Earlier last year saw our homes unexpectedly become offices and learning centers. Offices that were previously an afterthought in the design process are now a dedicated workspace designed for productivity. Improving a home office is just more than a desk and chair. There are a lot of perks to working from home, not the least of which is a 1-minute commute. Setting up your home office means that you have got a lot of choice and freedom. It’s all about comfort and boosting productivity since you’ll work essentially more than 40 hours a week. To begin planning for a workable home office, proper planning is mandatory. The home office can be an extra
guestroom, your kitchen counter to even a corner of your bedroom. Regardless of the office positioning, it’s paramount to ensure the spot doesn’t have high foot traffic to minimize distractions. If your space is limited, you may need to get more creative and convert unwanted spaces such as the closet into a workspace. Given that many hours will be spent in the same room or desk, it makes sense to organize and optimize the workspace as much as possible. One of the greatest things you can do for your home office is furnishing it with ergonomic furniture which is specifically designed to offer comfort and prevent injuries resulting from chronic poor posture or long-term sitting. A quality chair and desk can make a world of difference in terms of focus and productivity. Knoll is without a doubt the fo-to furniture store for ergonomic pieces and is internationally renowned for its dedication to modern designs and how the pieces can be integrated into a space without necessarily competing with it. Knoll offers a wide variety of office furniture mostly featuring the Bauhaus design.
Lighting is extremely important for a home office. At the start of a workday, first, open the windows to let in as much natural light as possible. Sunlight allows the skin to absorb vitamin D which is an essential element in preventing bone loss and reduce the risk of chronic diseases. In the absence of natural light, artificial fixtures can be incorporated to reduce eye strain. Place the computer monitor at a comfortable distance to prevent your back from arching and reduce one from straining. Color to a home office makes the space more inviting. Choosing the right color scheme is one of the simplest ways to enhance work performance. It’s important to select a color and pattern that speaks true to your style. Light hues make a space feel airier and look bigger. Other items that can be incorporated into the space to add color may include carpets and rugs that provide support and comfort to the feet; statement art, which is a good idea to include visual forms of art to offer inspiration while you are at work. Decorative images that speak to you such as family and memorabilia can be hanged on the walls to make you feel energized and motivated. Also, small houseplants are able to bring life into a space and encourage one to stay longer. Studies show that plants have a positive effect on mood, productivity, and reduced level of stress. It doesn’t particularly matter what plants they are as long as they are live and green. These plants have been reported to help lower the levels of chemicals in the air hence improving the air quality for work.