As working from home becomes the new normal across the globe, staying productive on a day-to-day basis on the tasks at hand can turn out to be quite a challenge – thanks to the never-ending sources of distraction at our disposal. But don’t worry; we’ve put together a list of design tips for your workspace that could help you maximise your focus and seamlessly take the high road to productivity.
A dedicated work space in your home helps you set aside household distractions and focus on work.
It’s easier to concentrate when there are no distractions, like pets, children, family members watching TV, noises from the kitchen, and so on. So pick a spot that is away from all such distractions. Ideally, a separate room that you can convert into your office space can work wonders for your productivity. But if you don’t have that luxury, pick a space where you can sit comfortably and work, and distractions are minimum, so you can keep your focus high throughout your workday.

A clean, organized workspace will go a long way in putting you in a frame of mind that’s conducive to working productively.
Recognise your necessities, try the box dump test. Everything on your desk and your drawers should be dumped into a box and kept next to your table. As the week progresses, pick out items from the box. For everything else in the box, find another part of your home to store that doesn’t take up your workspace real estate. This is an effective way to figure out what your work-related necessities are, and avoid clutter.
It’s absolutely fine to keep some pictures of your family and friends on your desk, but avoid crowding it with chunky frames. Pick two or three of your favourites and avoid keeping multiple copies of notes, receipts etc., especially if you have digital copies of the same. Try to organize as many documents as possible on the cloud. Keep only the necessary items on the desk. The rest can go inside the drawer.
A small house plant on your desk can add freshness and brightness to your desk, especially when your eyes need a break from the screen. You can pick something that’s easy to maintain like a money plant or a succulent. If keeping a plant alive is not something you see yourself doing, try arranging your desk so that it faces your window.

Home office colours don’t have to be neutral. Colour can inject energy into a room, helping the inhabitant to feel motivated and inspired. Indoor plants breathe life into a soothing neutral colour palette. The home office can be occupies an entire bedroom wall, which has a minimalist feel with a strictly white palette and strategically placed accents of color throughout. “Color is used to increase the length of the home wall mounted desk design and recessed shelving. Wooden shelves placed at various levels add homely touches.

If you have an untameable abundance of papers and equipment its best to be realistic and plan for it rather than kid yourself that you’re going to manage a minimalist workspace. Utilise small boxes and baskets for irregular shaped bits and bobs. Invest in more than one set of desk drawers, but in a matching design for a cohesive look. Bright colours work well as they bring light hearted cheer to organised chaos.

REFERENCES:
Ponkshe, P., 2021. 7 Interior Design Tips for Work from Home – covid 19- Trimit Rachana blog. [online] Trimi Rachana. Available at: <https://www.trimitrachana.com/blog/7-tips-to-work-from-home-covid-19> [Accessed 27 April 2021].
Thomas, S. and Thomas, S., 2021. Create Work Space to Boost Work From Home Productivity – HomeLane Blog. [online] HomeLane Blog. Available at: <https://www.homelane.com/blog/work-from-home-wfh-tips-in-covid-19/> [Accessed 27 April 2021].