As we step into the second quarter of the year, brighter weather and long weekends are on the horizon, so staying motivated, especially while working from home, can be a challenge. Below, experts have shared the home office design mistakes to always avoid, claiming they can be a ‘productivity killer.’
Katie Anderson, Head of Visual Identity at ergonomic office furniture experts, Slouch, which is part of The Senator Group, has partnered with home office organisation expert Shannon Murphy, founder of Simpl Living Co, to share 4 things to always avoid when designing a home office.
1. Avoid overcrowding the space with furniture or storage
Shannon advises: “Always avoid overcrowding your home office space with furniture or storage. Too many items, whether functional or decorative, can quickly make a room feel overwhelming and distracting. A home office should feel calm and intentional, not busy.
“Open storage filled with visible clutter can be a major distraction. While open shelving can look aesthetically pleasing, it often becomes a place where items build up over time. If you do use it, keep it minimal and curated.”
2. Never place your desk facing clutter
Shannon explains: “Positioning your desk correctly can have a significant impact on both productivity and wellbeing. Choose a spot where you feel motivated and able to focus. If possible, avoid facing directly into areas of the home that tend to accumulate clutter or high traffic, as this can be visually distracting and mentally overwhelming. A calm, intentional view line supports a calmer, more productive mindset.
“Ideally, your desk should be placed near a window to maximise natural light, which helps with focus, reduces eye strain, and creates a more uplifting working environment.”
3. Avoid using bold colours, unless it’s in small doses
Katie explains: “Muted shades can support mental focus, making them great choices for a home office or workspace station. For a naturally calming feel, blue and green tones can help to reduce stress in a space while earthy shades such as brown and terracotta can make a space feel grounding.
“Embrace brighter shades such as yellow or muted oranges to add in an energetic feel to boost creativity but just make sure to use these shades in smaller doses to avoid overwhelming the space.
“Neutral tones such as cream and oatmeal can help to provide a distraction-free zone however they can feel stark if they’re not grounded with textures.”
4. Don’t forget to zone workspaces in the home
Shannon says: “Many people use an at home office space for too many purposes. An example of this would be where the office doubles as a storage room, laundry area, guest room or general dumping ground. When a space loses its clear purpose, it becomes much harder to focus and stay motivated.
“Zoning your space can help, separating your workspace from relaxation areas, even within the same room, reinforces boundaries and improves focus.”
Katie adds: “To help you zone your space, choosing furniture that’s flexible and that can move with you throughout the day is key, whether you’re working, reading, or relaxing. When pieces aren’t fixed to a single function, the space feels more natural.
“Choosing versatile pieces can also help you to reset and switch off at the end of the day too, transitioning the space from being a workspace to a relaxing environment.
“A layered lighting scheme can help with this, spotlighting the areas of your space that are in use, such as a desk or a cosy side table. This will help you transition the space down for relaxing when your workspace isn’t being used, helping your spaces become multifunctional.”
To find ergonomic office furniture from Slouch, please visit: https://slouchonline.com/
