Text by Sherry Moeller
A cozy nook, a stylish bedroom desk, a favorite chair, or a dining room or kitchen table might all provide what one needs to accomplish daily tasks while working from home. Some essentials, such as good lighting including natural and task lamps, a comfortable chair and device connectivity, establish the basic setup, while calming elements within an uncluttered environment set the tone. Keep a regular routine, too, by preparing for the day as if you were headed to the company office. Also, remember to stand up, stretch, and take a quick walk or exercise at varying intervals to reinvigorate the body and mind.
Tracy Morris of Tracy Morris Design offers nine tips for working from home, including how to maintain healthy boundaries between home office and home life. We’ve also included images from a variety of prominent designers to help inspire you to create your own gracious work space.
1. 1. Create a Makeshift Office
Create a clean and uncluttered environment. Put away any papers or items that you aren’t actively working on, as a clear desk will lead to a clear mind and increase productivity. 
2. 2. Upgrade Your Lighting
Add a lamp to your desk. Leave behind the harsh fluorescents of a traditional office and add in warm task lighting, which illuminates your desk better than overhead lights and helps prevent eye strain.
3. 3. Utilize Natural Elements
Work by a window if you can. If your home allows it, working near natural light assists with staying focused.
4. 4. Find a Cozy Chair
Make your chair as comfortable as possible. We don’t always have the luxuries of a perfectly ergonomic desk chair at home. Adding a small pillow for lumbar support or layering a blanket along the back of an existing chair for added softness can go a long way, especially when sitting for a length of time.
5. 5. Add a Relaxing Accessory
Light your favorite scented candle. When times are stressful, lighting a delightfully smelling candle can calm the mind. Even when you can’t go to the spa, you can make your home office smell like one.
6. 6. Tune Out and Tune in to Tasks
Play your favorite music. Music can lift your spirits and help you tune out distractions.
7. 8. Create More Than One Working Space
Move to a secondary location in the house or to a different chair in the office for a brief period to read a report or article, to stretch your legs, and for a change of scenery.
8. 9. Clean Up The Clutter
When working from home, it is easy to blur the lines between your work and home life so set clear boundaries.
