There are fun ways to incorporate these as well. From the functional – cord wraps – to the fun – USB cords – you can add your own spin.

Make it work for you! That’s the name of the game in making your office fun, functional, and highly personalized to you.

Written by Lesley Pyle

January 28, 2016 0 Comments

4 Ways to Stay Focused While Working From Home

As the number of employees in remote and work-from-home positions continues to skyrocket, technology has stepped up to help freelancers and telecommuters stay focused. A 2015 survey by the Society for Human Resource Management found that half of employers who allow flexible work arrangements, 60 percent of those allow telecommuting. The percentage will continue to rise, according to Global Workplace Analytics, which reports ever-increasing numbers of those working from home at least part of the time.

Technological innovations make it easier than ever to work from home, but tools that help you stay focused and harness your willpower ensure your success. Here are four ways to marry technology with time management to keep you concentrated on the task at hand.

Wake up in the Right Frame of Mind

The tone of your work day begins when you wake up, so make sure it’s off to a positive start with an alarm you love. From having your favorite upbeat playlist from iTunes play to customizing a message in the voice of a loved one, apps allow you to rise and shine to what you want to hear.

Have a habit of pressing snooze? Look for an option within the alarm that disables the snooze button, or search for an alarm that forces you to solve a puzzle or math problem before it deactivates. You’ll be more likely to get out of bed now that you’re up.

Head to a Welcoming Home Office Environment

Working on a kitchen table that’s cluttered with dirty dishes diminishes a clear state of mind, and writing in a room that has a television playing decreases productivity. Designate a work-only space you’ll love getting to the grind in. Find a place that comfortably fits all the apparatus you need and one that features ergonomical furniture that prevents slouching.

Save space by using multifunctional tools, like an all-in-one printer, fax machine, scanner and copier that is easily transportable and works with your smartphone. A desktop organizer that includes USB charging also allows you to multitask and stay organized.

Turn off Distractions

Fear of missing out, or FOMO, is an emotionally draining cultural disorder that plagues more than 55 percent of those who use social media, reports Aeon magazine. To mitigate negative feelings about having to work instead of joining in on the fun your friends are having, use a smartphone with expandable memory, like the LG G4, to power your device with all the information you need. Then, set it to airplane mode, so you don’t receive disturbing notifications while you’re working.

There also are free distraction-blocking applications, such as the Freedom app, that allow you to choose websites you don’t want to see while it’s enabled. It also lets you plan freedom sessions in advance for a variety of devices.

Stay on Schedule

Never miss an appointment or phone call by using a reliable calendar application that syncs across all your devices. Customize reminder notifications so you stay on track, and use a virtual assistant to save time with administrative tasks that prevent you from accomplishing more meaningful assignments. Integrate cloud storage into your desktop and smartphone devices, so whatever you input while away is instantly available when you work from home.

Measure your task management by using a productivity app, such as Life Graphy. This app shows you your work habits and helps you discover better ways to use your time. You’ll become more efficient and improve your work-life balance.