4 Steps to Designing an Inspired Workspace
Not all of us have a dedicated home office, and many of us have had to scramble to make a workspace or zone in another room during this time of the pandemic. In addition to adjusting to a small work area, we also have to contend with the interruptions and distractions that come with being in a room designed for a different purpose (dining room, bedroom, etc.). Or, if you're like me, you stare at your desk even during “non-business hours,” making it hard to turn off the work brain.
These makeshift workspaces can make working feel a nuisance and a distribution to your regular use of your room, and make working feel like a drag. And given all that’s going on in the world, we don’t need to be brought down by our workspace.
So what if I told you, with a few simple steps, you can create a temporary or permanent workspace that feels inspiring, organized and contained?
I recently chatted with Brennen Clouse, host of the Close to Home podcast, about designing a workspace in your home. During our chat, I outlined…
4 steps to transforming your workspace into an intentional, feel-good zone that allows you to go all-in with your business.
Identify all activities you complete in 4 weeks worth of work
Identify all supplies and equipment needed to accomplish those activities
Identify creative, attractive ways to have those supplies nearby when you are working, and potentially stored when you are not
Surround yourself with visual inspiration and goals
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1: What do you do all day?
Make a list of each of these tasks by reviewing a “typical” 4-week period (as if anything is typical these days). I know, 4 weeks seems like an extended period, but working from home has changed how we work! Tasks are more varied and all the supplies of an office are less accessible.
Much of your work will be similar, but this will help identify exactly what you need to successfully complete your tasks at work.
2: What essentials do you need in a your workspace?
Write down a list of all the supplies and equipment needed to accomplish those activities. For example my work week includes lots of client calls (phone and zoom) and putting together sample boards. So next to each activity, I’d make a list of what I need. My list looks something like this:
Client Calls: Computer, headphones, notebook, pens
Review Drawings: Table space, red pens, computer, notebook
Sample Boards: Computer, sticky notes, material samples (fabric, paint, wood,etc.), phone, phone stand.
If you have ever looked through a book of fabric swatches you know there are big and bulky!
3: How will you store your work supplies?
Now that you know what you need to work let’s figure out where these items will live during both working and non working hours. Are supplies stored in containers that can be put in a closet? Are they displayed neatly on a shelf? All of these questions can be answered by how often you are using these supplies we identified in step 1.
Now that we have the practical side of how you work laid out, we can move onto my favorite part - the design!
4: Now layer in the good stuff.
Surround yourself with inspirational pieces--even more so that you might do at your place of work, as we need to deliberately make this feel like a different zone from the rest of your home.
Feel inspired
Collect images, tokens from trips, books (with inspirational titles), artwork--anything that reminds you how you want to feel at work.
Inspired, creative, accomplished, connected, leader--get clear on how you want to feel, and make sure you surround yourself with things that help remind you of that/those feelings! Remember we are working to live, not the other way around.
HEY THERE!
I want your home to be your favorite place, because I believe good interior design
is about creating homes that
call in and support the
life you want.
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You deserve a workspace that reflects your immense value and skills, and I hope this worksheet helps you with setting the foundation of a fantastic, inspiring home workspace!
If you would like to hear the full conversation with Brennen Clouse, click here for the full episode.