Working from home is the future…

Working from home offers so many advantages, especially for working mums. For one, you save a lot of money from commuting and eating out. You’re also in control of your time and you’re free to create your own structure—one that will afford you a proper work-life balance. But before you can start working from home, you need to be able to set up your home office first. So, here’s a guide to creating a conducive working environment at home.

Hide it in a corner

If you don’t have enough room in your house for a home office, a cute pop-up one will do just fine. Among some of the suggestions from Stylist magazine include getting multipurpose furniture, which can transform into a desk and then blend in seamlessly into the room after you use it. You can also use some of the nooks and crannies in your home, which have enough space for all your essentials, without impacting your entire room. Think of the space under your stairs, as it could be a great home office.

Dedicate enough storage space

Storage doesn’t have to be boring. You can decorate your home office with items that can double up as storage. Industrial storage items like wire baskets and old trunks are a great idea. Utilise things from your garden such as trellis that can also double as a quirky noticeboard, while old filing cabinets from junk shops and flea markets can be repurposed into vintage-style storage units. House Beautiful’s storage solutions from Argos are great for homeowners who have limited space. It includes an idea like the Sainsbury’s Home Meadow Drawer Unit, which comes in handy for keeping small items in like bills, stationery, or notepads.

Take advantage of natural light

Daylight can help improve your mood and make you happier and more productive. In Small Business’s guide to setting up a home office, they explain that you respond better to yellow-cast lights and without this type of lighting for prolonged periods, it can cause depression. Use light curtains to let as much natural light in as possible without compromising your privacy. Don’t worry about your room looking too plain. You can use curtain poles and tiebacks to personalise it. You’d be surprised at how a curtain pole can completely transform the look of a room. Screwfix’s selection of curtain poles shows how versatile they can be as they come in a variety of designs, from traditional looks to more contemporary styles. There are curtain poles that come in a selection of finishes as well, which can help complement your home office’s overall feel and design. If you work in the evening, you can also get lamps that mimic the colour temperature of daylight, for a more soothing and relaxing workspace.

Pick out the right equipment

Are you leaning toward a laptop or a desktop computer? In case you’re going for a laptop, you can use T3’s list of best laptops for your home office as a guide. It includes the Microsoft Surface Book, the Apple MacBook Pro, and the Dell XPS 13. If you prefer a desktop computer, you can go for the Apple iMac or have one specifically custom-made for your needs. Think about other optional equipment that will enable you to be more comfortable and productive while you work. This can include anything from a good office chair, a standing desk, and an external monitor.

Add a few plants

To make your home office space cosier, the concept of biophilia is a design trend that we recently talked about on Milk + Honey, which stems from the belief that humans have an innate connection with nature. Designing a little urban jungle in your home is simple and creates a very soothing atmosphere. You can opt for hanging plants, like the ones we featured in woven planters to plants that drape downward like Bacopa, Fuchsias, Indoor Ivy, and Spider Plants (which act as air scrubbers, great for cleaning your indoor air).

It’s also a good idea to make sure your office space allows you to watch over your children if you have young ones. You can do this by placing your workspace near the living room, the kitchen or adjacent to your children’s room so you can hear them while you’re working.