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Whether you work from home and you just like to have a designated area to do computer work, creating a home office that is both functional and pleasant to be in can serve you well in terms of productivity. Often times, the office can make many people feel stressed or overwhelmed. However, if you design your home office with intentionality, it can become a place where you feel relaxed, focused and ready to work.

Rule number one is to find a space in your house that is hidden away from distractions, ideally away from the main living rooms in your household. If your floor plan doesn’t have a designated office, a guest room or any extra room will work just fine, and may even be better for your productivity.

Marry style and comfort. Pinterest and other design websites focus on sleek, minimalistic office styles. While this is pretty, it’s not exactly functional for the average working adult. Don’t sacrifice your needs in order to make your office look like a picture in a magazine- functionality first. Choose supportive desk chairs and be sure to include plenty of storage in order to avoid clutter. Desks with multiple drawers are always great, or you can opt for built-in bookshelves for even more room.

Keep things simple. Your office’s overall theme should be simple and relaxing, not busy and overwhelming. Avoid including too much overstimulating decor, as you may find that it causes your mind to become more cluttered. Instead, focus on calming colors and minimal decorations, such as plants, family photos or artwork that you truly love. Likewise, keep desk knick-knacks to a minimum. However, do include things that make you happy.

Utilize lighting. If you have great natural lighting in the room, take advantage of it! Instead of placing your desk against a plain, dark wall, place it near or in front of the window- and use sunlight as your main lighting source. Not only is this great for your overall mood, but also your eyesight. Of course, additional lighting will be needed. Desk lamps are essential for late-night work to avoid straining your eyes.

Bring in the textures. Just like functionality is a top priority, comfort should be too. You want to enjoy working in your office, so do anything you can to make it inviting. Include pillows, fuzzy rugs and throw blankets. If space allows, you might find an armchair with an ottoman to be a nice addition for light work or reading.

Use your intuition and design a place that feels homey to you. Play around with what works and what doesn’t- that’s the beauty of designing an office at home. You can easily change anything you don’t like. If you work from home full-time, you’re bound to come up with ideas along the way that will help make your work life even more productive.