How To Inspire Creativity In Your Home Office
I won't lie, working from home isn't always rainbows and butterflies. It can sometimes be tough to find your mojo when your laundry is lying all over the floor, dishes are in the sink and other distractions are calling your name. It's for this very reason that when James and I bought our house I knew I NEEDED a dedicated home office. For me it's so important to have a space that inspires me, allows me to be creative but also keeps me organized. While so many people are getting in the 'back to school' mode right now, I thought it would be a good time to share a few tips for those of us who aren't hitting the books next month but might be in need of a few tips or ideas to keep the creativity flowing from their own home (or not at home) office as we make our way into the new season!
When you're setting up your home office there are the essentials:
You need a great desk that's comfortable, functional and it's a bonus if it looks great too! ;) I've had the Catonia desk from The Brick for over a year now and let me tell you, I would be lost without it! It has two drawers which are perfect for storing my necessities and an open cubby in the center is so great for the items I use all the time but that I don't want left out to clutter my desk.
Once you've got your desk situation sorted, you need to find a very comfortable chair. There's nothing worse than trying to be productive when you're uncomfortable in your chair. I happen to think a soft seat chair on casters with arms is pretty much the ideal. (But maybe I'm a bit biased because I love my Bexley Swivel Chair).
So once you've got your desk and chair, last up on the practical basics of a home office set up is to implement an organizational system. Whether that's a filing cabinet, a shelving system or just a few folders, find what works for you then stick to it!
Once you have the basics set up, then comes the fun part. For me, I want my office to not only be functional but help inspire me too. My job is creative, I need to write, take photos, work on design projects and more so I need a space that helps to nurture that and these are a few of the ways I try to inspire a bit of creativity in my happy little space!
Greenery
I feel like I talk about greenery in almost every design post but I really cannot emphasize what a difference a bit of greenery makes in a space. I like to bring greenery and plants into my office as I believe in the power of energy and seeing as plants make me happy, I truly believe having them in my office brings a bit of joy into my space. More joy = more workflow mojo; ya feel me?! Use succulents and cacti for inexpensive pops of color + texture that are low maintenance too!
Bring in Your Favourite Color
I don't think it takes long for anyone to peek at my office to guess what my favourite color is! haha I wanted my office to be a quirky, creative and colorful space so naturally I wanted to bring in my favourite colors- pink and blue! Make your office space an area that you WANT to spend time in because then you will and chances are, you'll be more productive in your space when it's a room you actually want to be in.
TIP: Keep your larger pieces neutral so you can swap out your accent colors as trends and personal preferences change.
Add Personal Touches
I think this is so important for fostering creativity but it all comes down to creating a space that you love. In my office amongst the practical necessities I have vintage pieces from my family and photos of my friends that make me smile. I can't stress enough that just because your office needs to be functional, that doesn't mean it can't have personal touches that make you. smile too!
Balance Creative with Practical
My last tip is to balance the creative and happy elements with practical pieces that keep you on track. Get to know yourself and what areas you need help with. For me - I've learned that I need to physically write things down rather than noting them electronically. My brain works faster and I brainstorm and plan better by putting pen to paper so having a notebook and sticky notes on hand at all times is essential. I also have a wall calendar to jot down important due dates and appointments as a constant visual reminder so my creative brain doesn't forget!
What ways do you foster creativity in your workspace?
