Designing a Home Office for the Future

Remote working became the new normal for many workers last year. Living rooms and bedrooms were transformed into home offices and Zoom became the new conference room. Many employers are adopting a flexible working strategy going forward and self-employed workers are gearing up for a new way of working. Employees may be given a choice to work from home or the office, with flexible hours on either side. Of course, not every industry can offer this luxury, and, in some cases, employees will have to return to their workplace full-time.

However, if you are working from home for the foreseeable future, it’s best to make your home office as professional and comfortable as possible. Many people are now looking at the long-term work from home set-ups. Here are a few things to bear in mind when designing your home office.

Research and plan

Many workers are committed to working from home for the long run. Homeworking set-ups need to be carefully considered and planned to optimise your productivity and work efficiency levels. Take a look at Pinterest for some design inspiration and research the best ergonomic desk equipment. Remember, it needs to look aesthetic and be practical for everyday use.

Work from home set-ups were largely temporary last year, and many of us used the kitchen table as a desk. If you are opting for a long-term setup, you need to find a permanent space that you can work in. It’s important to dedicate one space to work in so you can maintain a work-life balance despite working from home.

Healthy environment

Choose a colour scheme for your office and try to make it as calming and motivating as possible. Use ergonomic furniture and equipment, bright wallpaper and maybe a few industrial style lamps for a design feature.

Natural light is known to increase our productivity levels and extend our concentration. If you are renovating your office structure, add some VELUX windows to your roof to transform your new office into a daylight haven.

More functionality

A home office should have different areas for different functions. For example, you could set a seating area for laptop work, a creative area for mind mapping and maybe a printing/admin station. It’s good to get up and work around different regions of the room to keep your brain awake and active.

Just remember to stick to your office and try not to work in your bedroom or living room. You need to maintain a healthy work-life balance and designating relaxation and workspaces can help you do this.

A home office is a wonderful luxury that some of us can’t afford. If you have a small one-bedroom flat, try converting one corner of your living room into an office. Be flexible and adjust to your living arrangements to make your workspace as practical as possible.

Author:

Sasha Douglass