8 Tips for Designing a Zen Home Office

Clearing yourself off a little spot on your kitchen table large enough to place your laptop just isn’t going to cut it. If you want to truly enjoy working in a Zen environment at home, you need to create a dedicated area that is large enough for you to feel comfortable in.

You need to be able to physically stretch out and have enough space on and around your workstation so you don’t feel mentally cramped or crowded. There should never be piles of clutter anywhere near your workspace, as they can drain your energy by distracting you from the tasks at hand. 

In order for your back to feel good at the end of your workday, proper posture is critical. If your desk or table is too short, your shoulders may be "hunched over." If it's too tall, it may take a toll on your wrists and shoulders. According to Decoist.com, 34 inches is a good starting point to work with.



If you seek a healthy alternative that may give you a boost of energy throughout your day, consider investing in a standing desk that will allow you to rise to your feet whenever you grow weary of sitting down. This is a great way to alleviate boredom and get your creative juices flowing again. 

Most people who work out of their homes would agree that noise can be one of the biggest mental distractions when you are trying to get work done. Whether the noise you are hearing comes from traffic driving by or from landscaping machinery buzzing, it can become quite irritating.

There are several approaches you can take to make your workspace a quieter place. The first thing to do is choose a location in your home that naturally has the least amount of noise. For example, a home office placed in your bedroom is going to have less noise than one located next to your kitchen.



Next, you could choose to wear noise-canceling headphones, if you so desire. Or another approach is to turn on soft, relaxing music and drown out the irritating sounds. Having a desktop fountain trickling nearby will do wonders to change the energy of your space and foster a more peaceful sense of awareness. 

When it comes to your home office, if there is one element that you should not cut corners on, it's your office chair. Buying an ergonomically designed chair that feels as if it fits you like a glove is one of the smartest things you can do to make your home office feel more Zen-like. Whenever you sit down, your office chair should feel as if it is welcoming you home. Ideally, it should have a high back, a soft cushion, and armrests if that suits you. 

You already know not to keep piles of clutter on your desk. However, do you realize that having too much décor can look cluttered as well? When it comes to what items to keep in your workspace, it is best to keep "things" at a minimum. Your computer, writing utensils, a notebook, and a desk lamp or a small vase of flowers are just the basics that you need to be productive in your workspace. 

If possible, position your workspace so that you are able to take advantage of natural lighting as much as possible. Logically, sunlight can cause a glare, but if you place your workstation in just the right way, you can avoid this. If you are lucky enough to have a skylight on your ceiling, you can really enjoy the benefits of natural sunlight.



Avoiding eyestrain and headaches is critical. Even if you are near a window or skylight, you may find that you still need to utilize a desk lamp or overhead light. 

Do certain colors resonate with you as being peaceful or relaxing? Try adding touches of them to your office space. If you are looking for a major impact, paint the wall behind your workspace, or even wallpaper it in a cool pattern. Not sure what color scheme to go with? Perhaps you should take some time to meditate on the question a little bit before making a decision. Guideposts.org recommends tones of lilac, yellow, pink, or orange. 

Adding the power of essential oils to your day can really do a lot to make a difference in your overall mood and demeanor. According to Simplehomesimplelife.com, essential oils have the ability to actually "clean the air of toxins."

There are many different ways you can benefit from having essential oils in your space. Some people enjoy burning a candle that is scented with essential oils, but you may agree that an essential oil diffuser is a safer choice to use in an office setting.

If you don’t have a diffuser, you can even place a few drops of your chosen oil on a sachet, and place it nearby. Lavender is a great choice for relaxation, while peppermint and orange oils are uplifting and energizing. 

Designing a Zen home office starts by placing it in an ideal location, with ample breathing room. Buying the right chair, experimenting with workstation height, and enveloping yourself in beautiful sounds are all part of the experience. By adopting a minimalist approach and staying organized, your home office can become a productive, harmonious site.