Ten tips to create the perfect work from home office
A delicate balance between function and form, creating the perfect home office is achievable with tips from top interior design and ergonomic experts.
Since the pandemic began, the home office has been upgraded from an optional extra to an essential space in most Aussie homes.
Whether tucked away in the corner of an existing living space or contained in its own room, having a dedicated work area can dramatically improve workflow and productivity.
Researchers at the University of Exeter discovered that employees who had control over their curating their office workspace to suit their specific needs and tastes were more productive than those working from an area which had been set up for them.
If you’ve been pulling 10-hour workdays while balanced on a kitchen bar stool, perhaps it’s time to give your back (and brain) a break and invest in a more permanent ‘Work From Home’ set up.
To get you started, we approached interior design and ergonomic experts to offer their best tips on creating a functional and productive personal workspace.
Location, location
“If the option is there, the ideal location for a home office is a quiet space offering plenty of natural light, privacy and room for all the office essentials,” explains Richard Archer, Principal, Archer Design.
To reduce any disruption and noise, Archer suggests setting up the home office in a quiet part of the home, “ideally away from the kitchen and areas of gathering”. “If space is at a premium (in an apartment for example), a narrow bench surface that can double as a display niche or dressing table can also be transformed into a useful home office when required,” he says.
Ergonomic essentials
With entire families working and learning from home, chances are not everyone is using best ergonomic practices when it comes to their office set ups. From hunching over laptops on kitchen bar stools or working in bed, these poor WFH practices are playing havoc on our necks, backs and shoulders and causing repetitive strain injuries. Physiotherapist Joshua Miazek says foot and back support should be a priority for anyone working all day at a computer.
“All ergonomics is attempting to achieve a specific level of neutral posture or neutral angles of the various joints,” he explains. To combat this, the Rehab Management expert says if using a laptop, investing in an external mouse and keyboard is worthwhile, as this will allow the screen to be placed at eye level and help to avoid hunching over a trackpad.
Form and function
“A great home office is both functional and beautiful,” says Archer. “It is wholly impractical to have an aesthetically spectacular space that does not allow for comfortable work, but we also want to ensure that the room isn’t solely ergonomic and ‘all business’, as that will detract from the harmony of the home.”
He suggests aiming for a balance of “comfort, light and air flow”, with a focus on proper lighting to transform the space.
Go green
Where possible, try to surround yourself with nature and greenery. “When you’re connected to the wilderness you are energised and rejuvenated. This cannot be under-estimated,” says Rob Mills, architect and founder of Rob Mills Architecture & Interiors.
If you don’t have the luxury of a garden view, bring nature indoors with a desk plant. Hardy succulents such as Zamioculus zamifolia and Aloe Vera are easy plants to care for, while Chlorophytum comosum (spider plant) and Spathiphyllum (Peace lily) thrive in low light environments.
Colour considerations
The aesthetics of a home office should complement the rest of the house where possible, so Archer recommends keeping colours and materials consistent while incorporating elements which add personality. “The office is the perfect space to display a piece of art you love, which can help to brighten the space and spark creativity,” he says.
“If you would prefer to keep the room more neutral, or if your office is slightly smaller, mirrors are a great way to open up the space and optimise natural light.”
Enrich and personalise
While for many, working from home can seep away productivity and create disruption, but by creating a space suited to your particular tastes and requirements, it’s possible to boost output and create flow.
The aforementioned study also showed participants who had designed their office workspaces to their own tastes were 32 per cent more productive and accurate with their work than those working in bare, functional workspaces designed by others.
Lighten up
No matter how bright your laptop screen, working in a dark, stuffy space is not conducive to a healthy and productive working environment. “Aside from the multiple health benefits associated with sunlight and ample vitamin D, access to natural light will create warmth in the room, improving the environment,” explains Archer.
“To best optimise the natural light, it’s important to work with the rhythm of nature to ensure you have proper coverage from the afternoon glare. A simple plantation shutter or curtain, sheer or opaque, will temper the sun’s glow to create an optimum working condition.”
Think outside the box
As long as ergonomics and support are considered, there’s no reason not to consider working outdoors for at least part of the workday, says Mills, who is currently designing a new luxury development, Hampden, in Armadale.
A shaded balcony or backyard space with a sturdy table and comfortable chair can offer a fresh office alternative on days when the temperature is mild and pleasant. “Don’t underestimate the importance of fresh air,” Mills adds.
“If the weather is good, the backyard is a perfect office with sunshine, fresh air and quiet. Being open to the elements with good flow can instantly calm you during a stressful workday.”
Create zones
“With everyone is at home during lockdown, you need to create different zones so everyone can work productively and comfortably,” Mills says.
For families, this could mean creating spaces in each bedroom, or assigning areas in common living spaces which can be easily packed away each night or on weekends.
Store and order
“A tidy office space will make working from home seem much less of an ordeal,” explains Archer. “When one enters the space it must feel ready for the task at hand and not resemble the aftermath of a cyclonic event.”
An easy way to achieve this is by adding easily accessible storage, which can hide paperwork and detritus at the end of a busy day. “This assists in ensuring that your workspace does not dominate the rest of the home ‘after hours’,” he says, adding “For even when one must work from there, your home should be a place of retreat and tranquillity.”
To join the conversation, please log in. Don't have an account? Register
Join the conversation, you are commenting as Logout