Home Office – Designing For the Senses
When designing your home office for ultimate productivity and success it’s important that you consider each of your five senses. By approaching your project in a comprehensive manner you will layer the effectiveness and ensure a positive reaction by all those who interact in the space. Each of us learns in a different manner, some of us are visuals, others auditory and others kinesthetic, by designing for the senses, you truly design universally.
Sight: Seeing Business Take Off
The magic of color. Use company colors to best advantage. Reinforce your brand image with the colors you have selected. Whether it is an accent wall, or a blow up of your logo on the wall, or maybe even using your logo on your office chair, all are valued ways to reinforce your brand image and remind you of your focus. (This is similar to selecting a screen saver of your logo or website.)
Color psychology sells! Consider the psychology of color in your selection. In brief, red quickens the heartbeat, and you will eat more, spend more and lose track of time all in the presence of red. Orange is the great social equalizer, and represents affordability (i.e. Home Depot). Yellow spurs memory (legal pads), can indicate caution, is generally considered sunny and cheerful, and works effectively in spaces with little or no natural light. It offers the illusion of sunshine. Blue promotes trust and a general sense of calm. Green indicates growth and renewal and is the “color of money.” Purple often represents royalty and, depending on the time of year religion; it also is a favorite hue of creative types and alleviates insomnia (i.e. promotes daydreaming). Brown is usually viewed as conservative and dependable (United Parcel Service). White indicates independence and wealth (afford to keep it clean!). Black can be very upscale and chic, but also indicate a hands off (look don’t touch) and is best used sparingly.
Light is energy, do you have enough? Of the types of light, natural or artificial (incandescent, fluorescent, halogen), natural is preferred and optimal from two directions. Torchiere lights, (up lights designed to be placed in corners) usually halogen based, with dimmers are cost effective and best when placed in dark corners, where the light will be reflected off the ceiling and illuminate the room.
Know the basics of art. It is important to consider imagery that enhances the work environment and, if clients visit, appropriate to the company image. (i.e. if a travel agency, then images of exotic destinations, if a financial planner, then images of Wall Street, graphs of stock trends, images of companies on the exchange.
Is your office in balance? You’ll need a mix of square, hard edged shapes and soft rounded curves. For example if a rectangular desk is used, consider a round conference table.
Understand your office composition. How it is all placed makes a difference; is there a visual cohesion? Is a unity evident in the furnishings by the finishes used and is the arrangement functional and effective?
Sound: Hearing the Sounds of Productivity
Banish noise. It is difficult, if not impossible, to work successfully with noise distractions, whether it is the lawn mower, dog barking, kids playing, or an over cranked stereo.
White noise is essential. Determine your favorite background sounds music (style?), talk radio, TV, trickling water, or just quiet. Incorporate a radio or stereo system into the design, or perhaps a water feature, such as a tabletop fountain.
Taste: Feasting on the Fruits of Your Labor
Quench your thirst. Even if just at a water cooler. The idea of clean, clear fresh water in a glass (no paper cups folks!) can quench and provide a mood lift. Adding a mini refrigerator if there is room can alleviate those trips to the kitchen, and be great for any visiting vendors or associates deserving a quick break. Keep it well stocked with favorite beverages. In cooler climates, a coffee maker can be a real convenience and its own wakeup therapy!
Keep the munchies at bay. Use a colorful glass bowl for sweet treats or even a tray of fruit for a quick bite. It also adds invitation to have something to offer clients or customers.
Touch: Feeling Your Goals Within Reach
Make it touchable. Add tactile elements to please your sense of touch – leather, wood, stone, cashmere, wool, chenille, rattan, wicker, sisal.
Mix it up. Juxtapose hard slick surfaces with softer elements. Don’t forget visual texture, such as patterns and plants. Layer and combine for greatest effect.
Smell: Scents of Success
Aroma therapy is big business these days, find out what triggers your creativity and lifts your energy, experiment with a variety of scents, (lavender, pine, citrus, sandalwood etc.) It doesn’t have to be overwhelming or flowery to be effective. Sometimes adding a citrus plant or herb in a decorative pot is enough to infuse your office with energy and invitation.
Keep it fresh! Avoid negative scents like mustiness, old gym shoes, day old Chinese takeout, and such. Always maintain a neutral or fresh scent. Scent can even be used as a signature for your business. If you are in a home baking business, nothing beats the heavenly smell of fresh baked cookies; often used to sell houses!
Once you have addressed the senses properly in your office environment you’ll find success soon follows.
Basement Design Idea For Your Dream Home Office
If your basement is just being used for storage or sitting there unused, why not make it into your home office? Use that space to get organized and have the office of your dreams right there in your own home.
Home Office
With this basement design idea, you can get organized, and create a space just for you. This will allow you to be more efficient with your work and your time. You will enjoy a place that is set aside just for you to work in.
By the way, when you just want to get away from whatever it is you want to get away from, you can always say, “I’m going to work!” Just click on your computer and play those great video games you’ve got hidden on there.
To begin your design, you can make a list of things that you will need. You probably already have a computer and a desk, but here are some other things you may need:
- A comfy sofa you can use to ‘think’ on when you’re not on the computer.
- A file cabinet to make sure you keep up with important documents or project ideas.
- Office supplies that you may need, or just haven’t had the room for before.
- Desk (if you don’t already have one)
- Book shelves for reference books or workbooks
- Shelving for projects or supplies
- Bins to keep your things organized and at your fingertips
- Big screen TV. for media referencing…okay, you might not be able to get away with that one!
- ‘Do Not Disturb’ sign for your door
Now you can put your office basement design idea into motion.
Find a great place to put your desk and computer. You can set up your supplies in a way that will keep you organized. Try placing a large calendar on your wall next to the computer to keep you organized and ensure that you will never miss a deadline or due date.
The shelving is great for organizing and storing supplies, projects, or other items you may need. You can get shelving that goes from the floor to the ceiling to maximize space, or just the ‘shelves in a box’ that you can put together yourself.
Place your bins on the shelves and label the sides that you see. This way you won’t have to launch a search to find a certain supply or document. You will know exactly where it is.
Place your sofa and any other furnishings you may have decided on in your office. You can keep the space from being so boring by using a few great things to spice it up. Place candles around the room for a calming effect.
Get some great houseplants that don’t need a lot of light, and place those in your office. The greatest thing about your home office basement design idea is that it’s yours. You can do whatever you want. Hang some great art on the walls to brighten it up, or place some comfy chairs for meeting with clients.
This is a great basement design idea for people who work at home. Give yourself a space to call your own, and get organized. Use these tips and ideas to help you create the perfect home office in your basement.
A Perfect Small Pool for Your Backyard
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