Since the coronavirus pandemic, the explosion in working from home in the UK has significantly increased. Are you still one of those embracing working from home? Have you ever asked yourself if your home office works for you or works against you? As many will know, a nicely setup home office will not just increase productivity, it can also improve your mental health. On the contrary, a messy and dysfunctional office space will cause you to feel overwhelmed and stressed.
If you are one of those with a messy workplace, now is the time for you to declutter and improve your working environment. If you are looking to outfit your home office but are not sure where to start, here are some suggestions to help you make the most of your home office setup. Any small adjustments can improve your work environment and help with your mental health.
Space/Room
If possible, set your home office in a quiet and self-contained room filled with natural lighting with a view. Being exposed to natural light helps our bodies produce vitamin D and it also helps us to focus enabling greater productivity. If you are unable to find an ideal room, you could think about investing in good lighting or adding a small window for natural lighting and ventilation.
Layout
Placing your office equipment ergonomically in a layout that suits you is very important. Not only is it functional, but it would also provide a more comfortable work area. Personally, I’ve used cut-out size cardboard of the furniture and placed them on a floor plan. It helps me to visualise the space I will have without having to move the exact furniture. Some people might prefer using a Word document or drawing to visualise the layout – whichever works for you to make your life easier!
Ergonomic Office Equipment
Do your research to explore more options and keep an open mind! There is no one-size-fits-all furniture. First, let’s start looking at office chairs as it is the first thing we need! Getting a good supportive chair will help avoid back problems or neck pain.
Secondly, look at your work desk. Do you want a table that is height adjustable to provide the possibility of working while standing? Make sure that the table is big enough to fit your computer/laptop, monitors, keyboard and other miscellaneous items. You could look at office furniture online for inspiration.
Next, make sure you have plenty of storage to organise and store your important papers and other office equipment in one place!
Plants and Greenery
Often overlooked, plants not only help to beautify the environment, but they also help to absorb excess noise and combat Sick Building Syndrome (SBS) symptoms by removing harmful indoor air pollutants, like benzene and xylene. There are a number of studies that have shown that incorporating plants has a positive effect on productivity. If you are not a big fan of plants, then you can try using artificial plants. Do remember to keep fake flowers or artificial plants at a minimum as they are not good for feng shui.
Art and Colour
Decorate your walls with artwork or paint a bright colour to give the space a wow look! The artwork does not need to be too complicated. Simple art can also offer a highly purified form of beauty.
There is no one-size-fits-all solution for good office design that works for everyone as everyone is different! I do hope you take these key factors into account to create a clean and organised work environment to promote a sense of calmness and tranquillity! So get cracking and create a lovely home office to suit you!
Disclosure: This is a featured post.