Although the pandemic is over, our work lives have indeterminately changed. According toWFH Research, the percentage of Americans working from home was only 7.2% in 2019. In 2023, the number more than tripled to 29.5%. So it’s no surprise that people want cozier, more personalized work-dedicated spaces.Environmental psychologist Sally Augustin, Ph.D. writes forPsychology Todaythat a home office with more natural light, green leafy plants and placing your desk directly near a window with a scenic view makes us work and feel better. According to neuroscientists, at least. So check out this list of inspiring home offices and feel free to gather some ideas for your own!Bored Pandasought out a professional to tell us more about designing a home office. Digital creator and workspace consultant Michael Soledad was kind enough to have a chat with us. Michael helps people design their dream workspaces, mostly for those who work from home. He also creates content about products that help elevate the work-from-home experience.“I strongly believe that an inspiring space can bring out our best work!” Michael proclaims on his website. Check out Michael’s thoughts about the most important elements of a good home office and his tips on how to revamp your WFH station below!More info:Michael Soledad Design|YouTube|InstagramThis post may includeaffiliate links.
Although the pandemic is over, our work lives have indeterminately changed. According toWFH Research, the percentage of Americans working from home was only 7.2% in 2019. In 2023, the number more than tripled to 29.5%. So it’s no surprise that people want cozier, more personalized work-dedicated spaces.
Environmental psychologist Sally Augustin, Ph.D. writes forPsychology Todaythat a home office with more natural light, green leafy plants and placing your desk directly near a window with a scenic view makes us work and feel better. According to neuroscientists, at least. So check out this list of inspiring home offices and feel free to gather some ideas for your own!
Bored Pandasought out a professional to tell us more about designing a home office. Digital creator and workspace consultant Michael Soledad was kind enough to have a chat with us. Michael helps people design their dream workspaces, mostly for those who work from home. He also creates content about products that help elevate the work-from-home experience.
“I strongly believe that an inspiring space can bring out our best work!” Michael proclaims on his website. Check out Michael’s thoughts about the most important elements of a good home office and his tips on how to revamp your WFH station below!
More info:Michael Soledad Design|YouTube|Instagram
This post may includeaffiliate links.
Obviously, your office has to be functional, but if there is something we learned from the corporate environment, it is that the more beautiful and personalized our workplace is, the more likely we are to want to spend time there and produce outstanding results.Michael Soledad agrees that functional and cozy home offices are becoming more and more important. “I think it’s because having a dedicated space for work helps people become more effective at their jobs,” he tells Bored Panda.“The other advantage to having a home office is that you are able to tailor it based on your taste and workflow. This makes the space more efficient and enjoyable to work in which [we] tend to produce better output,” Michael adds.
Obviously, your office has to be functional, but if there is something we learned from the corporate environment, it is that the more beautiful and personalized our workplace is, the more likely we are to want to spend time there and produce outstanding results.
Michael Soledad agrees that functional and cozy home offices are becoming more and more important. “I think it’s because having a dedicated space for work helps people become more effective at their jobs,” he tells Bored Panda.
“The other advantage to having a home office is that you are able to tailor it based on your taste and workflow. This makes the space more efficient and enjoyable to work in which [we] tend to produce better output,” Michael adds.
We asked Michael what he thinks are the three most important elements of a good home office. He believes the first one is organization. “The more organized you are in your space, the easier it is to locate things that you need,” he puts it simply.Second, you need isolation. “Being in a dedicated space helps you focus on the task at hand,” Michael explains. “This doesn’t necessarily mean that you need a space that is fully removed from the rest of the house because even a small area or desk for work can help you get in the proper mindset.“And last, but probably the most important, is inspiration. “Nothing makes you want to do your best work more than being in a space that you enjoy,” Michael says. “Surrounding yourself with items that inspire you will help you feel like you are living in a space instead of working in it.”
We asked Michael what he thinks are the three most important elements of a good home office. He believes the first one is organization. “The more organized you are in your space, the easier it is to locate things that you need,” he puts it simply.
Second, you need isolation. “Being in a dedicated space helps you focus on the task at hand,” Michael explains. “This doesn’t necessarily mean that you need a space that is fully removed from the rest of the house because even a small area or desk for work can help you get in the proper mindset.”
