Top Tips For Working From Home

Working from home brings many advantages - from setting your own schedule, saving time and commuting costs, to a better work-life balance. However, being successful in a home office is often related to the environment you are working in, so it’s important to create a space that promotes productivity.

First of all, make a list of your needs - desk, computer, printer, phone, additional filing space and so on. Now you know how much space you need, it’s time to designate an area in your home that will cater to this. Ideally, choose a place that is quiet where you won’t be interrupted - this is particularly important if you flat-share or have children.  

Pictured above: Bontempi Casa’s Vanity Ceramic Desk and the Saint Tropez Office Chair by Calligaris, both available at Lime Modern Living

Next, it’s important to consider storage. Often a home office is relegated to the spare room, so it can instantly start to feel cramped when you start adding a desk and chair. Wall shelves and desks with built-in filing systems are good solutions to help you save on space. The main objective is to create an organised area where you can function efficiently. Bontempi Casa’s Vanity Ceramic Desk or Cattelan Italia’s Wolf Desk are good solutions if you want to make sure your spare room still looks like a living space. They both feature a slimline desktop and can be transformed into a dressing table if you’ve got guests to stay.

If you’re on the phone a lot, it can be worth installing a dedicated phone line to avoid any interruptions. This will also allow you to keep track of any additional costs you may be spending and help separate your professional life from your personal one.

Another important consideration is a comfortable chair. Dragging a chair from the dining room may seem like a simple cost-saving solution in the short term, but will this be supportive for your back all day? It’s worth investing in a good quality design to ensure maximum comfort. The Igloo Soft Office Chair and the Saint Tropez by Calligaris are both practical and stylish options.

Finally - establish office hours and hang a clock on the wall. Working from home comes with many benefits, but there are some drawbacks too. It’s important to differentiate between work time and personal time, so set a typical schedule and try to stick to it. This should help you stay focused while maintaining a good work-life balance.