Home Sweet Office

Working from home doesn't mean your workspace should be an afterthought. "We have definitive evidence that there is a connection between space and innovation. Where you are affects the way you think," says psychologist Ron Friedman. Here's how to make the best use of your surroundings.

Don't Let Your Stuff Take Over

"Clutter makes us tense," Augustin says, because our surroundings become more difficult to scan, "but it's very alien for us to be in a plain white box." Home workers can strike a balance by displaying just a handful of meaningful objects, like family photos or awards that reflect professional accomplishments.

Make Room for Nature

No matter how well your office is designed, psychologists stress the unparalleled benefits of exercise and exposure to nature. Research has found that employees with a window view are more productive, according to Friedman, and taking a walk outdoors has been linked to stronger cognitive performance and a boost in endorphins that may lead to more original thinking. Inside, Augustin recommends wood furniture or flooring with a visible grain, two or three green leafy plants, and walls in a color like bright sage, which has been associated with improved creative performance.

Go For Quiet, Not Silence

A total absence of sound isn't necessarily conducive to creative work. "When you're in a room that's completely silent, you become hypersensitive to changes, paradoxically making you more susceptible to distraction," Friedman says. In The Best Place to Work: The Art and Science of Creating an Extraordinary Workplace, he recommends ambient sound sites like Coffitivity.com, which recreates the low hum of a coffee shop.

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