With the pandemic still evolving, more people are forced to work remotely, which can be a problem for some. Our homes don’t have areas where we can spend hours working on, so if you are one of the people who are working from home and have decided to transform a space into a home office, you’ve come to the right guide.
Gone are the days of sitting in a non-ergonomic chair or cramping up some leg space in your bed. Setting up a functional area is more than just looking good; it is needed to boost productivity and convenience.
A Proper Workspace
By 2025, an estimate of 36.2 million Americans will be working from home, which is an 87% increase before the pandemic. Having a proper space for work at home is essential to set boundaries between work and personal life. You will also feel convenient during meetings and conferences since you will look presentable among your colleagues and everything you need is within your hand’s reach.
It can also save you from physical discomfort since you would be sitting in an office chair instead of being slumped up in bed or on your living room couch.
There is a lot to consider when you are building a home office. Whether you’re starting from scratch or you’re renovating, here is a guide to making a comfortable and practical working space:
Find a dedicated space that suits your working style
People have different ways of boosting their productivity. For that, you need to find the perfect space where you will be located. Evaluate what kind of work you’ll do and what working style you have. If your home is not big enough for a working area, be creative with existing small spaces like a cupboard under the stairs, a corner of your bedroom, or even a barely-used garage! Garden home offices are getting popular, too.
If you run a small business at home while taking care of your kids, you need a working space to keep your eye on them. At the same time, you should have ample space where you can work on your small business.
Figure out what you need
It seems highly unorganized to pile up papers in a lot of areas. For you to have a neat working space, you can go for shelves and drawers. Make use of the ones you already have at home and attach shelves to your walls. Tables with drawers or even a small cabinet are essential for storage like stationery and documents.
Provide an ergonomic chair and table set up
Investing in an ergonomic working chair and table setup can make a difference. It can reduce pain and discomfort associated with prolonged sitting, boost your productivity, and lessen physical side effects such as neck and back problems. You can cut costs on storage equipment, stationary, and lamps in your office but don’t overthink splurging on a good office chair and desk.
Have a good lighting
Natural light may be the best option for a relaxing working space so go with an area close to windows with direct sunlight. If there’s too much glazing, but you want natural lighting, get blinds installed. These can regulate the right amount of light, shade, and a cooler temperature.
An office desk lamp is essential, but allowing natural light to blend in with your office and achieve a relaxing ambiance might be difficult. You can also add curtains and shutters, whichever will fit your space and interior.
Hide electric cords
Electric cords can be an eyesore, especially if they’re all tangled together. It can even get in the way when it’s on the floor or scattered around your desk. With all the possible technological devices you’d be using, you need to develop a creative way to hide electric cords by using a wall mount power bar, tying them with clear cable clips and zip ties, or a fabric cord concealer. Research what fits best within your space.
Maintain your office
Treat your home office like you would with an actual office space. Avoid putting home items such as laundry clothes, stacked up dirty dishes, and toiletries on top of your desk and closet. You can set a boundary between your personal space and your working area.
Suppose it gets messy, and you’re too busy at home handling other responsibilities such as taking care of the kids or doing errands on the weekend. Time might be limited for you. In that case, you can always opt for commercial cleaning services to do a thorough job at organizing everything.
The best way to build a home office set up depends on every remote worker, the nature of their work, and their preferences. Don’t let small spaces stop you from getting the setup you want. Just be creative and have fun renovating your new office.