Sarah Cross: "I always have a calendar in my design workspace. I use it constantly because I always forget the date. It helps me organise my life."

This example of a home made chalkboard calendar is amazing. This would be very handy if you run a business or just a busy schedule. Having the information right in front of you at all times is a lot easier than checking your phone or computer for details of where and when.

Visit your local hardware or paint store to purchase some chalkboard paint. It is relatively cheap and is as easy to apply as normal paint. Bunnings has a good deal.

You can use boxes stacked on top of one another to keep everything neat and tidy. This is inconvenient if you need to access the boxes often, but if you just need your things sorted and tidy, then this is perfect.

Visit the IKEA website to get some inspiration on different types of storage boxes. 

A quick video about how to work efficiently from home. Main points are:

• Make sure you have motivation, otherwise you will easily get distracted at home.
• Keep a clean workspace, clutter can be distracting. 
• Make your workspace a 'work only' zone. Exclude social media and tell your family not to distract you. 

Anthony Hatton: "My favourite thing about my work station is the amount of natural light. I love being able to work in the warm sun and not having to use artificial lighting. I think I work better during the day when I can design using natural lighting."

Research done by New University of Technology Sydney has found strong evidence supporting the benefits of office plants for reducing stress and negative moods. Plants were found to promote wellbeing, and therefore, potentially performance. People who had plants placed in their offices showed reductions in stress levels and negative feelings. Importantly, just one office plant was enough to make all the difference. Read the research paper.

CIPHR goes into detail about the benefits of having a workplace plant:

Reduce stress:

Introducing plants to your working environment reduces stress. Work environments appear more calming and simply a nicer place to be when plants are present. They are more interesting, colourful and relaxing. The effects aren’t just psychological either, physiological effects such as lowered blood pressure are also proven benefits of a greener office. Plants also enable us to perceive our surroundings better, we feel more comfortable and this, in turn, reduces stress.

Increase productivity:

Productivity is known to be improved in an environment were plants are present. Cognitive tasks, concentration and focus are all improved, therefore increasing productivity within the workforce. In numerous studies conducted it has been found that fewer mistakes are made and tasks are completed faster. The higher level of concentration can be attributed to the plants ability to reduce excess carbon dioxide in the air.

Cleaner air to breathe:

By introducing a ratio of 1 plant per 3 employees, air quality can be improved within the office. CO2 can be reduced by 50% as well as a reduction in the dust, bacteria and mould which would otherwise be inhaled by employees. Dust levels in the workplace can be reduced by up to 20 per cent when plants are introduced. There are also man made toxins within an office created by plastics, paint, furniture, carpets, and certain cleaning products that will be reduced significantly by plants.

With correct placement of plants, the need for air con can also be reduced and the air kept at a higher humidity (up to 20%). By reducing the dry air caused by air conditioning and increasing humidity, illnesses such as tickly coughs are much less common.

Increased creativity:

In one study, plants were seen to increase creativity by 15%. One theory suggests that plants being present invoke our ancient instincts that there is food nearby (berries, fruit etc) and so we relax, become calmer, are happier and more creative.

For information on what plants are right for your workspace visit Ambius.