If 2020 has brought us anything, it has been more time at home. For many of us, that includes working from home! One way to get a jumpstart on productivity is to make sure the space you work in is clean and comfortable. No one wants to write proposals at a kitchen table cluttered with last night's dinner dishes.
2021 definitely has some home office trends headed our way.
Be zoom-ready. Robin Baron of Robin Baron Design reminds us that these days require us to be ready for anything.
“The home office trend for 2021 has to include specific attention to the need for video conferencing...cue the Zoom Room! Who would have thought one year ago that we would be talking about designing spaces dedicated specifically to video conferencing?" - Robin Baron
She goes on to list lighting and background as the two major players in this trend. Skip the fluorescent lights, but be sure your Zoom roommates can see you clearly. And the background really goes without explanation, doesn't it? Keep laundry piles and scandalous book choices out of view.
Add some color! 2020 has given us enough grey.
“Being stuck at home comes with a certain monotony. If you’re like me, you’re making it work, but still miss the serendipitous chats with coworkers, pantry full of go-to snacks (oh how I miss the office-provided Cheez Its), and an inspiring office environment." - Heather Goerzen at Havenly
Heather encourages teleworkers to add a little (or a lot) of cheer to their home-work environment. Wall color, statement furniture pieces, and small details can go a long way for inspiration.
Bring nature indoors. Connecting with nature actually reduces anxiety and promotes focus. Something I think we can all get behind this coming year.
Live plants like aloe, succulents, and ferns bring life to the space. Large windows and overhead sky lights allow for plenty of vitamin D. On a mild day, even just opening a window in your home office can help you move mountains, like that pile of emails to sort through.
"Indoor plants fell out of fashion briefly in the 1990s, but we’re happy to report that they’re back – not only are they beautiful, bringing vibrancy and color to our homes, but they also freshen the air, filtering out pollutants and releasing oxygen." - Jennifer Ebert of Homes and Gardens
Which of these will you implement this coming year?