One may think little about it, but good office design matters. Obviously, an excellent workplace setup has positive effects on an employee’s performance and productivity.
However, as remote work becomes more popular, people are turning their extra rooms into workspaces. Or if you have been working remotely for quite some time, it may be time for a home office renovation.
So, how do you achieve an aesthetically pleasing workspace without breaking the bank?
Here are a few simple home renovation ideas.
The Main Event: Your Office Desk
You might want to think about your desk when starting your home office renovation.
After all, this is where much of your work happens.
Consider the kind of tasks that you perform.
Do you need a lot of space for your planners, notes, and boards?
Or are you okay with a desk that is enough to hold your computer (or laptop) and a couple of office supplies?
If you find your workspace too cluttered, it can hamper the effectiveness of working from home. It also signals that it’s time for an upgrade.
Office desks can be found anywhere. However, there are cheap ones found in online stores. Just be sure to read reviews and check if the shop is trustworthy.
You can also explore different desks at the mall. This way, you can ask a sales representative for details about the product and compare different brands.
Soundproofing Your Home Office
One of the cheap home improvements that make a difference is soundproofing.
Since most, if not all, remote workers do not work in a company office, they have no control over outside noises.
It’s often typical to hear dogs barking, chickens crowing, children playing, and such when working from home in the Philippines.
As such, it may be high time to delve into noise-proofing your home office.
One affordable way to do so is by adding a weather strip. This is a most effective solution if outside sounds are coming into your room through cracks in your door or windows.
Side note: a weather strip is a thin rubber tubing that is applied on the inside of the door or where the window meets the frame.
Another inexpensive way is to use thick curtains because windows let in a lot of noise from the outside.
If you can, buy a curtain with many layers. This way, sounds have to pass through thick fabrics, which cushions and softens them.
Consider Your Walls and Flooring
Next on the list are your walls and floor. After all, you stare at the walls most of the time. You might as well make them enjoyable to look at.
Also, a nice-colored wall can serve as a suitable background during on-camera meetings.
There are often many schools of thought for design: modern and sleek, traditional, artsy, etc. Anything that floats your boat, really.
However, start by checking for any common wall paint problems like peeling, blistering, or mildew. If you do see these problems, it is best to address them first.
If your wall does not have any of these issues, go ahead and pick a new wall color that best suits you or your personality.
Make sure that the paint is compatible with the type of wall surface you have: whether concrete or wood.
Take note, you will need a primer if the new color you selected is lighter than your old wall paint.
To save money even further, you can paint your wall yourself as a Do-It-Yourself (DIY) home renovation project.
Think of the Lighting
Lastly, one of the vital aspects of a work-from-home environment is good lighting so you don’t strain your eyes.
Yet, you may be hesitant to use a lot of lights. After all, you might end up paying a high electric bill. Thus, you can use compact fluorescent lightbulbs (CFLs) or solar lights, which are extremely convenient during power outages.
Final Word
Tackling your home office renovation can be a fun side project. However, be sure to set a budget and stick with it.
A renovation may be all you need to breathe life into your workspace. It might even motivate you to work harder.
On that note, if you are thinking of switching to remote work, check out Remote Staff’s job listings. You might find something that suits your skill set.
Remote Staff has also been in the industry for 15 years now. And the company has been at the forefront of promoting Filipino remote workers’ world-class talent.
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