More and more people are embracing remote work. Indeed, some studies indicate that about 22% of the global workforce will be working from home by 2025.
This has increased the demand for home office decorators (a special interior designer category specializing in designing home offices). In any case, a remote worker can only be productive if the work environment is conducive. Otherwise, there would be too many distractions.
If you’re shifting to a remote schedule, too, you should find ways to create a comfortable home office where you can go about your day free of distractions. Below we look at several home office design ideas to consider.
1. Choose the right location
The most important step in designing a home office is choosing the right location. You’ll likely spend many hours in your new office. Thus, you want a spacious room with good lighting. Poor lighting can make you strain, which you cannot afford in the office.
Additionally, consider traffic flow. An area directly in the path of a high-traffic area can make it impossible to concentrate. Instead, find a quiet area tucked away from traffic. Remember that you rarely need an entire room for a home office. A small office in the shed or the closet is more than good enough as long as it’s strategically located.
2. Don’t sacrifice form for function
Ideally, you want the office to be functional and beautiful – not one or the other. The reason is that it’s not easy to focus in an uncomfortable office. It becomes even more difficult to achieve desired productivity levels if the space doesn’t appeal to your aesthetic desires.
So, rather than buying furniture merely for seating, try to find pieces that boost the décor. If your office is a traditional design, opt for warm wood and soft, comfy furniture. A loveseat would also do. If it’s a contemporary design, artistic pieces or modern metal furniture will serve you excellently.
3. Invest in a great chair
Home offices aren’t much different from commercial offices. You’ll spend many hours on the chair – sometimes way into the night. Thus, you cannot afford a poorly designed chair. Instead, you need to find a beautiful, ergonomic, comfortable seat that allows you to sit long hours without backaches and headaches.
The height of the chair is also important. The chair should be high enough to provide comfort. The ideal height will depend on your physique. Also, don’t forget about width. You don’t want to feel like you’re squeezing into the chair.
4. Select the right table
Similar to the office chair, your home office also requires a comfortable, ergonomic chair that’s both beautiful and fit for purpose. Select a desk that’s wide enough to accommodate your computer (nearly all remote workers use a computer) and anything else necessary. For instance, a home office may have an in-tray, reference material, and a few stationeries. Your desk should accommodate them all.
Typically, a 48-inch (120 cm) table is enough to hold everything you need while leaving enough space to work. However, you can also opt for a slightly larger unit, say 60 inches (150 cm). We strongly advise against adjustable-height desks. Instead, find a fixed height table between 70 am and 75 cm.
5. Storage and shelving
Many people overlook storage when designing a home office. However, lack of storage can adversely affect your productivity as you may end up with items lying everywhere throughout the office. To this end, make sure you have sufficient storage units. Filing cabinets and cupboards are excellent choices for general storage, while shelves can help store/display your books.
Still on storage, it’s advisable to keep your current work within arm’s reach. The filing system should also be nearby. Your shelf of reference books should also be close enough to your desk, so you can grab the books with ease.
6. Accessorize and personalize
Although it’s an office, don’t forget that it’s within your home. So, it’s critical to design it in a way that complements the rest of the home. An easy way to touch up your home office to blend in with the overall home décor is to personalize and adorn it with perfect accessories.
For instance, you can paint it in a color that blends in with the rest of the home. You can also hang paintings and artwork that bring others colors within your home into the home office. A mug or pencil holder, trendy notepads, and sticky notes are other accessories that add personality and style to an office space.
Summary
Designing a home office isn’t difficult. As long as you can pick the right location and bring in the right chair and desk, you’re on the way to making it the perfect work environment.
