#WFH like a boss: maximizing your home office space
About one-third of Americans are working from home due to coronavirus, and that includes me. Over the course of a few months, I went from Kylie post billion-dollar valuation to Kylie pre-teen. I am back living with my family and haven’t touched a hairbrush or make-up palette since March 2020.
According to a recent study by PwC, half of executives in the U.S. expect to extend options for employees to work from home at least one day a week post-COVID. #SorryMom, looks like you’re stuck with me a little bit longer.
With going into the office becoming less and less of “a thing,” here are some tips on how to #WFH like a boss.
Designate a workspace
Unfortunately, when I went off to college eight years ago, my mom turned my childhood bedroom into her “Craft Room.” From her homemade bird houses and half-finished art projects to rolls of ribbon suspended from the ceiling, it currently isn’t the most conducive place to concentrate.
After speed-dating with every room in the house, I decided to commit to the dining room. Although not a traditional office, I’m able to separate work from the distractions of television and the ice cream in the freezer. This way, at the end of the day, when I finally close my laptop I can relax on the couch without feeling like I’m still at work. Keeping your “work” and “home life” separate is essential.
According to Realtor.com, listings featuring a home office yield a 3.5% price premium and sell nine days faster than listings without one. Looks like my mom may need to re-think her “Craft Room.”
If you’re still having trouble locating a spot for your at-home office, @fractureme suggests putting a desk in a pocket of space near a fireplace or under a stairwell that you’re struggling to decorate.
Good light is a top priority
It turns out, good lighting isn’t just for taking selfies, it can actually increase productivity. Spending the majority of your day in front of a screen can put strain on your eyes, but making good lighting a top priority can do wonders for your mood and help reduce headaches and fatigue.
While I’m working in my dining room, I also open up the windows to enjoy a fresh breeze. #LifeHack: If you do this while letting the light shine on your face, try closing your eyes and drinking a margarita—it feels like you’re on a company retreat.
For best results, start by replacing your old windows. According to the 2019 Cost vs. Value report from Remodeling Magazine, you can expect to recoup 60% to 90% of your costs replacing windows when you sell. There’s also an opportunity to receive a green energy tax credit of 10% for the upgrade. But overall, you can’t really put price on great selfie lighting… can you?
Interiors blogger Bianca Hall (@FrenchforPineapple) agrees. In addition to positioning her desk next to the window for natural light, Bianca’s desk lamp also helps her stay focused. “Working from home can be tricky if you’re easily distracted like me,” says Bianca. But there are four key things that help me focus, which are lighting, warmth, comfort, and calm surroundings,” she explained.
Bianca added a super comfortable Flokk chair and replaced an old radiator, turning her office from an “ice box” into a “cozy space.”
Find a good spot for video calls
Before I found a good Zoom spot, my video calls could be summed up with the following: “Gosh Dad, stop embarrassing me in front of my coworkers!”
While the dining room is the perfect spot for my day-to-day laptop work, there are no doors to block out sound from the rest of the house, including but not limited to: dogs barking, nieces and nephews running around, my Dad singing showtunes…. I think you get the idea.
For these reasons, I started doing my video calls in the closet. I situate myself so the door and wall with trim and crown molding are my background. I look professional AF.
According to Metrie’s 2018 Home Improvement ROI report, 97% of respondents said that moldings and trim affected the overall price of the home. As well, 62% said trim is among the most important factors contributing to a home’s visual appeal, and 90% were likely to recommend a trim-related upgrade to the client. No wonder I look so good during my Zoom calls!
If you want to take your plain background to the next level, interior designer Gia Milazzo Smith (@designsbygia) suggests hanging a large piece of art on it. “A large, bold, colorful piece of art brings character to your space,” said Gia. “If you don’t have a large piece of art, try to use a grouping of smaller pieces,” she added.
Get ready for the day
Now that you have an in-home office in place, don’t forget to put on pants! While I’m all about the new mullet—business on the top, none of your business on the bottom—the simple act of getting ready for the day can be super helpful toward productivity. You don’t have to dress as formally as you might for the office, but changing clothes signifies that you’re ready to get sh*t done.
While wearing clothes may not increase your home value, it will definitely score you major points with the neighbors.
The gist
Working from home can be crazy, especially when you’re not living alone. By investing in an office workspace for your family, you can add a great deal of value to the property and #WFH like a boss. Even things like replacing windows and adding new trim or molding can make a difference. With more and more people working outside the office, a major selling point when buying a home is finding a place not only where you can raise your children, but also grow your career.
With all that money you saved up from not traveling or going to bars and restaurants—home improvement is the perfect place to start investing. Get Plunk for more tips on which remodeling projects increase your home equity.
