At-home office can maximize comfort

Prior to the coronavirus outbreak, home offices had started to go by the wayside.

According to USA Today, a study found that a majority of Americans didn’t have a designated office space in their home before the pandemic.

However, with more people working from home these days, many are rethinking their work setup.

To provide some some inspiration, we have gone through the Private Quarters archives to feature some of the home offices we’ve highlighted through the years.

Some are cozy while others are minimalistic.

But regardless of the aesthetics of your office set up, having a designated area can help make working from home feel more routine.

If you’re having some trouble feeling motivated at home, here are some tips for setting up your workspace in order to optimize productivity.

Have a designated space

Regardless of where you decide to work, try to find a space that’s away from the rest of your day.

A Medium blog post on increasing productivity recommends separating your work space from family members, pets, TV and other things at home that may be a distraction.

“Besides the practical aspect of a separate workspace, physical boundaries also help maintain some mental boundaries so that your two lives don’t bleed together,” the post notes. “Having a place to ‘go to work,’ even if it’s just a table or a corner set aside for that purpose, gives your workday some structure.”

Invest in some basics

With a lot of Americans working at home for the long haul, it may be worthwhile to invest in some of the basics of a proper work setup.

For starters, a post from Inc magazine notes that a quality chair will go a long way.

The magazine also suggests securing things like an anti-glare screen for your computer, a monitor and a keyboard.

“It’s awfully h ard to be a focused, productive person when you’re constantly straining to see your computer screen or rubbing your aching back,” the magazine notes.

A lso consi der e rgo nomic options.

According to Forbes, it’s “essential for your health and overall well-being.”

“Choosing comfortable and ergonomic furniture for your home office isn’t a luxury choice. You’ll be spending a lot of time in that office, so well-designed and ergonomic furniture is essential for your health and overall wellbeing,” according to Forbes.

Declutter your surroundings

Cutting down the clutter around you can help you keep your focus. Forbes notes that optimizes your storage options at home can help make this easier.

“The right storage solution will help you keep everything you need in that workplace nearby, without making your home office look like a total mess,” Forbes notes.

“Not only will you not be able to easily find what you’re looking for in a messy workplace; it’ll also affect your mood and overall productivity.”

CONTRIBUTED BY ASHTON WOODS HOMES Wireless technology can make almost any room a home office, but some buyers still prefer a separate location for privacy and quiet.

OQUENDO/AJC FILE CHRISTOPHER The renovations to the home included new built-ins by Pogue Cabinets that span the desk and around the office walls.

TEXT BY SHANNON DOMINY/ PHOTOS BY REYNOLDS ROGERS Adam Perry’s office is the only room in this 1951 home that he and his husband didn’t change structurally during their renovations. “It’s super cozy,” said Perry about the space, which has a low, slanting ceiling. On his office wall he also has a wooden clock in the shape of his home state, Massachusetts, purchased from Bed Bath & Beyond.

TEXT BY SHANNON DOMINY. PHOTO BY REYNOLDS ROGERS One of the rooms that opens up to the pool area is Michaela Graham’s home office. When she renovated her home last year she enclosed this space, which used to be a family room, to make it a guest room and office.

TEXT BY MARENA GALLUCCIO/FAST COPY NEWS SERVICE. CHRISTOPHER OQUENDO/AJC FILE “We have never been able to share an office, so I managed to carve out two small spaces for each of us,” Terrie Rice said. “They are sideby-side and mimic each other.”

TEXT BY LORI JOHNSTON AND SHANNON DOMINY/FAST COPY NEWS SERVICE. CHRISTOPHER OQUENDO PHOTOGRAPHY/AJC FILE Jill Edee continues the trend of white walls into her home office and onto the mantel, creating a backdrop for an original Saul Steinberg New Yorker print from 1976 that hangs above her office fireplace.

TEXT BY MARENA GALLUCCIO/ FAST COPY NEWS SERVICE. CHRISTOPHER OQUENDO/AJC FILE The 1920s sleeping porch was converted into the home office.