Like it or not, we’re living in a 24/7 society. With many of us taking work home, the days when you clocked off and switched off have long gone. With this in mind, it’s important for your wellbeing to create a calm and relaxing home that works for you on lots of levels.

Simple changes can transform your life – for instance, just de-cluttering the space around you, can help you make better decisions and be more focused.

Collecting so much stuff that your home or workspace becomes disorderly and unmanageable, is the point when you need to do something about it.

Recent research shows that clutter can decrease productivity by up to 77%, and 68% of people felt ‘in control of their lives’ when they got rid of the chaotic mess. They also described how relaxed, happy and motivated they seemed to be.

So dump the jumble and you’ll gain a space where you can go from work to home mode without stress or time wasting, just by improving the decoration and re-organising the room and its furniture.

FIND YOUR BALANCE: HOW TO DECLUTTER

Dedicate an area for work

You can set aside an area to work in even in the smallest places. Invest in a corner desk to make use of wasted space. If you live in a studio flat or the room is tiny, opt for shelves for your stationery and lamp, with a foldaway desk below and a collapsible stool. In an open-plan area, create a separate section for your workstation by painting the walls a different colour to the rest of the room.

Improve the lighting

Even if you have a natural source of light, you still need to think about cloudy days and night time. A table lamp is usually the best choice for a desk. A traditional Anglepoise is particularly useful (and iconically stylish) because it can be adjusted easily – you can now get ones that can be clamped to a shelf leaving more room on your desk for paperwork.

Find storage

Paperwork can make a room look untidy and hinder your work. If your desk doesn’t have drawers, go for a separate unit that fits underneath, or store important documents in a filing cabinet. Vintage suitcases or a trunk – OKA has a gorgeous one made from saddle leather – are great for hiding clutter and won’t make a multi-use room look too office-like.

Hide away leads and sockets

Extension cables, laptop leads and phone chargers can cause a mess and ruin the look of your space. Disguise them by using lead tidies and socket covers.

Move distractions

If a TV is visible from your desk, then you’re more than likely to start watching it when you’re meant to be working. So think carefully about what distracts you and remove these items.

Read more: Stuffocation — why too much stuff is bad for your stress levels