As a Virtual Assistant, I spend more time in my home office than anywhere else, so providing myself with an office that is comfortable and pleasant to spend time in is essential in helping to keep my working hours productive.

If you work from home, here are a few things you might like to do to enhance your surroundings and help make your office a more comfortable and enjoyable to space to work in:

An office needs to be well lit, and preferably with plenty of natural lighting.  Many home offices are in basements or tucked away in corners where there is not much natural lighting. It can also help to have multiple options for lighting, like a desk lamp, as well as overhead lighting.

Avoid having a desk that is full of crumbs left over from your lunch or other things that keep it messy.  Maintaining a clean office doesn’t require much more than just straightening up at the end of each day.

In addition to just keeping it clean, it’s equally important to have an organised office. If your surroundings are unorganised it is likely that you’ll feel like your thoughts are unorganised and this can create stress.  Also, try to keep ugly computer wires hidden away.

Once you have organised your office you should be able to identify some things that you really don’t need.  Get rid of all of any excess clutter and you'll give yourself a more peaceful working environment with fewer distractions.

With a home office it can be very tempting to make it a home office/storage space or to use it for some other purpose.  If you’re spending a considerable amount of time in the office it is best to use that space only for work.

Having a clear separation of work and personal space is helpful for a healthy work-life balance, plus having a dedicated office will allow you to set it up in a way that makes it most comfortable for your working hours.

Part of making a home office comfortable involves decorating it in a way that inspires you and encourages creativity.  Wall art and decorations are a great way to improve your home office.

A plant or two can create a natural and inviting environment.  Plants can be bought inexpensively and there are all kinds of plants available for various amounts of natural light.

Trying to work in a space that is too hot or too cold is not a good idea.  The ability to regulate your office's climate will help you stay awake, be productive and help with creativity.