If you work from home or telecommute on a regular basis, you will want a home office design that promotes productivity while stimulating you creatively.
Telecommuting has rapidly grown in the past decade. 3.7 million people now work at least half their time at home, according to Global Workplace Analytics, and the number of non-self-employed teleworkers has more than doubled since 2005. All of these people can reap the benefits of telecommuting and none of the drawbacks if they make smart decisions when arranging their home office.
In that light, here are some home office design tips that can keep you comfortable, productive and happy throughout your work day.
Compartmentalize
The last thing you want is for your work life to feel like it’s taking over your home life, and vice-versa. The way you arrange your space can have a dramatic effect on this work/life balance. For that reason, make sure that your home office lies off separately from your typical living space. That can mean it is in a completely different room, or it can simply mean partially closing the “work” area of a room from the “home” area using folding screen dividers.
Try to keep everything separated in this way, including your storage, equipment and décor. Even if something typically distracting like a video game console sits in the same room you work in, dividing your physical space can help you keep your mental space divided in turn.
Let Ergonomics Dictate Home Office Design
The absolute most important aspect to consider when designing your home office is your personal comfort and health. Working long hours in an office is one thing, but working in an uncomfortable chair or sofa in your own home can add that extra dose of discontent.
So find ergonomic office chairs that are supportive even after eight or more hours of sitting. Ensure that your keyboard and computer screen are at the optimal height to provide you with a safe, healthy, ergonomic seating position. Use furniture like a footrest to enhance your long-term comfort.
Make Your Space Versatile
Versatility in your home office space not only gives you the variety you need to not get bored, it also lets you use home office furniture in ways appropriate to the current situation. For instance, if you want to step away from the computer, a soft upholstered chair can give you some moments of comfort. If your back gets fatigued from sitting, a standing desk can offer respite.
Being versatile also means having the space you need to stay organized. Having a small, cluttered office gets even worse when it spills into your personal living spaces. Fight back against this entropy by giving yourself an L-shaped desk or arranging two desks to make your work surface never lacking.
Think About Lighting
Overhead lighting should be just one component of your home office lighting scheme. Natural light should flow into the space, even if you need to angle a mirror facing down the hall to get some. You also need ambient light to make your workspace visible, which can be supplied with an articulating desk lamp. Floor lamps can similarly provide fill light, preventing light contrasts in your home office that make your eyes fatigued.
Find Discount or Used Home Office Furniture
Having an amazing, comfortable home office doesn’t have to mean breaking the bank. Take a look at our discounted and used home office furniture to give your home the professional yet cozy space you need to be a stellar remote employee.
