The working-from-home revolution has been gaining traction over the past few years – and by the looks of it, it’s not going anywhere anytime soon. More and more employers and employees alike are seeing the advantages of a remote work setup, meaning there’s an increasing number of people having to find that perfect little spot in their homes to dedicate to office space.
It can be hard to find a peaceful quarter of a home at the best of times and carving off a piece for an office can often seem like a losing battle, but fear not: you’d be surprised how quickly a forgotten about corner of a room can be transformed into a functional and comfortable workspace. All that’s needed is a little creativity.
Here’s a few things worth bearing in mind when designing your perfect work oasis.
Comfort and Function
Before getting into the specifics of how your workspace will look, it’s important to remember that any productive environment requires the space to be functional and the people who use it to be comfortable. Make sure that whatever you decide; your chosen site is easy to work in and cosy.
Ergonomic Furniture and Accessories
When you’re spending large sections of your day in one place, it’s important that the furniture you use doesn’t cause you any strain or stress. A chair specifically designed to support your back and encourage proper posture is always a good idea. Ergonomic accessories such as a keyboard or mouse can make a big difference too.
Lighting
It is widely accepted that levels of productivity will always suffer in offices with suboptimal lighting. As well as performance-related negative impacts, having adequate lighting also plays an important role in our physical and mental well-being. As always, natural light is best, but artificial is better than insufficient light levels.
Storage
When it comes to designing a home-office space, nothing is more important than making sure the area is organised and has sufficient storage. Where possible, keep the most-used items as close to hand as you can, preferably within arm’s reach. Consider multi-functional pieces of furniture in spaces where room is particularly tight.
Secondary Seating
Finding enough room for an extra seat that might not get used most of the time may seem a little bit extravagant, but separating your workspace can help maximise your time efficiency. For those secondary work-related tasks, having a chair that is removed from your main work setup – if only by a couple of feet – provides a boundary between the places that can have a beneficial impact on your productivity levels.
Plants
Having some greenery around you while you work is a tried-and-tested way to make your office a more pleasant and satisfying place to be. It is proven to lower stress levels and clears the air that you breathe.
Personal Touches and Inspiration
Just like having a picture of family or a dream holiday destination clipped to your desk in a conventional office setup, keeping a comforting and inspirational memento at your side while you work is surprisingly effective – it offers a brief respite from the grind and can do wonders to refocus the mind on the task at hand.
Beware Distractions
While it may seem like the best idea ever to have your desk in view of the TV, be mindful of digitised interruptions. Gadgets are the natural nemesis of productivity.
Be Creative
Almost every home has those little nooks that seem to be dead space, good for nothing except collecting clutter and dust. It’s surprising how often these little forgotten areas can be just the right kind of space for a bespoke, cosy and functional office. Often, with a little ingenuity and imagination, your perfect remote working setup could be right under your nose.
