This post was written in collaboration with Desenio who kindly gifted me their wall art and frames.
Working from home has become the new normal. With Boris advising us to stay under the comfort of our own roof to carry out our nine-to-fives, there’s nothing more dissatisfying than working in a disorganised office that is in desperate need of some TLC.
During these turbulent times, I’m certain we can all agree that the more comfort we have in this world of chaos, the better.
So, after pondering through some design concepts and rummaging round the internet, my masterplan to create the perfect Pinterest-worthy office space was complete! An office space that not only appears beautifully organised, but aims to motivate and inspire too.
And the five ingredients for it? Allow me to tell you…
To the window – to the wall!
Of course, no office is complete without a desk to carry out the day’s scribbles and spreadsheets; positioning and placement are crucial in designing an office space and making sure to choose a room with at least one window can make even the most laborious tasks seem more approachable in the sunlight. We may live in a country that is often graced with gloomy skies and rain, but just being able to take a break and glance at the outside world every so often is beneficial to the well-being of anyone enduring a stay-at-home working day. Move that desk away from the monotonous blank wall and place it near or in front of a window – you can thank me later!
Ever heard of the phrase ‘plant parent’?
If you haven’t already caught onto the trend of filling your home with a forest of potted greenery, then following this year’s crowd may not be such a bad option. What you might not be aware of is the benefits of adopting a couple of green friends to accompany you in your workspace; studies have shown that constantly seeing and being around plants helps people to feel calmer and more relaxed, thus decreasing levels of anxiety – they have even been proven to increase attentiveness and memory by at least 20%! With such an abysmal 12 months of disappointment that has passed, why not treat yourself to a spider plant or maybe a little potted aloe vera? I indulged and lightened my purse at Plant and Paint, who kindly helped me choose the easiest greenery for a first time plant mama. Even if you’re simply buying a leafy companion to correspond with the Instagram aesthetic, becoming a plant parent really does reap a lot of benefits!
Part office space, part art gallery…
Now here is the most fun part of the whole process: decoration. This is the part of the workspace masterplan that allows your own personality to shine through the medium of decor! In this scenario, online shopping is your best friend – it’s never short of pen organisers, candles, and letter holders for all your ornamental needs. A notice board now lives on the wall in front of my desktop, making a fantastic addition to my working area that not only allows me to hang any bits, bobs and reminders right in front of my eyes, but looks cute too. The pièce de résistance of my home office, however, is the Desenio wall art that hangs above the sofa and cushions I added for extra comfort. For pictures, posters, or paintings, that tiresome wall in your working area is a blank canvas waiting to become an art exhibition! Framed motivational quotes are also a fabulous way to push procrastination away and inspire you to get that spreadsheet complete.
There is no such thing as too much stationery!
Okay I will admit it – I am a bit of a stationery whore… and even that is probably an understatement. But c’mon! Who doesn’t love to peruse round the stationery aisles of WHSmith and Waterstones, or indulge in a haul at trusty Paperchase? I’m a firm believer that one can never have enough stationery for their home office, and that being armed with a battalion of pens, pencils, rulers, and rubbers is always a necessary call of action when designing your workspace. The mere satisfaction of owning a plethora of equipment can be enough to inspire anyone into persevering through the exhaustion of the working week. After all, retail therapy is sometimes the best medicine… even when it must be done online.
Girl, put your records on!
Without the constant mutterings of colleagues and clients, the droning silence in between Zoom calls can sometimes feel lonely and the dreaded pangs of demotivation can begin to make their way into the room. It’s time to batten down the hatches and save your working day with a sprinkle of songs! Claiming my Google Nest Mini from Spotify was a glorious decision and one that I certainly will never find myself regretting. It’s a cheerful companion that sits beside me whilst I type away, connected by Bluetooth and accompanying me with my favourite songs. Making the most of Spotify’s plentiful playlists is often the key to unlocking my motivation, and whether its ambient lo-fi, bright pop anthems or fast hard-hitting rock, whatever gets you through the day can be played at the push of a button (or, of course, the yell of “Hey, Google! Play Band of Horses!”).
What inspires and motivating you in your WFH life?