How to Set up a Creative & Productive HOME OFFICE

One question I’ve gotten a lot lately is if I have any tips for working from home. You’re in luck! Because I’ve been working from home for the past 5 year. Through trial and error, I’ve become so much more productive and figured out a lot of ways for creating a work space at home. Let’s dive into some tips, tricks & hacks for setting up a creative & productive home office!

Home Office Inspiration - Erin Aschow - Ice Cream & Neon Dreams

how to set up A CREATIVE & PRODUCTIVE HOME OFFICE

As fun as working from home sounds (or sounded before you started), it’s not always as easy as it seems.

Rather than making a massive blog post about working from home, tips, apps & routines, I’m going to break it all down in multiple (easier to digest) posts! Before you do anything, it’s important to set up a space to work in.

Not only do I find it’s important that my space helps me stay focused & productive, but also making it somewhere that inspires me and keeps me feeling creative.

Whether you’re working from home permanently, just started your own business or it’s a temporary adjustment, creating your own space is essential. How can you set up a workspace to focus during your time to work smarter not harder?

A few questions to ask yourself before diving in:

What home office furniture do I need? What home office furniture to I want?
What space can I use? Is there a corner of a guest room, kitchen or living room I can take over?
How can I utilize my current home decor or work with existing home design when setting up my office?
What spaces have the best natural light? Or can I work with existing lighting?
What comfortable seating options do I have? Or, do I need to buy an office desk chair?
Is another family member or friend going to be using the space with me?
What design ideas do I have that I can look at before making any decisions.

Pick A Dedicated Office Space

Picking the “perfect” space isn’t always an option because you don’t have a dedicated room or a ton of extra space.

When I first started working from home, we were living in a tiny loft apartment. There wasn’t room for me to have a desk or office. So I invested in some noise cancelling headphones and a lap desk.

I swear, having a portable desk I could carry to the couch or our patio was such a game changer. We didn’t have a dining table (that’s how tiny the place was), so I would bring my little laptop desk to a couch or chair, pop on my noise cancelling headphones and get to work.

I eventually upgraded to this tray style desk because it has a storage drawer, built in mouse pad, phone holder and adjustable legs/tray angle. Even though I didn’t have a dedicated space, I was able to create a mobile space that I equated to working.

If you have a little extra space to spare, there are some great portable options. That way you can always put your workspace away on weekends or to create extra space. There are also a ton of compact desk options that you can put into a corner or smaller space. They even make desks that can roll over your bed and then be used as a bar area or dining table.

Another really cool option is using a wall mounted desk. You can use it for storage and fold it up when you’re not using it to create more space.

Set Up Your Lighting

Everyone has different lighting needs. I like having a well lit area to keep me feeling awake and productive.

I love this micro light therapy lamp, which basically emulates sunlight. I also love LED desk lamps that have different modes to adjust to your eye sensitivity. This one is really cool because it even has a wireless charger for your phone!

For me, being in a creative headspace, having a lamp that’s visually appealing is also important. So I picked out a lamp that fit the vibe of my office.

I’ve also seen a lot of studies that recommend natural Himalayan salt lamps. They’re supposed to be a natural and pure source of light that provide positive and soothing effects.

I also like to have candles lit while I’m working most of the time. They make me feel relaxed and revitalized. Not to mention, they make a pretty desktop accessory!

Stay Organized

Keeping your space from becoming cluttered and staying organized is vital. Creating dedicated spaces for storage of your office supplies, paperwork, notes & other items will help you stay focused. There are tons of different options depending on the type of work you’re doing, your space & amount of storage you need. You can even get creative and use an old bar cart for storage!

Essential Office Supplies & Equipment

Office equipment and supplies don’t have to be boring. But they also need to be efficient.

Investing in a comfortable chair is really important. I found a great chair that’s both pretty & comfortable. Not only do I get excited when I walk into my office because I love my chair, it’s easy to sit at all day.

A list of supplies, equipment & furniture you should consider: