You've picked out your 'office' spot, a quiet little nook you can claim as your own. But turning it from the bare, uninspiring spot into the wonderful pool of a creative fountain is going to take some work. A little sweat equity will ensure success.
As an author, I know what I need when I'm sitting down to write. Whether its notes I jotted down while making dinner, or the research books for my next story, I want them to be at the of my arms reach. Having a few shelves to hang on the wall allows for vertical storage, and you can buy shelving for a few dollars on Amazon or even your local Walmart.
Honestly putting the shelves together may be more taxing than hanging them.
A desk or table you can put your computer on is of course vital. If you use a Desktop or a Laptop it is imperative you have a desk you can place it on. This allows for better air circulation for the laptop, as well as a healthier position for you to write in. Finding the perfect desk doesn't necessarily mean running to the store and buying one, refurbishing an old table, will work just as well. Currently, I'm using a table we had in storage as my desk.
Having a comfortable chair to sit in makes a big difference in how productive you are. If you're constantly having to readjust yourself or get up and walk around, stretch perhaps investing in a more ergonomical chair would be a good idea. Remember to take breaks though, just because the chair is comfortable enough to sit in for hours on end, doesn't mean you shouldn't take a few microbreaks during your writing time. In the end, it will help keep you healthy both mentally and physically.
You want to have good lighting of course. Natural light is always the best, but if your writing space doesn't have a window, ensuring you have adaquate lighting is a must. Investing in a good lamp and placing it near your computer is the best way to get great results. As well, having a lamp will ensure you are able to work any time of the day or night. There are a lot of good lamps out there ranging from ones which sit on the desk with a shade to the ones which have a positioning arm. Which you use, is entirely up to you. I prefer the one with the arm, simply because you can move it around to focus the light where you want it.
So, you've got the desk, chair, shelving, and lighting figured out. Now comes the fun part of this. Picking a color for the walls of your writing space. Yes, colors do have an impact on your creativity. Depending on what mood you want to create will ultimately affect which color of paint you purchase.
The top three colors I've found for creative productivity are Blue, Red, and Yellow. There are of course benefits in other colors, but for my writing space, these I've found work the best.
Blue being an intellectual color, helps the brain function at a higher level. It's used to in areas which require focus and mental strain.
Red is a physical color. Typically a person would put this in their office if they're required to exert themselves physically.
Yellow is a wonderful color, full of sunshine, and happiness. It represents the more creative aspects of our minds and helps to stimulate creativity, happiness, and positivity.
For myself, having walls of yellow with blue and red accents is ideal. It allows me to focus on my writing as well as keeping me motivated to not only work on my writing but my health as well. Taking breaks to do some stretches, or turn away from the computer for a few minutes and do some reading ... or even grab a cup of coffee all helps.
Having a few plants in your work space is helpful, as it creates a more natural atmosphere and thus allows us to recharge those creative batteries.
I hope these suggestions have proven to be helpful as you work toward creating the perfect creative space within your home. Happy decorating and make your creative space your own!!
I'd love to hear from you on what your writing space looks like. Share in the comments below!
