Natural lighting ⛅️
Nobody enjoys sitting in a gloomy, dim, dark room with a florescent bulb as the only source of light. Working with ample natural sunlight is proven to be healthier, as well as boost productivity.
If your current space has limited natural lighting, then consider giving the walls a fresh lick of white/light‑coloured paint to allow the light to reflect off the walls and give the illusion of more space, install a skylight, or invest in artificial lighting that mimic natural light.
Housework to homework 🧺 👉🏾 💼
Working from home can be tough. The line between work and life can become so blurry, especially if both environments are in the same place! Keeping your work space as separate as possible to your home life will help your brain switch from ‘housework’ to ‘homework’ mode faster.
If possible, move away from your dining table or kitchen bench, and set up a little space that is dedicated just to your mahi. In my case, I invested in an outdoor unit, and it has been the BEST. But if that’s not in the budget, think about taking over the spare bedroom, setting up a little desk in your bedroom, or even look into renting a desk at a shared space in town.
Plants, plants, plants 🌱
As you can see from my space, I’m a sucker for plants 🙈 They help reduce stress, increase productivity, look pretty, AND help clean and purify the air. Choose ones that make you happy, are low maintenance, and suit the room's sunlight conditions. If you spend a lot of time in your work space, you want decor that lifts your mood 🥰
P.S. Plants also make great props for photoshoots 📸
Make tidy the new norm 🧹
Despite being a tidy person in general, I used to treat my office (which used to be in the spare bedroom) as a ‘dumping ground’. I would get so caught up in the creating process, that I would just leave a trail of projects as I jumped from one to the next. My desk was constantly covered with piles of randomness, and my storage shelves had no logic or structure to them. I didn’t enjoy walking into my office because my brain couldn’t concentrate properly knowing there was chaos around.
Since getting my new studio, I’ve made a rule to do a quick tidy up at the end of every day, so every morning starts fresh. Tidy is the new norm, and it has made a world of difference.
Have a home for EVERYTHING 🏠
Carrying on from the last tip, the easiest way to keep an office space tidy is to have a home for absolutely everything. Receipts, packaging, stationery, sample products — if they all have a home then it makes it easier for you to tidy up, as well as find those things later on. I even have a ‘to‑deal‑with’ tray where I put all paperwork, receipts, and random things that are yet to be dealt with.
Give your space makeovers 💅
It doesn't have to be big changes, but switching around decor, artwork, plants and furniture every now and then can be a good way to give the space a fresh look, and will help encourage a different perspective when you next step into your office. I invested in a studio kraft paper roller that I regularly update with different whakataukī (proverbs) to inspire my week ahead.
Make storage beautiful 💁🏽♀️
OK, so it doesn't have to be perfect, but even your storage shelves deserve a bit of love!
I used to have products and packaging stuffed in cardboard boxes that I couldn’t see, and it would take me forever to pack an order by the time I found the products and sourced the right packaging.
I now have matching storage cartons where I can clearly see all the products and packaging, and it’s a game changer! Invest in a system that works for your business’ needs. Label clearly, and display in logical places that are easy to access.
