A nicely decorated garden office has many advantages and pretty much no disadvantages. It can increase productivity, allow you to have a better life-work balance, lower your stress levels, and increase your quality of life. In the current social climate, it might seem frivolous or superficial to focus on creating a beautifully-decorated space, with rugs and all the other mod cons. But this couldn’t be further from the truth. The physical environment of your workplace has a huge impact on your well-being. Read our article to find out how to create the perfect garden office.

Ask Yourself the Following Questions:

• What type of work do I need to do in my garden office?

• Will I have any business partners or clients over?

• Do I need storage space?

• What type of equipment do I need?

• Will I spend a lot of time in my garden office?

• Will I be making a lot of video calls?

The answers to these questions will help you understand your needs a bit better. If you’re going to spend a lot of time in your garden office, which is very likely, you need to choose ergonomic furniture and create a space that makes you feel comfortable. If you are going to be in a lot of video conferences, you’ll need to create a nice background, and so on.

Choose a Garden Pod or Cabin that has Large Windows

A comfortable, attractive environment will enhance your productivity and success and an office with large windows allows you to enjoy natural sunlight and to get some of that much-needed Vitamin D. Large windows are important in an office space because they allow you to look outside and to take a break from staring into the computer screen. This is extremely beneficial for your eyes and reduces eyestrain.

Also, being able to look out the window will allow you to come up with new ideas and will make you more creative. Having large windows will also make you feel more connected and in touch with the surrounding environment and with nature, which will also lower your stress levels.

When it comes to energy efficiency, well-positioned large windows can be a plus as they will give your some of that passive solar heat. If you’re into passive design and using your surroundings effectively, make sure you choose eco-friendly and energy-efficient solutions in your garden office. Using a renewable energy source such as solar heat is a great starting point.

Garden office spaces are perfect for creating the large amounts of natural light you need for maximum efficiency when working from home. For some expert advice on creating your own bespoke garden office, contact our friends at David Salisbury.

Whilst we all agree windows are a must-have for the ‘perfect garden office’ they can be a tricky thing to install! Especially if you don’t have much experience in building summerhouses. This is where polycarbonate shed windows could come into play. There are some great companies out there offering easy-to-use quote builders these days. Simply type in the dimensions you need and you’re good to go. The Plastic People cut polycarbonate windows and glazing to any shape or size, so be sure to have a browse through their site.

Invest in High-Quality Furniture

Office furniture is a very important aspect that you shouldn’t skip. If you’re tempted to just use an old desk and a regular chair, don’t. You will end up feeling bored and uncomfortable in a matter of days. The type of furniture that you choose for your garden office should be carefully selected to fit your needs and preferences and to provide you with as much comfort as possible.

Before you buy anything, measure your office space. This is something that many people forget to do and they end up ordering furniture that doesn’t feed through the door. So, to avoid an unpleasant situation, take measurements beforehand.

It is important to opt for functional furniture with drawers, especially if you need to store files. A tiny desk might make the room seem bigger, but it only works if you just need a place to put your laptop. If your job requires you to have a lot of files and office equipment, a large desk would be a more appropriate option.

When it comes to office furniture, the chair is probably the most important piece. Bad chairs are often the main culprits behind back pain, so choose wisely. There are many high-quality ergonomic chairs available on the market but they might force you to spend a bit more than you had planned. Making a financial compromise with your desk chair is not a good idea.

Don't forget to separate your space off as well! If your garden office is going to be large enough to have your desk and task chair, and a small seating area to relax in, it is useful to separate the area with a high quality rug. Whether you want to choose a shaggy rug, faux fur sheepskin rug or even a natural rug made of jute or sisal is up to you. But having rugs in your space makes it a lot easier for your brain to switch between its work mode and relax mode.

Keep It Clean and Organised

People find it difficult to work and to focus in a cluttered and messy work environment and oftentimes they don’t even realize that having a disorganized desk is preventing them from achieving their full potential. This is something that you should avoid. You can do so by applying the old ‘there’s a place for everything and everything in its place’ rule. To avoid chaos, think of your storage needs, avoid having too much stuff in your office, keep it simple, and put your things back after using them.

Ideally, your desk surface should be occupied just by your computer and work-related items. A cup of coffee is more than welcome, but just the one that you’re currently using. If you have a lot of office supplies, you’ll find a plethora of organizing options online such as pencil cups and trays, cardholders, cute boxes, etc.

Add the Finishing Touches

Just because it is an office doesn’t mean that it has to be boring. Being surrounded by beautiful things is a great way to relieve stress and improve your quality of life. Once you’ve created an ergonomic and organized space, you can spoil yourself a little by adding a few beautiful items.

You can make your office more attractive by adding wall hanging art, beautiful rugs, plants, and other things that you enjoy looking at. A comfortable rug will make you feel more at home while you work, while a nice painting will make you more creative. In terms of rugs, there are plenty of options out there. From hard-wearing rugs that can withstand regular use and won’t suffer any damage from your desk chair, to soft and cosy rugs to keep your feet warm. If you have pets and you want to let them join you while you work, we recommend going for a pet-friendly rug.

Now that video has become a staple of the work-from-home day, it’s important to ensure that the space behind you is clutter-free so it does not distract from any video calls or marketing videos you may create. Additionally, you’ll want to make sure that your face is lit from the front, with minimal overhead and rear lighting to ensure you always look your best.

Plants also have an important role to play in office life, so don’t forget to add one or two. Choose some low-maintenance plants such as Pothos or Rhododendron.

Now that you’re all set and you have a perfect garden office, all that’s left is to get to work! You can always adjust your surroundings based on your needs, so do not hesitate to make improvements along the way.