With a garden office in your home, you get to declutter your space, hide from nosy neighbors, avoid the costs of commuting, and enjoy the freedoms of having a personal workspace.
Based on our years of designing and installing garden offices, we know what having such a workspace means. And we are glad to give you the five fundamental rules of having such a space that will ensure you get to enjoy the best benefits of working from home.
Rule #1.
Having an office in your home means fewer hassles, however, you still need to reassess your options. It is easier and cheaper to have a room installed in the garden than extending your home for the same reason.
Moreover, extending your home will need you to get planning permission. Nevertheless, it is wise also to think through the various aspects that drive you to consider a garden office before you settle on your decision.
The design of the workspace, size, utilities, storage options, heating, cooling, and other specifications are elements of the office that you need to consider and budget for to ensure the workplace has what you need.
The room should fit in the allocated space in your garden while also enhancing the view of your yard from your house. Do not be too quick to buy something cheap based on a picture you saw online. Instead, visit our site and see some of the various building options we have to offer. Go for quality especially the flooring, windows, and door.
Rule #2.
You do not have to commute from and back to your home just because you have to work which means more time on your hands.
However, it also means that you should use your time efficiently. You get around two or three hours you otherwise would have to spend stuck in traffic; just find ways of making better use of that free time. For instance, you can work one hour early in the morning and an extra hour during the evening; the time you would spend on your commute.
Running after the bus when you are late for work might be a fantastic way of keeping fit. Therefore, putting up a garden office can rob you of the opportunity to exercise daily, but on the flip side, you can use the extra time to engage in active things such as gardening or walking the dog.
Alternatively, you can book an appointment for daytime exercises that you can attend during your midday break from work. The whole idea is to avoid having the office turn you into a couch potato.
For relaxing, you can use those extra hours from work to do something fun such as reading or chilling around the house with family. Stay focused, and the others around you will see your determination and will work around your schedule and priorities.
Rule #3.
You may enjoy some secluded privacy when you are in a home office, but you still need to guard that privacy since it is a workspace in your home.
In most cases, it is nearly impossible to fit home schedules and professional work into the room without feeling overwhelmed by trying to balance the two. You will juggle between keeping the home tidy and trying to leave work behind during the evenings.
So, with a garden office, you get the opportunity to separate work from home, making things better for everyone. You nonetheless, need to work with a design that maximizes the potential of the available space.
Much of the organization and planning for the office will take place during the initial design phase with any other changes coming in later on. At times, some of the changes and organizational adjustments may not take place as expected if you have other family members to consider, such as the arrival of a new baby.
On the one hand, you have to work, and on the other hand, you need to be close to family. Nevertheless, you still need to establish some ground rules that will ensure you are only called during an emergency when you are working.
Also, do not allow children in your office and make sure you find enough time to spend with your family.
If you make it work, then you discover that having an office in your garden will make it easier to work and also to do some parenting. Just have them know you expect zero disturbances when you lock the door.
Rule #4.
Peace and quiet; these are vital elements worth having in the office if you are to be productive. With a home-based workspace, you get to enjoy a break from the random interruptions and the noisy settings of your workplace.
You may not be experiencing the office politics or that AC that makes you catch a cold now and then, but it is wise to make plans to meet your workmates and other colleagues.
You still need to make social connections and build your business networks, some of which you can do while at home. Just avoid bringing people to your garden office.
Have your fill of your fellow man and them head on back to your office and carry on with work in the serenity of your home where it is quiet.
Rule #5.
That space is your private room, never compromise that. Look at it this way; you get the chance to design and personalize a workspace as you desire. How many times will you get such a chance?
Seldom will the opportunity come where you get to create a room that will cause you to be more efficient and productive. Add some nice plants, art from Outdoor Art Pros, or even a gym bike or treadmill desk.
It is possible to achieve such a space even when working on a shoestring budget. The idea is to build a garden office that echoes your personality.
It can be something practical, traditional, shabby chic, Zen, quirky, or minimalistic. You will need to plan the seating, storage, desk space, and lighting to ensure everything works together to make the place exude some style.
Some wall hangings and inspirational objects can also help with your productivity level when you get stressed.
In essence, the office in your courtyard or garden will be a place you spend most of your hours. As such, it should be an expression of who you are professionally.
Adhere to these five fundamental rules, and you will enjoy many happy and productive years as you enjoy the beauty of your garden.
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