5 Tips for designing & setting up your home office
I, like many, at the start of lockdown, found myself unplugging my work computer, pilling up the car with tech paraphernalia and pot plants, and relocating my office to its new 'temporary' site at home.
Set in the corner of the spare room, I embraced my inner British DIY-er spirit, constructed a make-shift desk from various unused units and spare pieces of wood, and bolted my work's dual-monitor computer to it.
I was ready!
Since then, a need for a more permanent set up has ensued and, as more people are continuing to work from home, the desire to create the best home office environment has become increasingly important.
A friend - knowing my love for right-angles - asked why I'd placed my desk at a rather odd angle, and this got me thinking it'd be worth writing about.
The desk is roughly at a 45 degree angle to the window, tucked into the corner of the room. The reasoning being thus: To place it directly in front of the window, would result in the two monitors blocking the light from the desk space itself; the other way round would cause screen glare. In addition, having the seat positioned at that angle to the window, gives me a precious glimpse down to the wavering trees at the very end of the road - a daily reminder that mother nature is still doing her thing.
Which leads me to the first two tips for setting up your home office:
Let there be light
If natural light is available to you, place your desk at an angle which allows you to soak up the vitamin D, whist maintaining your ability to read your emails on the monitor. North-facing rooms, whilst not as bright, have more consistent natural light, so work well. South facing spaces have gloriously golden light, but can alter dramatically throughout the day, so it sometimes helps to be further away from the window if this is the case.
Light is so important for your well-being, and also helps with productivity so, if you don't have natural light, or it's bleak outside, look at getting multiple lighting options such as a non-filtering ceiling pendant and a table lamp. You can also get natural light bulbs which emulate sunlight, and so are great for those tucked into dark spaces.
Immerse yourself in nature
I love a lunch-time stomp (weather permitting) but, when the delights of the British weather make this less than fun, place your seating where you can see outside. If you have the luxury of a view, there's your spot. Us city dwellers may not have such easy access to 'green', so get down to your local garden centre and grab yourself some beautiful indoor plants. There are so many to choose from, so make a note of your room direction and how much light you have in your space before setting off.
Biophilic design has been a buzz word over the last few years, and with good reason: Research has shown that introducing nature into our interior worlds, helps reduce stress and support our general well-being. If there's ever been a better year to do everything we possibly can to help our mental health and stress-levels, this is the one.
Leave work at the door
A spare room? Easy; pack up and close the door at the end of the day. For many of us, our home offices are in multi-functioning rooms. It can be on a dining table, a desk tucked into an alcove, or some other multi-purpose temporary space. Storage and organisational accessories are essential for making it an easy task to pack work away at the end of the day. A desk with drawers; magazine files; storage racks; desk accessories - there are so many options for concealing the clutter.
But... make it personal; make it beautiful; make it yours.
Colour me beautiful
Choosing 'the right' colour / tone / hue for a space warrants a whole post of its own. But, in short, greens, blues and pinks have calming qualities, which suit the working environment. Yellows, oranges and reds are warming, and can be energising, but are also hard to spend too much time in. My personal favourites for work spaces are mid-greens and pinks. They both help create a sense of calm but, if chosen with subtle yellow undertones, also add a warmth to a room.
I am a fan of colour; it keeps life interesting and is a reflection of your personality, so embrace it!
Minimalism vs maximalism
You know what works for you, so this ultimately has to be down to personal preference.
Some people find maximalist styles to be exciting, invigorating and inspiring; for others it can be a distraction. When there's too much going on in a scheme, the brain can sometimes find it difficult rest and focus on just one thing, and so it becomes unsettled, sometimes even causing anxiety. I tend to opt for a few pictures of simple - perhaps abstract - artwork, a display board for notices or items of inspiration, and a couple of beautiful accessories.
Create a space that's both inspirational and calming; ordered but with purpose; energising yet relaxing; and, most importantly, make it you!
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