If you work out of your Philadelphia home, you’re not alone. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the number of people who work from home at least one day out of the week increased by 4.2 million between 1997 and 2010, meaning that around 13.4 million people work from home at least on occasion. Although people may joke about a drop in productivity when people work out of home offices, there are ways to create a space that lets you focus and complete the day’s tasks without distraction.
Solve the Paper Puzzle
Although it’s a digital era, home offices tend to get overwhelmed with paper clutter. If your office space is full of piles of paper, stacks of unopened mail, and filing cabinets that don’t really close anymore, it’s time to take action. One of the first things to do is to switch any bills that you can over to a digital or emailed version. There’s no need to get a physical version of your monthly electric bill, cable bill, or phone bill, especially if you’ll pay them online.
Next, sift through your filing system and pull out and shred any outdated paperwork. If you don’t have a filing system in place, now’s the time to start one. You can use a filing cabinet or a file box. Pick file folders in a rainbow of colors, so that you can color code based on category. For example, everything related to your work can go into a green folder, medical paperwork can go into a red folder, and financial documents can go into blue folders.
Consider Your Chair
When it comes to office chairs, there’s a temptation to choose form over function. It’s natural to want the chair that you’ll spend hours in to look nice. But, that chair should also feel nice. If the chair is your style, but doesn’t have an adjustable seat or back, doesn’t roll, and lacks armrests, it’s not going to be comfortable after several hours. Cornell University has a handy seating evaluation form it uses to determine if various types of office chair pass muster when it comes to comfort and ergonomics.
Focus on the Walls and Floor
While a collection of tchotchkes on your desk or bookshelves can be distracting and can collect dust, a few carefully chosen prints or photos on the wall can be an ideal way to decorate and spruce up a home office. A new coat of paint on the wall and a comfortable rug on the floor can also brighten things up and make your office feel more cozy. Don’t go overboard when picking a paint color or choosing the art to hang. A neutral color, such as gray, can be interesting without being so eye-catching as to be distracting.
Cover Up Your Cables
Cables and cords are part of modern office life, even as more and more things go wireless. You have two options when it comes to dealing with your home office’s cable collection. You can corral them with a cord cover or you can gather them together with zip ties to keep them from trailing all over the office. Some cord covers are designed to look like molding on the wall, making them a perfect camouflage option.
If you’re trying to put your house on the market in Philadelphia, a well decorated and organized home office can be a big selling point. Just make sure you clear away any clutter before people come to check out your house.
Image Source: Flickr/Adam Bartlett
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