Urbanites spend half of their days in the office. Since most of these spaces were patterned after a box, it can be dull at times. An employee’s creativity, productivity, and overall well-being are affected. This is one of the reasons why Google changed how workspaces are designed. Their designers blurred the lines between form and functionality by combining work and play to foster creativity. If an employee is relaxed and happy, they are productive.
Adapting this design philosophy can be challenging for home-based workers because of distractions at home. Regardless, here are a couple of design ideas to help transform your bland home office space into a haven for creativity and productivity:
Use color
Google’s design philosophy includes using bright and vibrant color palettes. These make their offices look fun and offbeat. For a home office, use color to change monotone walls into a bright yet warm workspace. Use the color blue to stimulate your mind or choose yellow to help unleash your creativity. Pick colors that will complement the base color you chose and test them under natural and artificial light. Light affects color, which can influence your mood.
Aside from painting your home office, use vinyl murals or custom wallpapers. These alternatives are highly recommended by interior designers in Alpine, as they can mimic natural surroundings such as calming beaches or soothing pastures. They help calm your mind while focusing on work.
White noise
Noise is naturally distracting, and most office workers prefer silence over constant chatter. In home-based work, noise is natural in the form of barking dogs, hungry cats meowing, children bantering, and the television. Installing sliding glass doors or bi-fold doors can help minimize noise, but introducing “white noise” is recommended. It masks distracting noise, which affects your focus. Music and the sound of an electric fan are examples of white noise, which can drown other noise. Choose your noise to help you concentrate better.
Optimized workstation
A functional workstation doesn’t feel cramped, and everything should be within an arm’s reach. The best way to achieve a Google-like office space is to organize your workstation. Determine what needs to stay or go. Do you have enough storage space for your office supplies and documents? Is your table wide enough as a workspace? Does your home office receive enough natural light? Is your chair comfortable and offer enough lumbar support? These are just some of the questions you need to ask yourself when optimizing your space of work.
Go for a spacious desk and a comfortable chair. Buy a desk organizer for your envelopes, paper clips, staplers, pens, and scissors. Add wall organizers and make sure that they’re within eye level. Use a cork or whiteboard to post reminders to track your daily productivity.
Google’s design philosophy promotes fun and creativity in any workplace. Productivity means a happy and relaxed employee. We hope that these ideas will inspire you to transform your home office into a creative space. Find the perfect home office design by pushing design boundaries.
