Work and stay

While you may be severely restricted in what you can do to make your commercial office space more stylish and inspirational, when it comes to setting up an office at home, you have free rein. Whether you work exclusively from home or you're just looking to set up an additional workspace at home for those dreaded overtime hours that eat into your evenings and weekends, your home office should be a reflection of you — somewhere you will feel inspired, focused and yet comfortable.

One of the main challenges that arise with working at home is that a contrast of priorities — domestic versus work — will be competing for your attention and the temptation to procrastinate will be rife. To help you concentrate and to ensure that your productivity is not compromised, here are a few tips to consider when creating a home office.

Location: Choose a room or space in your home that is furthest away from the busiest areas of the home and furthest away from distractions such as the kitchen or living room, where the television might be a temptation.

Lighting and ventilation: Lighting is extremely important in a workspace — not only for your eyesight, but also to aid concentration and focus. Try to match the lighting with the type of work you will be doing. A combination of lighting options usually works best for versatility of tasks. Ambient lighting should be uniform and moderately bright (dimmer switches give you more control), overhead lighting is a must for any desk work and floor lamps allow more warmth and dimension. The area or room should be well ventilated to keep the oxygen flow to the brain consistent — stuffy rooms can lead to headaches and drowsiness.

Organisation: Just as the saying goes, "tidy home, tidy mind" never has this been more true than in a workspace. Choose functional furniture that meets all your storage needs efficiently in order to avoid a cluttered desk or overflow of papers and books.

Functionality of layout: Be creative but functional in the design of your home office — make sure everything is laid out to allow you to function at your optimum efficiency. An ergonomic and adjustable swivel chair will not only keep you comfortable, but will also allow you to move around freely without you having to get out of your seat.

— Beatrice Boardman is a UAE-based fashion and interiors consultant