By Nicolene Mausenbaum, a leading interior designers with many years experience on both commercial and residental projects.
The hybrid work revolution and flexibility are key factors in the current and foreseeable future workscape, and the significant increase in employee satisfaction and boosted productivity seen from hybrid work situations has confirmed the benefits of this former temporary measure. Many employees experience an improved work-life balance, and the decrease in daily commutes is a cost-saver for them and has beneficial effects on the environment, too. Employers also benefit from a reduction in running costs and a decreased need for large real estate footprints.
Best of all, they are now open to offering their employees the ideal work environment that suits their working style, and if you’re fortunate enough to be a hybrid worker, it’s time to invest in yourself by properly setting up your home office.
Here are some key insights and professional tips for ensuring you set up your perfect home office space.
Location, location, location
Identify the ideal space in your home for your workspace. Consider things like good ventilation, positions of power points, easy access to your desk, and a lack of obstructions and interference when you need peace and quiet to work.
If possible, consider having a wall behind your chair- amongst other uses, this can help to screen off the daily activities and possible interruptions from other household members. You can learn a lot about people by observing how they show up in their daily environment- and you’re wanting to create a professional impression of you and your company’s brand online. Not only will you feel more confident when you know you look your best in your professional space, your clients and colleagues will know that you mean business.
How do you feel about the space? Can you envision yourself working there for most of the day?
You need to be happy and productive in this space, so you need to be sure it works for you and your unique requirements.
Lighting
Lighting is a critical element to be considered when creating your spaces and can affect the overall mood, functionality, and aesthetics of a space- as well as promote a sense of well-being. When considering the quality of lighting in your space, you need to think about the types of tasks you perform in your daily work routines. Most people would need good general (ambient) light, with additional task lighting like a desk and floor lamp. If you’re attending Zoom meetings, add a ring light directly behind your computer screen to ensure that your face is evenly lit.
Not only should you consider the artificial lighting, but also the natural lighting available in your future work space. Natural light can help improve your mood, energy levels, and focus, which can increase productivity and reduce fatigue. Exposure to natural light during the day can help regulate your natural circadian rhythm, which can improve the quality of your sleep at night. Natural light can also help stimulate your brain and promote creativity, which can be especially beneficial for tasks that require imagination and problem-solving. By maximising the use of natural light in your home office, you not only reduce your reliance on artificial lighting but also save on energy costs.
Clear the space
So now you’ve identified the perfect spot, but before you create your perfect home office, you need to have a clean canvas to work with.
This might mean that you need to declutter your existing space or organise it to accommodate your new work area. If you haven’t looked at or used an item in the past 6 months, you might need to consider repurposing it, donating it, or selling it! Make a fresh start and allow yourself the grace to get comfortable in your new space.
Make it your own
Changing the colour of your environment is one of the most affordable and easiest ways to influence your mood, your productivity, and your general well-being, so to create impact, include accents of colour on the walls and floors of your home office. A feature wall can be created by painting a wall an accent colour of your liking or by installing a vibrant wallpaper of your choice.
Did you know that studies have shown that green can enhance reading ability? Plants and the colour green are very relaxing psychologically. When the brain is relaxed, the body tends to follow.
Blue is good for calm, focus, and concentration.
Red has been found to enhance attention to detail.
Orange is thought to be welcoming and mood-enhancing, improving neural functioning.
Yellow increases creativity, attention, and positivity.
Always a personal choice, colour preference is unique to everyone. Take the time to select some of your favourite shades of paint swatches, and just before you’re willing to take the plunge, buy one or two paint samples from your local paint supplier. Be sure to paint large squares of the samples on your chosen feature wall and let them dry for a few hours. Observing the samples at different times of the day, with or without the lights on, should help you choose your ideal shade.
Furniture
Choose furniture that fits, and always consider that it’s not a case of one-size-fits-all. Furniture should be functional and ideally aesthetically pleasing, and you should choose furniture that mirrors your own style, regardless of trends. This will help you create a space you love to be in; even home offices do not need to look overly corporate.
In addition to desking, you need a quality, comfortable seating solution for your unique working requirements, helping you glide through your workday with ease.
True ergonomic office chairs provide lumbar support that allows your back, neck, shoulder, and pelvis to rest comfortably while you work. These chairs should be height-adjustable and let you customise the height of the seat and arms to reach a position perfect for you.
Ergonomic comfort is essential to your long-term well-being and productivity. Studies have shown that bad seating and poor desk posture can lead to debilitating, permanent injuries that sometimes even lead to surgery. It’s worth your while to consider investing in a decent chair.
Final touches
If you’re wanting to add to your painted accent wall or if you simply don’t have the budget to paint, a gallery wall is a wonderful way to create an interesting backdrop or feature wall in your space.
Do you have a favourite quote, picture, or art print? Your interior should inspire you, and what better inspiration than the images and items that bring you joy or take you back to a special time and place?
You could choose a more uniform selection of frames or create a fun eclectic look by using a variety of frames, art, and photographs. If you like changing up your décor often, consider using floating display shelves in combination with frames that are hung on the wall. You can then change up the items that are displayed on the shelves to add variety and keep things fresh.
If you’re an entrepreneur, this is a perfect opportunity to display your unique branding on the wall behind you, particularly if you are a service-based business.
Your home office is your personal space where you get to do what you do best, so it’s a good idea to afford yourself the best environment you can manage. After all, you deserve it!
About the expert
Nicolene Mausenbaum has worked for many years as an interior designer on both commercial and residential projects. Nicolene specialises in holistic design, considering the wellness of the mind, body and soul. Nicolene combines the practices of biophilic design, colour psychology, human biology and ergonomics in her designs. Nicolene’s holistic designs incorporate not only the physical elements of the space such as lighting and furniture, they also incorporate the emotional and spiritual aspects, such as the energy flow and the connection to the nature of the space. Find out more at dezyna.com
