With Tips from Feng Shui Expert Leanne Carius from The Feng Shui Store and More and leannecarius.com
The key to a good home workspace is careful planning. Without careful planning and great systems, your workspace can very quickly turn into a wasteland of paper, junk and a room that just feels cluttered. Your home workspace needs to be a space that you enjoy spending time in. It needs to be clear, clutter free, organised, and a place where everything has a home.
1. Organisation and forward planning are key, which also apply to workspaces for the kids. Leanne also recommends increasing focus with a grounding essential oil such as this Root Chakra Blend from Pro Oils or try the Clarity Essential Spray Mist from Scented Drops. Online tools such as Focus at Will can also help.
2. The lighting in the space is very important. You should have a combination of general (overhead) lighting and task lighting in the form of a desk lamp. Make sure that if you are working at night, that your desk lamp is good quality and doesn’t strain your eyes. Ideally, a home office should have lots of natural light during the day and remember not to place your computer so that it’s facing into glare.
3. At the moment, you might have several family members working in one space. This will dictate how you organise the room. If you or your children are working on the dining table, try to pack up everything in the evenings. This will reduce clutter and enable you to still enjoy this as a family space, rather than a workspace. You need separation from work and down time. Leanne advises family members should not be sitting back to back, aim for side by side if possible.
4. If you can, it’s great to be able to place the desk up against a wall but try not to have your back to the door. If having your back to the door is unavoidable try placing a mirror either on the wall in front of you or even on the desk. This negates any negative energy of feeling vulnerable. Leanne also says that it can also be a good idea to have your back facing a solid wall (desk facing out) or at the very least a high back chair for support, stability and grounding.
5. Great storage is essential and doesn’t need to cost a fortune. Stores like Officeworks, Kmart and Ikea have some excellent solutions. Consider multi-purpose items such as bookcases that also incorporate cupboards. If you need a temporary desk, try these fabulous desks from Build a Desk.
6. The style of the space may not be highest priority at the moment, especially of the workspace is temporary. However, try to make it as pleasant as possible and if you are designing it to be permanent you need to consider the style you’re hoping to achieve as well as the colour palette. Take into account both the room as well as the style of your home and stay within those parameters for a cohesive result. Both Leanne and I agree that keeping the space clutter free, being organised and having room to move are the highest priorities and enable chi and energy to flow.
7. I’m not a huge fan of stock standard office chairs. Think a bit outside the box on this one and look for chairs that combine both functionality and aesthetics. There are some really beautiful office chairs out there that can be a statement and set the tone for the room. Another alternative to think about is dining chairs. These can also work really well, but just check for comfort and I’d suggest erring on the side of upholstered styles.
8. Same goes for the desk. If you can, stay away from the more sterile furniture and you’ll achieve a room that has a warmer and more textured feel. It doesn’t mean spending loads of money, there are some great options at stores such as IKEA for example. Sometimes even small dining tables or larger console tables can work really well and give the room a lot of character. However, don’t get caught up in the beauty of a piece and forget your functional needs, it’s a balance! Trestle styles really work beautifully, especially for the more feminine type of home offices. Picture a combination of a beautiful white trestle desk with a stunning upholstered chair. That is already has the makings of a fantastic home office that meets your needs and has the ‘wow’ factor.
9. I do highly recommend to can get some artwork into your workspace if you can. There’s not a lot of requirements for soft furnishings and layering in a workspace, and at the moment it’s all about practicality, but there are touches that you can add. You may be able to add a rug or a cushion to add some extra warmth, texture and colour.
10. Style your desk so that it’s visually pleasing but organized and not cluttered. Go shopping for coordinated stationary, desk stationary items such as in trays, storage boxes, pen holders, etc. There are so many gorgeous options on the market at all price points. It is possible to have a highly organised, gorgeous looking desk. Just because it’s a workspace, don’t be afraid to make it look and feel beautiful, and to add those personal touches. Incorporate items that make you happy, such as flowers, desk accessories, photos, and even some plants. If looking after real plants is too hard, even a little faux pot plant can bring life and colour into the room.
While it may be challenging at the moment, integrating a few of these ideas can give you space this is more functional and organised. Aim for room that you look forward to spending time in and that you feel inspired and happy to work in.
Happy Styling xx
