Over the past few years, the number of people working from home has skyrocketed. More and more of us are forgoing the commute, the office and the desk lunch and opting to work from the comfort of our homes instead.
The key to a productive, stress-free day working from home is a good office. Having a spacious desk, a comfortable work chair and a clear, calming workstation will help you to stay focused when working remotely. To help you create the perfect place for your new desk, take a look at this guide to making the ideal home office.
As with many things in the home, location is key when creating a home workspace. As desks can fit into relatively small nooks and crannies, you can be fairly creative when it comes to placing your workstation.
Try to find somewhere that’s slightly separate from the rest of your home – or at least that has the potential to be separated off. Alcoves work really well as home offices, and you can also look at landings, large cupboards and spacious hallways when selecting your site.
If the spot you’ve chosen is in a hall or another narrow space, consider investing in a slimline desk and thin desk chair. This will help to save space and ensure your new office doesn’t get in the way of your living area.
Ideally, your office space should have plenty of natural light, access to electricity and enough space for all your electronics and accessories. If you can’t tick all these boxes, just do the best you can and you should be able to find fixes for the rest.
No one wants to feel like they’re always at their desk. It’s also important for your mental wellbeing and family life that you’re able to leave your work behind at the end of the day – so try to build a home office that can be easily and effectively screened or separated off from the rest of your home.
If you don’t have a dedicated room for your desk and comfortable study chair, you can place your home office on a landing, in a corner of your living room or even in the garden shed. If there’s no way to separate your office from the rest of your home, consider investing in a fold up desk, discreet storage and a stylish, comfortable studying chair that can be neatly tidied away at the end of the working day.
A comfortable work chair is one of the most important elements of a good home office. WFH chairs often get used for 8 hours a day, 7 days a week, so investing in office work chairs that support your back and legs is essential.
If you have a comfortable office chair at work, check the brand to see if you can get a similar one for home. You could also use a gaming chair for work if you find them more supportive than officeworks chairs.
The most important thing to consider when buying a comfortable work chair is back support. If you work from home full time you could spend up to 40 hours a week at your desk, so it’s essential your chair supports your spine and aids your posture.
One of the best ways to ensure your comfortable office chair is supportive as well as practical is to opt for an ergonomic chair that’s been specially designed with your body in mind. If you’re looking for a good quality ergonomic chair Australia has a good selection of retailers offering affordable and attractive options.
Having adequate storage will help you to keep your office area clean and tidy. This will create a calming workspace and help you to keep your home looking its best.
Install as much storage as you can to give you plenty of places to put your files, folders and office supplies. If you have kids in your home, keep your office essentials in safe storage lockers. Make sure you leave room for all your essential electronics like printers, scanners, chargers and audio visual equipment. You’ll also need to leave enough space to pull your comfortable work chair right up under your desk as this will give you the optimal position for your posture.
Lighting is another important element of the perfect office space. Good lighting will help to make your office more stylish and more usable. It can also help to prevent headaches and make your office feel more welcoming.
Daylight is the best lighting for a home office. If you can’t put your desk by a window, install good quality lighting around your office area to ensure it’s well lit and pleasant to work in.
Adding some houseplants to your home office is good for both aesthetics and your mental health. Greenery will help to lift the space and purify the air, making your office a healthier place to be.
Creating a comfortable, practical and attractive workspace will help you to focus during the working day and keep your home looking stylish. Why not set to work creating your perfect home office now and make your interior work for you?
