Most of us have been clamoring in getting our own working space at home set up, especially since most companies let their employees work from home as preventive measures are needed to stem the flow of a particularly contagious disease.
Working from home seems great. Well, we’ll still need to compartmentalize a lot of aspects of our home. It can be mentally taxing for individuals that are more used to the office setting when they start making a transition towards a work-from-home setup without a proper home office.
For many remote workers, business owners, and freelancers, having your own home office and working space can help improve productivity while giving you much-needed peace of mind. Compartmentalizing different parts of your home
Consider the Concept
We get it: you’ve been drooling over those photos of offices from architectural and interior design magazines. Most of these concept arts look amazing, right? They do look great, but at the end of the day, they will still be concept designs that are supposed to mimic what a model office would look like.
In most cases, these concepts and designs are more focused on the general aesthetic appeal that it can give to the audience, and much of the general function isn’t thought through. What might seem like great chairs for your patio doesn’t necessarily mean that they can support your back when you sit down for hours. When it’s an office space, function, comfortability, and safety should be the priority. Most would suggest focusing on ergonomic equipment (we’ll get to that later.)
It’s also important to have neutral and darker colors. Brighter colors might look great, but they can often stimulate the senses, which can cause distractions in the process. The last thing that you want is your attention all over the place, especially when you’re finishing your workload for the day.
Focus on Ergonomics
The main difference between the usual type of furniture that we use to rest from most types of furniture that we’ll use for our workspace is that we’ll usually have to sit down for hours when we are working. Since we’ll be sitting for a long time, we’ll need to have furniture to support our back and much of our posture.
However, we’ll also have to think of more than just our comfortability when we’re sitting down for hours. When you’re sitting down and staring at a screen monitor for six to eight hours in a day, you’re setting yourself up for eye strain, fatigue, and health complications.
If this is the case, you might want to position your keyboard on the same level as your forearms, which makes them directly parallel to the floor level. Next, you’ll need to position your legs and your feet, both resting on the floor or a footrest if your desk has one.
It might seem like an added cost, but you’ll need to invest in having an ergonomically-designed chair. You don’t necessarily have to get one that’s too soft or fluffy since this can cause problems with your lower back; having one that’s enough for your posture while giving you the right support. When you’re investing time and effort in your work, you might as well invest in an office chair that you love, too.
Get Professional Help
But whether you’re working on your home workspace, looking for the right furniture, or installing the necessary electronics for your home office, you will still need the supervision of professionals. It’s important to have at least the professional opinion of individuals who have years of experience in the construction industry. Although there’s no problem with doing a few do-it-yourself projects, most individuals will overlook a key component if they don’t consult with an expert first.
Commissioning the services of a general contractor can help expedite the renovation process while also giving you much-needed feedback on the current project. In some cases, construction can be a delicate process, and there’s bound to be potential physical hazards in such a situation. Having the proper tools and equipment, especially from professionals with years of experience, can mitigate injuries.
Incorporating Ambient Lighting
Even when we’re staying inside our home, there’s no hurt in letting in a bit of sunlight. Studies have shown that too much artificial light can have detrimental effects on the body. If this is the case, it’s only appropriate to invest in ambient lighting.
When you’re working throughout a good chunk of the day, your body will start to forget what time it is. Ambient lighting is a great way of making your body aware of the day-night cycle so that you can get a good amount of rest and sleep.
If possible, you should move your office desk closer to the windows. Natural light and sunlight can help boost your mood and give you an outlet if you want to turn your direction away from the computer for at least a few minutes.
Overall, you don’t necessarily need to complicate your home workspace as it’s designed for one thing: work. While making your home office clean and appealing is needed, safety, ergonomic support, and comfortability should be the top priority in ensuring that you’ll perform well in your tasks.
