Top 5 Rules When Designing Your Office At Home

Working from home is a common trend for many employees and entrepreneurs. However, it’s important to create a home office that provides a comfortable space in which you can hit maximum efficiency.

Professional interior office designers say designing a home office that enables you to maintain peak productivity is not as straight-forward as you might think.

The process requires a methodical approach which has to be orientated around form and function. How do you design a home office that enables you to be comfortable and productive?

The biggest issue many people face when working from home is the location. Unless you have a spare bedroom, a converted loft or a garden shed, your work station will be exposed to the various distractions from around the house.

Ideally, the part of the house you choose to ‘set up shop’ should have a degree of privacy. If there is no partitioning doorway, create a boundary that separates you from other activities elsewhere in the home.

Related: Camper Office or Office Camper?

Regardless of the amount of space you have, the furniture you choose should be functional – so choose a desk, shelves and cupboards that provide storage space and enable you to do your job effectively.

Ideally, the layout of your furniture should logically accommodate your workflow. Items you use regularly should be in touching distance, and if you need time away from the computer set up a quiet space for thinking.

Comfort is important – especially when you are sitting in the same position for the lion share of the day. Invest in an ergonomic chair that can be adjusted to support your neck, shoulders and lower back. Just because you are working from home, doesn’t mean your health and wellbeing should suffer when doing your job.

Good lighting is essential. Studies show that natural lighting improves mood and energy levels. Conversely, a lack of sunlight contributes to vitamin D deficiency and contributes to depression.

Ideally, you should position your desk near a window so that you are exposed to natural sunlight during the day. Wall lights with a dimmer switch and task lighting are the best option for working the hours after the last light of day has disappeared.

Poor lighting also damages your eyes when reading, and poorly positioned lights cause a glare on the computer screen. Lighting is also known to affect circadian rhythm. Make provisions for your home office to be brightly lit during the day and subtle lighting at night.

The psychology of color is a well-defined field that is used predominantly throughout the design industry. Color is known to evoke certain emotions and can have an impact on energy levels.

Professional designers recommend including natural, earthy tones in your color scheme as they reduce stress levels and evoke feelings of peace and relaxation. Blues, greens, browns and violets are all soothing colors.

Bright colors such as red, orange and yellow are attention-grabbing and evoke a sense of urgency. These types of colors are known to stimulate the brain which can help productivity.

However, too much brightness can overstimulate the brain and cause fatigue. It is recommended that bright colors are toned down with contrasting colors such as whites and cool greys.

Thanks to wireless technology, there is no reason to be consistently hooked up to cables. However, machines need power so the layout of your office should be arranged to accommodate power points for your equipment without wires creating a hazard.

If you don’t have power plug sockets in the right places, consider using wire management solutions such as clamps and zip ties to keep stray wires in position.

Whether you’re a freelancer, e-commerce entrepreneur or remote working for a company, creating a home office that stimulates productivity and protects your health and wellbeing is important.

Published in: Smart Home | Author: Lynn