With the advent of remote working, our home offices have taken on a role of increased
importance, helping many to earn a static living or operate businesses independently. The
right design can help you be comfortable and more productive over the working week.
Here, McGregor’s Furniture and Mattress presents a few simple tips to get you started.
Spacing
One of your key considerations when designing your office space should be spacing or the
layout of the room. There are two schools of thought here – you want to avoid
claustrophobic, contained spaces, but you also want to ensure that everything you need is
within convenient distance. To help with this, it’s worth creating organizational solutions
to reduce clutter and give yourself more options. Although the average sized home office is
50-150 square feet, you may find you prefer something smaller or even larger than this.
It’s also important to take into consideration the purpose of your home office. If you are
running a business out of your home, you will need different resources than if you are
earning a bachelor of computer science through an online university. Although both
purposes may require an attractive seating arrangement for video chats, meetings, or
classes, a university student may need more desk space for books and writing materials
used during class sessions. Think about what you will need for your home office and design
accordingly.
Lighting
It’s important not to underestimate the importance of lighting as you design your home
office. The quality and placement of light sources can have a profound impact on your
productivity and even mood. When possible, try to maximize daylight exposure. If your
exposure is limited, you can try to compensate with ambient light. WeWork explains that
warm colors improve relaxation, whereas cooler colors improve alertness. There are plenty
of spectrum options for LED bulbs that will also help you save money on electricity and
protect the environment.
Comfort
Make sure that you also create a comfortable environment for yourself. Think about
ergonomics when you choose your chair and desk, as you will be less productive if you are
uncomfortable or if your wrists begin to hurt. Check out McGregor’s Furniture and Mattress
for great desk, chair, and bookcase options for your home office.
Decoration
Decorations aren’t just about aesthetics – with the right additions, you can completely
change the ambiance of the room and appear at your best for video conferences.
Bookshelves can give your workspace an air of intellect – they may also provide a lowaddiction way to spend downtime.
You might also opt for a few mirrors, as these can give your room a larger appearance.
However you decide to decorate your home office, try to avoid introducing new
distractions or anything garish that might make concentration difficult.
Plantlife
The pandemic has seen a huge uptick in the purchasing and care of house plants. The right
leafy insertion can bring color to a room, freshening the air and potentially reducing stress.
If you’re new to plant care, it’s worth going in for an easy species to care for, such as an
Aloe Vera plant. If you’re short on room, you could even try a hanging plant, such as Devil’s
Ivy, attaching the pot to a wall or ceiling.
Aroma
It’s easy to overlook scents when you’re designing your home office – after all, what
relevance does smell have when it comes to productivity? AeroWest reports that the
answer is quite a lot. Take some time to explore aromas via candles, diffusers, incense,
flowers, or even room fresheners to see which ones help best with concentration and keep
you calm throughout the workday.
Noise
If you want to produce your best work consistently, it’s crucial that you minimize any
audial distractions. This could mean locating your home office away from busy areas of the
home or even taking steps to adapt doors or windows to better insulate from noise. Failing
this, you can’t go wrong with a pair of noise-canceling headphones.
Make Intentional Choices for Your Office Space
For decades, we’ve refined our office spaces to provide optimum working environments.
Now that the work has come home, it’s important that we take the onus onto our own
shoulders and ensure we’re happy and focused from 9-5 and beyond. So take the time to
figure out which layout is best for your work or school purposes, and find furniture and
plant life that will help you feel relaxed and productive. In the end, you’ll be glad that you
made these strategic choices.
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