Whether you have a separate room in your home that functions as an office or you’re using a slice of real estate in the living room, home offices are certainly valuable. And as homeowners, we want to ensure we’re maximizing this space, setting it up for optimal functionality, and creating a place we can focus and thrive. Whether you’ve already set up a home office or are starting from scratch, let’s take a look at a few of the most common home-office mistakes that homeowners should avoid:

No Consistency

If you don’t have a separate office, one of the biggest challenges to working from home may be where to work. Just because you don’t have a separate room dedicated as an office doesn’t mean you can’t have a consistent workspace. When professionals are always working somewhere different in their home, it can be challenging to establish that productive professional environment around your workspace. Creating a consistent work area in your home when possible is a great strategy. Even if it’s the end of your kitchen table or a small desk in the living room, using that same space every day can help you define it as your office.

No Differentiation

Again, you don’t need to have a room for a private office in your home to have a good office set up. If your kitchen or living room is double functioning as an office, the key is differentiating the space. This can be done in subtle ways, but marking off the area as a work zone can help you and family members to treat it as such. A rug under a desk in the living room, for example, can help define the space. If you’re in the kitchen, moving away any dishes or other distractions and giving yourself a clear work surface is important. You want to define your workspace as separate from your personal space, even if the two are overlapping.

 

No Comfort

In the office, often our furniture is designed with ergonomics in mind. Our chairs, desks, and computer monitors are set up to help support better positioning throughout the day. At home, you want to give yourself that same support. Maybe you invest in a new work chair or perhaps you adjust the height of your monitor to prevent slouched shoulders. Whatever the case, creating a space that is comfortable and that promotes a healthy work posture is key.

No Inspiration

Some homeowners feel like their workspace needs to be empty and neutral, but this doesn’t always create the best environment. To keep yourself motivated and engaged, try adding some decorative accents to your workspace, wherever that may be. A pop of color that you like, a little plant, a favorite photo or quote on display. Making your home office space feel inspiring can help you cultivate the productivity you need to thrive while working there.

 

For Southern Maryland homeowners who want to maximize their at-home office space, avoiding these common mistakes is important. Do you have an office setup at home? What things work well? Are there any challenges you’re running into? I’d love to hear your thoughts!