Turn your Basement into a Home Office

In the age of social media and light speed internet, more and more people can now work from the comfort of their own homes. But we must also wage a new battle with shorter and shorter spans. Losing might mean social media addiction or worse work back logs.
To boost productivity and be able to focus more, you might think it’s a good idea to create a specific place for working just like a traditional office space. And your basement, being relatively detached from the rest of your home and family maybe the perfect place to repurpose into a home office.

Planning and layouting
Planning might sound boring but it is an important part of any home improvement project. To get the best possible office, try out different furniture layouts in your basement. See which might work or which may not. You might also do some measurements to make sure that the furniture you have or will buy are going to fit in the places you want it to.

You should also keep possible wiring in mind, especially if you plan on connecting your basement to the house’s WIFI. There’s also the issue of bringing in other office equipment like printers or photocopiers. It is recommended that you layout every furniture that you plan on bringing down in the basement to make sure that everything has its perfect place.

Make sure to only make room for the essentials to avoid overcrowding though.

Efficient storage
Invest in sturdy storage units to hide away mess or stacks of papers. Keep your desk area clean and organized to increase productivity while decreasing clutter. Don’t be afraid to invest in plenty of storage as you’ll surely fill them up eventually. Floating shelves are also a stylish way to store things you most use at arms’ length.

Keep your desk clean by only decorating with functional décor such as colorful pencil holders, clocks and desk lamps.

Good lighting
Proper lighting can also contribute to your general productivity. A well-lighted workspace might just be the one saving you from getting headaches or preventing drowsiness while working.

Debbie Wiener, professional interior designer, says that “In addition to overhead recessed lighting or ceiling fixtures, make sure you have the receptacles for lots of undercabinet and plug-in task lighting”. She also recommends a space-saving desk lamp. “If you’re short on table space, consider a clamp-style lamp — they allow you to add an adjustable task light anywhere that an edge is available”.
Soundproofing
Noise distractions is another obstacle from concentration. Hearing other family members talking or going about their daily tasks might divert your attention from the task at hand. In the same vein, you might want to keep sounds inside your office to not bother other people, especially if you work with video editing or sound editing.

To soundproof your basement, you can hire someone to add foam insulation in the walls. But you can also just buy some noise-cancelling headphones if you don’t want to invest in soundproofing an entire room.

Break free from the cycle of getting distracted and stalling work. Stop procrastinating and get work done by creating a conducive place to work in. With these simple tips, you can turn your basement into a home office where you can actually get things done.