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Get More Done With a Minimalist Home Office
Your home office should be a place where you can get things done. Freeing yourself from distractions and making it easy to find what you need helps you work more efficiently. A minimalist home office is a great way to clear up the clutter and allow yourself to focus fully on your work.
Benefits of a Minimalist Home Office
When designing your home office, it may seem like the more stuff you have access to, the better. You may want everything you could possibly need within reach so you never have to leave your desk. However, overstuffing your office can be a major detriment to your focus.
Limiting what’s allowed in your workspace can make you feel more relaxed and allow you to concentrate on your work with fewer distractions.
Minimalism isn’t about getting rid of everything but the desk — it’s about making sure everything in your space has a purpose and a place. By removing things you don’t need and organizing the things you do, you can find things more easily and be more productive in your office.
Styling a Minimalist Workspace
There are a few things that can help you bring minimalist style to your office.
The Basics
Before you can determine what you want in your home office, you have to determine what you need. These are the things you should probably have no matter what in order to do your work. Of course, everyone’s work is different, so if something seems unnecessary or distracting to you, follow your instincts.
First, the obvious. You need a desk and somewhere comfortable to sit. If you’re uncomfortable while trying to work, you’ll be distracted trying to shift in your seat or getting up over and over. Choose a comfy office chair and a desk to hold everything you need.
Next, consider your technological needs. Is your work the type that would benefit from a second computer monitor or a printer? If so, factor those into your design.
Make sure you’re getting enough light, as well. Sometimes a large window is enough during the day, but it’s a good idea to add in some comfortable lighting for cloudy days or evening work sessions.
Storage is also an important part of an efficient workspace. Proper storage allows you to keep your workspace clear while still having access to all the things you might need.
Degrees of Minimalism
There are degrees of minimalism, and what you choose is largely based on personal preference. Some prefer strict minimalism, with little visual distractions and only the bare necessities. Others find that a little visual interest keeps them from becoming bored. It’s all about striking a balance between meeting your needs and limiting distractions.
Consider the things you use most during your work time. Do you really use paper and pen that often, or is most of your work digital? Does having access to all your physical files make you more efficient, or could you easily bring them into your space only as needed? There is no wrong answer here.
Make Every Piece Count
Minimalism doesn’t mean you can’t have anything in your space. It’s based on the philosophy that every piece in the room should have a purpose, even if that purpose is purely visual interest. When designing your home office, think about the value of each item of furniture or decor.
Another tenet of minimalism is that everything should have a place. If something doesn’t have a designated space within your office, consider whether you can assign it one, or whether it would be better suited elsewhere in your home. If it’s important to you to have access to something, it’s worth the time to find it a home, even if it would require some rearranging.
Incorporate Your Storage
Having a lot of things in your office doesn’t mean it needs to be cluttered or overstimulating. There are plenty of ways to incorporate storage to keep necessary items out of sight but still within easy reach. No longer do filing cabinets only come in bulky, industrial metal. They can be found in an array of colors, sizes, and materials to suit any aesthetic.
You can also incorporate shelves, cabinets, and drawers to organize your office supplies. Once you know how much needs to be stored, you can determine what types of storage solutions you need. You may find a desk with drawers or a simple file cabinet are plenty.
When choosing storage, find something that works well with your aesthetic and blends in easily. This will keep it from being too visually stimulating and distracting you.
Converting a Maximalist Space
If your home office is already cluttered with every item you can think of to “aid” your productivity, it may be hard to figure out what you actually need. If you’re not ready to commit to a full strip-down of your space, you can work toward minimalism one step at a time.
There are a few ways to go about this. You can go by item, selecting one or two things a day and paying attention to how much you use them. If you don’t need them often — or at all — rehome them, or get rid of them entirely.
You can also go space by space. Take a little time to go through each area of your office in small increments and assess each item there. How often do you pull down those reference books? How many files do you paperclip together on a daily basis? Does that plant make the room feel more comfortable or just more cluttered?
Improve Your Productivity With a Minimalist Home Office
Designing a minimalist home office helps improve focus by eliminating distractions and unnecessary stimulation. You don’t need to strip your space down to the bare bones for it to be minimalist. Simply ensure that everything you include has a purpose and a place. Whether you’re fully redecorating or just trying to clear a few things out, minimalism is a great way to improve your productivity.