And last, but probably the most important, is inspiration. “Nothing makes you want to do your best work more than being in a space that you enjoy,” Michael says. “Surrounding yourself with items that inspire you will help you feel like you are living in a space instead of working in it.”
The professional designer also shared some simple tips on how you make your home office better. “Declutter as best as you can,” Michael goes back to the rule of organization. “Only keep the essentials in the beginning, especially the things in front of you when you are working. This avoids distractions and will help you determine other needs for you as you continue to work from home.”
Second, Michael advises not to attempt to get everything you think you need at once. “Your taste can change suddenly depending on your mood or life situation. Pick one item that you need but also really like. Start there and build the rest of your space slowly, one item at a time.”
Natural light is always your friend. It is also essential in a small office because it makes the space feel bigger. That’s why, if in any way possible, try to set up your home office closer to the window. Locating it next to a window gives you the optimal access to natural light. However, if that is not possible for some reason, consider placing it at an angle against one of the corners.
Plants breathe life into any space, so why should your home office be any different? First, they keep the air around them clean. ANASA studyfrom 2007 found that plants can remove up to 87% of airborne toxins in a single day.They are also said to have a soothing effect on you – apparently, they can reduce stress and anxiety. A group ofresearchers in 2015found that touching and smelling plants can reduce physiological and psychological stress.
Plants breathe life into any space, so why should your home office be any different? First, they keep the air around them clean. ANASA studyfrom 2007 found that plants can remove up to 87% of airborne toxins in a single day.
They are also said to have a soothing effect on you – apparently, they can reduce stress and anxiety. A group ofresearchers in 2015found that touching and smelling plants can reduce physiological and psychological stress.
Are you a DIY artist, a graphic designer, or an art enthusiast? Frame it, put it on shelves, on your desk, anywhere it can shine, and make your space full of vibrant energy. Surround yourself with the things you love to create an atmosphere that makes you want to create more. And in this case, don’t worry about less being more – go all out!
If all you need for your work is your laptop and a notebook, you can skip the elaborate home office design and go for a minimal setup. You can do it in any corner of your house, as long as it gives you enough space to set up a comfortable desk and chair.And note that minimal doesn’t mean devoid of any and all decor. You can still have something on the desk or the wall so your workstation doesn’t feel empty; just make sure you keep it in sync with the rest of the minimalist design.
If all you need for your work is your laptop and a notebook, you can skip the elaborate home office design and go for a minimal setup. You can do it in any corner of your house, as long as it gives you enough space to set up a comfortable desk and chair.
And note that minimal doesn’t mean devoid of any and all decor. You can still have something on the desk or the wall so your workstation doesn’t feel empty; just make sure you keep it in sync with the rest of the minimalist design.
You can paint the walls, the ceiling, and the furniture in one color to create the feeling of spaciousness or go for a pop of color with just a couple of items. In both cases, your office will be a perfect reflection of your personality.
Organizing your space in an efficient way is a super important concept, especially when it comes to small home office ideas. Don’t neglect vertical space; you can mount cabinets and open shelves on the walls to free some of the valuable floor and desk space. If you use a printer or other bulky equipment, try putting it in the corner or tucking it under the table.
Where is the best place to put a home office? Of course, if you can afford to allocate an entire room to a home office, that’s great. But what if that’s not the case? Well, honestly, there is no wrong place if it makes you feel productive and inspired.Whether you manage your first company from your master bedroom or place your desk against the back wall of your garage, what matters most is what you get accomplished. So, as long as the space is big enough to fit everything you need for successful work, you can confidently call it your home office.
Where is the best place to put a home office? Of course, if you can afford to allocate an entire room to a home office, that’s great. But what if that’s not the case? Well, honestly, there is no wrong place if it makes you feel productive and inspired.
Whether you manage your first company from your master bedroom or place your desk against the back wall of your garage, what matters most is what you get accomplished. So, as long as the space is big enough to fit everything you need for successful work, you can confidently call it your home office.
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The answer is: all the peripherals have been modified to support wireless charging and extended range wireless chargers were mounted under the desk to power them (no drilling or cutting). The keyboard, charging mouse pad (power play), controller, and wireless display (tab S7+ not pictured) are all constantly being charged without ever needing to be plugged in. Basically, I hate all cables.
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