The office of tomorrow will conserve energy, reuse old materials and utilize the best of technology

Gone are the days when offices contained a row of crappy cubicles in a white room, illuminated by blinding fluorescent lights. So-called innovators, like Google and Facebook, are not only making waves online; they are also renowned for their extremely stimulating and futuristic work spaces. So how can this inspiration translate to your home office?

Easy! If you require more creative stimulation from your home office, you just need to embrace the idea that if you did your work in an imaginative work environment – out of the box ideas will result. So regardless of if you’re making small changes to your home office by swapping the fluorescent lighting for some funky ambient desk illumination or doing an office overhaul with textured walls, an exercise ball instead of a desk chair, an ergonomic desk, and adding multifunctional tools like glass whiteboards and space savers for small home offices – the idea is that by injecting some much needed personality into your home office, your brain will respond with genius ideas as a thanks.

Here are some unique design concepts for your home office of the future…

1. Go high tech: Futuristic décor can mean many things – for instance – to you it might mean decking your home office out with the latest technology gadgets – such as a retracting flat screen, flashy modern office furniture and a control panel out of the most recent Star Trek flick that controls not only the lighting and heat in your home office, but also the stereo, water heater and even the coffee maker in your kitchen.

2. Exercise minimalism: For others, a futuristic home office space might call to mind minimalist Zen office design that turns your work environment into a soothing sanctuary where the mind can roam free. The idea behind Zen design is to cultivate a calm, clear, pure atmosphere that opens the mind. To infuse a little Zen into your home office:

• Reduce the color palette – use calming neutrals and earthy tones on the walls and flooring
• Add elements of water (e.g., a charming fountain or an indoor waterfall)
• De-clutter by removing small decorative items, patterns and anything you don’t use
• Leave the walls free of images and floors free of rugs

3. Accessorize with time-saving features: OK, so you might not have the money to go overboard with every futuristic gadget that you desire. However, you can still add convenient tools that save time in your home office. For instance, improve organization and scheduling with the addition of glass whiteboards. These literally fade into the background when not in use, but work as multifunctional tools – for instance as projection screens for client presentations (if you hold appointments in your home), a central scheduling or to-do board that not only keeps track of work, but let’s your family know when you are occupied with work as well.

4. Think green: Work feels pretty good when you do your part to protect the environment for future generations. Sure, your home office can’t compete with the green roof at Chicago City Hall or the radiant heated concrete polished floors at Google Inc., however, you can do small things to help the environment, like using recycled paper, incorporating solar power panels, steam water heater, and even a green composting bin for your coffee grinds and lunch scraps.

5. Use renewable decorating materials: The future of home office design can be showcased top to bottom by utilizing greener materials – like bamboo floors, walls and office furniture, natural fiber carpeting and flooring that require less upkeep and contains less toxic fumes like carpeting or vinyl flooring, and replacing regular bulbs with LED lights that reduce the consumption of electricity. Every little bit that you can do in your home office will aid the environment and make your home office a healthier place to work.

Author’s Bio

Angela is a freelance writer, loving wife, and mother of two beautiful twin girls and a standard poodle named Morty. She graduated with her Master of Arts Degree in English from the University of North Carolina. During her time in university, she wrote a number of children’s short stories that focus on a set of curious twin sisters and their dog (go figure). Angela is currently looking for freelance writing opportunities and can be reached at angelatlr600@gmail.com.