Desk‑scaping Ideas that Could Help Boost Productivity

5 Great Desk‑scaping Ideas that Could Help Boost Productivity

Desk-scaping, Hybrid Work, Working From Home, Working Near Home are some of the many workplace trends that the Covid-19 pandemic has quickly propelled.

These workplace trends like desk-scaping have grown our obsession with curating our workspaces, and a report from Mordor Intelligence predicts that the demand for home office furniture will continue to rise globally over the next five years.

As the new world of work takes shape and more businesses adopt a hybrid model, where staff isn’t in the office full time, it’s likely that many of us will continue to work from home regularly or even rent an office space or a desk space in a coworking space

This is where the whole desk-scaping comes to play. You have probably come across a few hashtags on Twitter or Pinterest around #DeskInspo #deskgoals. And you discover the many desktop ups that come up then from gadgets to plants and even stationeries never underestimate how much your surroundings can influence your productivity. 

In fact, one study by Herman Miller found that workplace design had “a small but consistent and real influence” on workers’ performance—increasing productivity by as much as 16% and job satisfaction by 9%. 

So if you’re still languishing with your laptop at the kitchen table or having a white table and white walls surrounding your workplace, it’s time to consider desk-scaping. 

Not only could curating your workspace or simple desk-scaping make you more productive and boost your creativity, but it will support your health and wellbeing, too.

Here are a few considerations that you can have in mind while you work on your desk-scaping setup. You can consider these features to get more work done with less effort.

Light up your desk properly

Having a healthy desk setup means ensuring that your posture is supported by appropriately arranged screens and a good-quality chair. 

Light is also crucial in helping to keep us productive – and natural daylight is much better for your body and brain than fluorescent light.

The quality of lighting in your workspace generally can affect your mood and your well-being. 

Poor lighting whether it’s dim lighting or harsh lighting from overhead fluorescent lights—can cause eye strain, stress, and fatigue. Conversely, the best kind of light you can have in your desk is natural light.

As early as 1979, researchers have advised that natural light and natural views tend to reduce stress, improve mood and morale, decrease anxiety, and aid concentration. 

They also tended to get more physical activity compared to workers whose offices didn’t have windows.

The amount of ‘real’ light you’re exposed to has a direct effect on the amount of melatonin produced by the brain, and this hormone is responsible for our levels of alertness and cognitive functionality. 

Sitting close to a window while you work could make a real difference to how you feel.

Include a few plants in your desk space

Can plants help you do your work? It might sound silly, but, yes, a plant or two in your diskspace could improve your productivity and happiness. 

Scientists had found that indoor plants prevent fatigue during attention-demanding work. You can also see these 11 plants that you can include in your space.

Office Design // Bring Your Workspace to Life with these 11 Great Plants

Even just having a window view of live greenery can be restorative and keep you focused. If you can’t see a plant from your desk, you might be missing out on a 15 percent productivity boost, according to psychologists at Exeter University.

So nature is good for you, but what if you’re not good at caring for plants? Don’t worry; The secret: Buy a peace lily. 

This forgiving plant requires little sunlight to survive and you only have to water it when the soil is dried out. 

But the best thing about this plant is that it shames you into watering it when it needs this by drooping miserably and then after you water it, the plant perks right back up. 

Resuscitating your plant every week might give you a small but notable sense of accomplishment.

Other pot plants, cacti, and succulents, while trendy, are also proven to have real benefits in the workplace. Studies from institutions including Harvard and Exeter universities have shown that a greener office is a more productive office. 

This is why you’ll always find a little of the outside inside Nairobi Garage, alongside lots of lovely natural light.

Make it personal

A tidy space doesn’t have to be a minimalist space. While some of social media’s most ‘liked’ setups are clean and austere, desk-scaping doesn’t necessarily mean depersonalizing your environment.

If your workspace feels cold and miserable, your body will produce more of the stress hormone cortisol. Conversely, surrounding yourself with a selection of things that make you happy will minimize stress and ensure you enjoy spending time in your workspace.

Decorative touches that bring you comfort or joy can actually improve creativity – so go to town with photographs, personal mementos, stylish lamps, and rainbow Sharpies. Whatever works for you.

Also, add color to your space. Keep these color meanings in mind when choosing paint for your home office or even where you choose to position your desk and even when shopping for desk accessories. 

Desk supplies in coordinating colors could help you stay focused instead of being distracted by your desk.

A little Housekeeping

Ensure that you clean after yourself. If you can close a door on your desk, then do – but even properly shutting down your laptop and doing a little light ‘housekeeping’ will help with establishing a firm line between ‘work’ and ‘home’.

Put pens and pencils back in their holders, recycle notes you don’t need, create tomorrow morning’s to-do list and water your plants. Knowing that everything is ready to come back to will make it easier to leave.

Spending some time at a flexible workspace such as Nairobi Garage can be key if you find switching off a challenge when working remotely.

It will add variety to your routine and ensure you get time away from your domestic to-do list, as well as provide opportunities for networking.