If you work from home regularly, you’ll know the importance of having a dedicated space. Sitting with a laptop on your knee just isn’t productive. It’s possible to transform even the smallest of spaces into the most functional of offices. Here are our tips on how to do just that.

External influences

Think about external influences, such as natural light, noise levels, and privacy and how you can control their impact upon your productivity. You can instantly regulate the amount of natural light coming into your room and create privacy by installing blinds. The sun in the morning might be a good motivator for creativity, but it can play havoc with glare on your computer screen. Practical and personalised blinds will give you superb light control, enabling you to achieve the perfect balance.

Ergonomics and aesthetics

You may want the room to look as good as it can, but functionality should be your biggest concern here. An ergonomically designed chair will do wonders for your back during those long working hours. You’ll also need to think about how the rest of the furniture works with your body. How close are you sitting to your desk? Is your keyboard and monitor at the appropriate height?

Functional furniture

Opting for some furniture specifically designed with function in mind will help you get the most out of your home office. If you can afford it, think bespoke. It’ll be individually designed to fit with the specifications of the room as well as your specific equipment.

Get the work and home balance spot on

This can be one of the most difficult issues when setting up your home office, especially if it’s close to the living areas of the home. People can often go one of two ways. Either letting the family rule over their working environment and not getting enough work done, or spending every waking moment in the office and neglecting the people closest to them. A balance between the two is essential.

This can actually be regulated by how you design your office. You’ll want to retain casual elements of the home which encourage family members to come in and relax; there’s nothing like a friendly face to help you take a break from your work. But you also want it to retain an office feel which allows you to get into the required mindset to get down to your work. Again the balance is key; you’ll know what works for you.

 

Posted by Keren Fathi-Poor at 13 April, 2012

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