Revamp Your Home Office With These Quick Tips
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I don't know about you, but when my office is clean and organized, I get way more work done. And I feel better too!
Sometimes the life of a photographer can be nothing but chaos, so finding ways to minimize all that noise in your office can really help you be more productive.
With that in mind, here's a few products and accessories for photographers that might help you create a home office that's neat, tidy, and relaxing (but not too relaxing...you've got work to do, after all!).
Give Yourself Some Space
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Having enough desk space is crucial to having an organized work area.
You need room for your computer, keyboard, mouse, and monitor. You also need space for things like a Wacom tablet, a backup storage device, card readers, and so forth.
I like to have space to spread out proofs, too.
Add in desktop items like a pen holder, a clock, a tin for your favorite candy, a smart speaker, and so forth, and you have the makings of a lot of stuff that can clutter up a small desk.
So, the moral of the story here is to get as big a desk as you can. Obviously you don't want the desk to consume your whole office, but I've found that the more surface area of the desktop, the better.
Upgrade Your Monitor
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Upgrading your monitor has the obvious benefits of giving you a better viewing experience as you edit photos and videos (and do normal everyday tasks too).
But beyond that, I've found that having a better monitor can also keep your desk space much more organized.
Here's what I mean...
I've always had two monitors on my desk, which is great from a functionality standpoint, but not so great for having room on my desktop. So, I did two things.
First, I got rid of my two smaller monitors and replaced them with the 38-inch ViewSonic VP3881 ultra-widescreen curved monitor.
I've mentioned in other articles how impressed I've been with this thing, from it's incredible colors to its tack-sharp detail to handy features like split screen that allow me to view multiple windows at the same time.
Second, I got my ViewSonic monitor off my desk and onto a mount. This freed up more space on my desk and put the monitor at a better eye level to reduce eye strain.
As you can see in the image above, I paired the 38-inch ViewSonic monitor (bottom) with the ViewSonic VP3481 34-inch widescreen curved monitor (top) to give me even more visual real estate for getting work done.
So now I have more room on my desk, better monitors to look at, and the monitors are positioned in a way that reduces eye strain. What's not to like about that?!
Make It a Space You Want to Be In
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I think it goes without saying that your home office space should be a place you actually want to be.
This means making it comfortable (like having a comfy chair) as well as a place that's aesthetically pleasing.
Hang a few of your favorite photos on the walls so you have something to look at for inspiration. Add a houseplant or two to add some color and life to the room. Outfit your home office with a white noise machine that can help keep you relaxed and focused. Burn a candle, too - a pleasing scent can make your home office space seem that much cozier.
Get the Paint Color Spot-On
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We all know about color theory for photography, and the same principles apply to your workspace.
Attention-grabbing colors might be called for in a photo, but hues like orange or red are a no-no in your home office because they can be far too stimulating.
On the other end of the spectrum, having an office that's devoid of color can make the space feel sterile, and that's not very inspiring for your creative work.
Instead, go for neutral and subtle colors on the walls. Taupes, grays, or even light blues are good options. To add some interest and zest to the office space, you can add pops of colors with your photos, desk accessories, and furniture.
While these tips aren't rocket science, they can have a significant impact on how your office feels to you, and that, in turn, can greatly impact how much work you get done!
