One of the more common things we are seeing in houses today is a fully functional home office. More companies are trying to save money on commercial office spaces by having employees work from home and more people are running small businesses from their home. I too went through the work from home phase and was fortunate to have a "work from home professional" (my hubby) to show me the ropes and what NOT to do. He went through several work phases starting with the laptop table in bed, to watching TV in his pj's while working, to finally realizing he needed to get up, shower, dress for the day and sit at an actual desk to be the most productive.

Some of you reading this now are nodding your heads and laughing because you too have experienced one or more of these phases. When deciding if it is time to create your new home office, here are a few things to keep in mind while setting up the room to make each day productive and comfortable.

1. Ergonomics for your home office

There are several items to consider to keep you comfortable and healthy in your home office space. Do a little research to see what works best for the job you do. Here are a few things to keep in mind when starting your search.

Use a good chair with a dynamic back that is angled slightly to the rear.
Top of monitor screen should be 2-3" above eye level
No glare on screen; use an optical glass anti-glare filter where needed
Sit at arms length from monitor; further if distance is comfortable and screen is readable.
Rest feet on floor or on a stable foot rest (move feet frequently for circulation)
Use a document holder, preferably in-line with the computer screen
Wrists should be flat and straight in relation to forearms to use keyboard/mouse/input device
Keeps arms and elbows relaxed close to body
Center monitor and keyboard in front of you
Use a negative tilt keyboard tray with an upper mouse platform or downward tilt-able platform adjacent to keyboard
Use a stable work surface and stable (no bounce) keyboard tray
Take frequent short breaks (micro breaks) and stretch.

2. Lighting for your home office

Lighting in your work space is important. Having natural sunlight in your home office can make the difference between a happy workspace and a depressing, sleepy environment (see how I said "environment" here, because we all know that no work is being accomplished in a dark and dreary office). Being able to enjoy a wonderful view of nature is a plus, but having any visual connection to the outside -even if it is just another building- can be beneficial to your work environment.

Having the right amount and type of light is important to prevent eye strain and this is achieved through layering light sources. Besides natural sunlight it is important to have general overhead lighting to provide an even sheet of light over the entire space to minimize shadows and severe dark to light contrasts that can strain your eyes over time. Another thing to consider is a good desk/task light to provide additional, focused lighting.

Here are some tips to keep in mind when lighting your work space:

Make sure your lamp has enough light output to cover your entire work surface. Having the ability to adjust the placement and direction of the light is ideal.
Place the lamp on the opposite side of your dominant hand to reduce shadows when writing or reading.
Position your computer screen so it is angled away from the natural light by day and away from the light beam of the desk lamp at night. This will reduce the reflection on your computer screen.
Use task lights combined with general lighting for reading, writing or drawing, this helps to avoid eye strain.

3. Incorporate personal touches for inspiration in your home office

All work and no play can make anyone a dull boy/girl. Make sure to include things in your space that inspire you. Whether it is photos of your family, a beautiful piece of art or a mood board to help spur your next brilliant idea. This is your space, use it how it works best for you.

There are many more factors to consider when creating your perfect home office space, it is impossible to cover them all in one blog. We at Paula Ables Interiors pride ourselves in our ability to listen to your wants and needs and create a wonderful, aesthetically pleasing environment that functions just the way you need it to. We want you to love the space you are in, whatever that room might be. Do you have a drab office space in need of some love? Or are you considering working from home and need to transform a room you can stand to be in for 8 hours, or longer, a day? We would love to help you get there.

Click here to see more blog posts by Paula Ables Interiors.

5 things to consider when looking for the best ceiling fan for your room:

Ceiling fans...are they a necessary evil or a stylish accent to the room?

We all know how hot it gets in the Texas Hill Country summers! To get some relief, many of us rely on ceiling fans to keep our homes comfortable. Running a ceiling fan can make a room feel about 5 degrees cooler than it actually is.

If you are ready to upgrade your existing fan or looking to add one, here are 5 things to keep in mind before you make the purchase:

1. Size of your Space

It is easy to underestimate the size of the fan you need. A 48" fan may sound big but if you install an undersized fan you won't get the air circulation you need to cool off.

A good rule of thumb is:

Rooms less than 150 sq. ft. - Use a 42-48" diameter fan
Rooms 150-350 sq. ft. - Use a 52-56" fan
Rooms greater than 350 sq. ft. - Use at least a 60" fan or you can purchase 2-48" fans

Below is an example of a large open-concept living, dining & kitchen space, where this 8 ft. Big Ass Fan serves as both a cooling unit and a WOW factor.

2. Ceiling Height

When selecting a fan for your space, know your ceiling height. If it is an 8' ceiling, your best solution is a ceiling-hugger style fan. If your ceiling is 10'+, you may need to add additional down rods to accommodate the extra height.

The typical rule of thumb is for the blades of your fan to be 8-9 feet above the floor. As you see in the photo below, we added a 12" down rod to our fan to accommodate the 10' ceiling--placing the fan at the perfect height for this bedroom.

3. Type of Installation

Another critical factor to take into account when shopping for a new fan is: sloped or flat ceiling?

Some fans include adapters for sloped ceilings, but not all have this capability. Some adapters can be purchased separately, but can have restrictions on the angle it will accommodate; so it is important to know these details if you have a vaulted or sloped ceiling.

Sometimes the best solution isn't a ceiling fan at all. In the image below, we used a wall-mounted, oscillating fan to blow the smoke away from the bar-b-que area.

*Make sure to look for a damp or wet rated fan if installing outdoors*

4. Lighting

Light kits have gotten a bad wrap over the years and for the most part we agree. Lights on fans are usually unattractive. This being said, the fan companies have heard our plea. Many have begun integrating lights into the fan itself making for a more complete and attractive look.

Which look do you like the best? If you know you want a light, certain fans have customized options for you to pick the shape and globe style you want. Also, some fans that do come with a light, come with a cap in case you decide you do not want to use the light kit.

In the living room pictured below we capped the light because we loved the fan design, but the recessed cans in the room provided plenty of general lighting.

5. Style

Just like light fixtures, there are a wide variety of ceiling fan styles. To start with, there are contemporary and traditional fans. There are fans that have multiple blade material options--from clear acrylic, all the way to woven rattan.

Many times fans blend in to the ceiling because they are thought of as utilitarian, but there are plenty of styles that can take your fan from Blah to Tah-DAH.

Below is a unique example of a ceiling fan we used in a bedroom that is just as much art as function.

What ceiling fan is right for you? What will fit best in your space?

Do you want to go from Blah to Tah-DAH with your lighting in a new or existing space? We are here to help with great ideas and friendly purchasing advice. Give us a shout to help transform your space.