Home office design ideas for remote workers.
These days, there are more remote workers than ever before. This means many Australians spend a large chunk of their working week at home. But the reality is that only a small portion of them have a well-designed workspace in their home. In this article, we’re going to take a look at the best ideas and tips to improve your home office.
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Different types of home offices
Home workspaces come in all kinds of shapes and sizes. We’re not all blessed with a dedicated room, or even a spare room. So we have to make do with what we have. Often, that might be a nook in the living room, or simply the desk space in the bedroom. The good news is that whatever your home office setup, we can help.
A study nook
Many modern homes, particularly townhouses, feature study and work nooks. These often appear in living rooms, or passages, like hallways and integrated into staircases. While they aren’t the most spacious of workspaces, they do offer a solution for remote workers who require a dedicated working area. Study nooks are also very effective at keeping the work clutter away from living rooms and bedrooms.
A study or work nook is simply a recessed space with a desk of varying sizes. Sometimes, they may be too small to use as a viable workspace. But much of the time, they are handy little areas to utilise when working from home. And there are a number of ways you can decorate your nook to create a relaxing home workspace.
The bedroom
For most people, working in your bedroom isn’t exactly ideal, but sometimes it’s all we’ve got. It’s always better to keep work separate from the space where you sleep and relax, but we all know that’s often not possible. So if your bedroom is the only option, it’s important that you integrate your workspace without disrupting the main functions of the room.
A dedicated room
If you’re lucky enough to have a whole room to utilise, you’re doing well. And there is so much you can do to turn this room into a productive yet comfortable home office space. This includes choosing the perfect desk, the right chair, pleasant colours, ample lighting, vibrant artwork, and any required storage solutions. We’ll go into more detail below.
Essential elements of home office design
The principles of home office design aren’t too dissimilar from commercial design principles.
Layout
The layout of a home office should be optimised for accessibility and ease of use. For example, if your chair is pinned too closely to the wall, it makes it hard to access your workspace, and you’ll be in for an uncomfortable day. Similarly, everything you need should be within reach. That means any documents, stationary, and of course, your computer. If the layout of your workspace is poorly thought-out, it can make for an uncomfortable environment.
Lighting
Lighting is one of the most important considerations in any office. Poor lighting can cause all sorts of problems for workers, including eye strain. On the other hand, if lighting is too harsh, it can affect sleep cycles and ultimately mental health. This is why warm lighting that is bright enough to work by is the ideal choice. Utilising LED lighting will also ensure you save more on your electricity bill.
Connectivity
It’s impossible to work remotely without the right connectivity. Depending on where your workspace is, it’s important that your wireless signal is strong enough to complete your work responsibilities and attend meetings. If possible, utilising a LAN cable will ensure that your internet connection is as strong as can be.
Desk
Throughout the pandemic, many of us simply worked at the dining table or the kitchen bench. That came with a host of problems… which is why more of us started searching for the best home office designs and solutions. This, of course, included the perfect desk. For those working at home long term, a great desk is a must. A sturdy piece that provides plenty of space to work from and which sits at the ideal height makes life much easier.
Wellbeing is essential in every home office
Employee wellbeing applies to workers both in the office, and those working from home. Everyone should be taking the required steps to look after their physical and mental health when working remotely.
Ergonomics
Ergonomics are just as important at home as in the office. You should ensure that your chair is supporting your back properly and that you are maintaining the correct posture throughout the workday. Your computer should be placed correctly, ideally raised up on a stand. This ensures that your eye line is in the right position when working, reducing the chance of neck strain.
Peace and quiet
It’s essential to maintain peace and quiet when working if that’s possible. For this reason, keeping your working area away from the kitchen and living room is important. A quiet, relaxing workspace is essential for good mental health. Along with that, regular breaks are important to ensure you are giving your mind time to breathe. Sometimes, when working at home, we forget to take important breaks.
Looking for commercial office design? We’ve got you.
We hope these home office design ideas are helpful for your remote working setup. But if you’re looking for commercial office design in Sydney, we’re here to help. We design and fit out offices of all sizes in Sydney CBD and surrounding areas.
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