A calm and stylish space can boost productivity and look
good, as entrepreneur Liz Earle tells Gabrielle Fagan.
Millions of us now spending some, if not all, of our time working from
home. And one of the joys of working in your own space is that you're
the boss when it comes to design and ambience - so you can escape dull
desks and bland decor and kit out your own personalised sanctuary to
suit your taste.
Entrepreneur and beauty and wellbeing expert, Liz Earle, has teamed up
with blinds and curtain specialist Hillarys (hillarys.co.uk), to reveal
her own home office and simple but effective tips to help you conjure a
stylish work area of your own, where you can be happy as well as
productive.
"It's a quick and easy strategy for creating the perfect space, or could
be used for an existing office makeover, which could be just what you
need to reinvigorate your home-working life," enthuses mother-of-five
Earle, 54, who lives on a farm in the West Country. "There's undoubtedly
a whole host of benefits to home-working, particularly from a health and
wellbeing perspective, whether that's because you're escaping the daily
commute or because you're able to spend more time with the family."
Read on to discover Earle's approach for creating a calm and stylish
home office...
1. Work with the light
"Put your desk in front of a window; plenty of natural light is the holy
grail, as it's known to significantly help increase energy, creativity
and productivity," advises Earle. "Wood or faux wood Venetian blinds are
perfect for home office windows as they filter light, which will
minimise glare on a computer screen and the slats can be adjusted to
control light levels when the sun moves round during the day. Go for
function but don't forget about style. Roman blinds soften the look, and
a pretty botanical fabric brings a lovely feel of nature into the room."
2. Make an eco desk choice
"Make your office more eco-friendly with a desk made from reclaimed
scaffolding boards and simple trestle legs," Earle suggests.
"Scaffolding boards can be picked up cheaply from a salvage yard, and
the beauty of doing this is that you can design your desk according to
your space and needs. Make sure there's room for a task light and desk
accessories."
3. Invest in a great chair
"As tempting as it sounds, dragging a chair from the dining room or a
stool from the kitchen is a false economy," Earle warns. "An
ergonomically designed chair may not give you the designer feel you had
in mind - but your back will thank you for it! You can always pretty it
up with a cosy sheepskin or throw.
"Don't hunch over a laptop - set up a computer monitor at eye level and
use a separate keyboard, ergonomic mouse or track pad. Rest forearms on
the desk while typing and invest in a simple foot rest to ensure you sit
with legs at a comfortable 90-degree angle to the floor."
TIP: Try to do simple stretches and strength moves regularly throughout
the day. You don't necessarily need equipment - try out chair yoga which
can be done while seated.
4. Get crafty with accessories
"It needn't cost the earth to decorate your office. Charity shops and
car-boot sales are perfect hunting grounds for quirky, vintage pieces,
or you could indulge in some DIY creativity," says Earle. "Cover plain
cardboard box files with wallpaper or fabric for a fabulous bespoke
look. A pin-board, made from a wooden picture frame, foam and fabric, is
a great way to display photos, to-do lists or other information you want
to see at a glance."
TIP: Schedule things in your diary that make you happy, not just work
tasks.
5. Bring nature into your space
"It's been proven that plants in the workplace can reduce stress levels
and increase productivity," Earle points out. "Aside from these health
benefits, plants are a cheap and cheerful way to add decoration and
bring the outdoors in. I opt for green, leafy plants like ferns or ivy,
avoiding cacti whose spikes can create the opposite of a relaxed
feeling, or flowers with a strong scent, which can be distracting or
irritating." And if caring for real plants doesn't quite work out for
you, there are great faux options available these days, so you can still
get that calming, leafy look.
6. Conceal the clutter
"But remember, the more stuff you add to your desk, the more your brain
has to keep track of," adds Earle. "Working in a crowded space can be
mentally exhausting and distracting, even if you don't realise it. Get
creative with storage. I've used soft, floaty voile curtains to disguise
a shelving unit."
7. Create an uplifting display
Finally, treasured photos that spark joy, and meaningful sayings to keep
motivation levels up, make an ideal finishing touch. "Pictures and
photographs can be a great way to inspire creativity and a feeling of
wellness," says Earle. "Pick out three or four that are significant to
you and make sure those are in your view."
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