Maybe you’ve been spending more time working from home over the last year, or perhaps it’s simply a helpful space for you to tackle the occasional off-hours task. Whichever the case, an office space is a valuable part of the home for many of us. It doesn’t matter if you have a dedicated room or just a corner of the living room, it’s how you set up the space that matters most. Here are a few things St. Louis homeowners can do to upgrade and improve their current set up:

Designate Your Space

Unless you have a room dedicated entirely for an office, chances are there’s some dual functioning happening in the space around your home-office area. Maybe it’s in a guest bedroom, or maybe you’ve added a desk in the living room. Wherever it is that you’ve created your office space, defining it for yourself and the rest of the family can help make it a more productive area. Something as simple as a rug or a divider can help add some separation to an office space, even if it’s a part of another room.

Keep Ergonomics in Mind

It’s so easy to settle for poor posture, both at work and in our home offices, and this can take a toll on our bodies. Take advantage of your ability to customize your office space. Invest in a quality chair for yourself or an extra monitor to prevent the laptop slouch. If you have the space for it, leave a bit of room by your desk where you can get up to stretch.

Include Some Personality

You want your office to be warm and appealing, so you actually use it. Making sure that it reflects your personality a bit can help. Maybe you add some artwork, change the paint color, or get a small plant for your desk. Creating an office space that feels inviting and inspiring can make it a much more productive area.

Pay Attention to the Lighting

Speaking of productivity, lighting can also affect our energy and focus levels. Typically, dim lighting isn’t very conducive to productivity. Whether you modify the lighting for the entire room, add a floor lamp nearby, or add a desk lamp, making sure that you feel alert and energized in the space is an important element of a functional home office.