If you regularly work from home (or end up taking your work home with you) a dedicated office space is a must. As well as helping you to keep your work organised, it can offer a real boost to your productivity – as long as it’s set up correctly. While everyone will have different ways they like to work, here are a few tips to help you make your home office an inspiring place to get the job done.
Remove distractions
If you need a distraction-free work-space a minimalist setup like the one below is essential.
Beware that having a clutter free work environment will come at a cost however – as a peek underneath this desk will confirm.
Credit: https://www.flickr.com/photos/blupics/
Display your yin and yang
If on the other hand you want a bit of visual stimulation, why not juxtapose contrasting styles? Such a style can also show off the dual sides of your personality – perfect for those that work well both independently and in a team…
Work with your partner in crime
If your other half also works from home and you believe that two heads are better than one why not create a work-space that you can share? While you might occasionally knock elbows if space is limited, this arrangement is ideal for collaborative work. While the photographs in this example are are a nice touch, there’s probably no need for an official seating plan.
Credit: https://www.flickr.com/photos/tinto/
Keep office snacks close
You’ll always be just a skip away from the coffee pot if you make your kitchen your office (downside: you’re probably more likely to end up with crumbs on your desk). The idea of a ‘working lunch’ will never be the same once you’ve converted part of your kitchen into an office space.
Credit: http://www.housetweaking.com/2012/09/27/organizing-the-kitchen-desk/
Work like it’s 1966
If the pace of modern life is a little quick for you, why not turn to the past? This home office design was inspired by the 1960s style popularised in Mad Men. While you might want to pick out furniture and décor that remains faithful to historical accuracy, if you want to get any work done you’ll have to take some artistic licence with the technology.
Credit: http://st.hzcdn.com/simgs/19a179c602532742_4-1559/midcentury-home-office-and-library.jpg
Get in character
With a little bit of deduction you might notice that this home office has been heavily influenced by the Victorian era detective Sherlock Holmes – or the latest BBC adaptation of his adventures anyway). Even without your own Watson, playing the part of Holmes will surely improve your critical thinking.
Credit: http://imgur.com/a/xuem4#0 
Have a furry friend keep you company
While a few trendy companies have a bring your dog to work policy most of us would lose our jobs if we started turning up to the office with our pet. This is despite studies showing that having a dog nearby can make you 200% more productive and three times less dependent on caffeine (citation needed). If you’re working from home implement your own policy that states something cute and cuddly must be within 10 metres during working hours.
Credit: https://www.flickr.com/photos/nkeppol/
Get some fresh air
Ok, so you probably don’t want to completely open up your office space to the elements as winter approaches, but the brain doesn’t function too well without a fresh supply of oxygen, so make sure you choose a spot in your home that has a window at least. The natural light won’t do you any harm either!