Nearly five decades ago, while working on a communications system for NASA from his home, engineer and physicist Jack Nilles first coined the term ‘telecommuting’. It was a time before personal computers, cellular networks, and the internet. Yet the idea of ‘work’ being something you do, as opposed to a place you go, had begun to take shape. Over the years, more and more people have become telecommuters, and we’re not just talking freelancers.
Companies large and small are increasingly offering employees with desk jobs the option to work from home to some extent. This trend can be seen in a variety of industries worldwide.
As technology advances, the prevalence of telecommuting continues to rise. Concerns over the environmental impact of fuel consumption are another reason telecommuting is gaining popularity. And let’s not forget the personal time and stress reduced by cutting out daily commutes. All these factors have contributed to the remote-work movement picking up steam over the years.
Times are changing
Most recently, worldwide lockdowns due to COVID-19 have accelerated the trend even further. So, while having a proper home office used to be a luxury few enjoyed, it seems a dedicated workspace is now a must in every home.
…allocating a particular spot to your work at home is crucial to achieving a healthy work-life balance.
Whether you live in a studio or a six-bedroom house, if you work from home, you should be equipped. If you want to ensure your comfort, efficiency, and productivity, assigning a specific space to spend the workday is needed. Having a dedicated workspace will help you maintain your concentration and creativity levels throughout the day. Just as importantly, allocating a particular spot to your work at home is crucial to achieving a healthy work-life balance.
It’s difficult enough to take your work hat off after a hectic day at the office, but it will be near impossible if your physical environment while you work and while you’re off-the-clock is one and the same. Commute time is often the perfect opportunity to disconnect and wind down from a hard day. But you won’t have that downtime if you’re telecommuting. And there will be no change of scenery if you’ve been at your kitchen table all day.
That’s why a clear distinction between home and work must be made.
For those with a spare room, it’s mainly a question of choosing the right layout and furniture suited for your work. For those with smaller spaces, multifunctional furniture and clever layout choices can help to create a pleasant and well-organised space.
Let’s have a look at the key elements to consider when creating the ideal home office for you.
the right spot
Arguably one of the most determining factors to successful home office design is location. Ideally, a spare room, even a tiny one, is the best option for your home office. The physical separation it provides from the rest of your house will help keep distractions at bay during the workday. You will literally be able to ‘leave work at the office’ every evening.
Unfortunately, not everyone has an entire room to dedicate to their home office. In that case, just pick a low traffic spot in your home, and create your workspace with modular furniture.
Hutched secretary desks and wall-mounted dropleaf tables are great choices when square meters are scarce. When they include a bit of storage as well, you can easily tuck away your work at the end of the day. That way, you don’t have to stare at all those unfinished reports and desktop clutter while you try to unwind with a glass of wine, or sit down to dinner with the family.
The right desk
If all you really need is a spot for your laptop and coffee mug, pick a desk deep enough for your screen to be arms-length away. You want to make sure your eyes aren’t strained from being too close or too far from your screen.
If your work requires a larger surface for files, papers, blueprints and the like, pick a wider desk that can accommodate all those extras. You could even use a dining table, as long as it isn’t the one you dine on! Remember, the goal is to keep home and work life separate. You can’t do that if you have to clear off your workspace before every mealtime.
The right chair
While you can get away with using any tabletop for your work surface, what you should never skimp on is your task chair. Having to sit at a desk for hours at a time can really do a number on your back. So it’s important to invest in a comfortable chair that will support your back throughout the day. If you don’t like the look of traditional ergonomic task chairs, you can opt for a stylish armchair that suits the decor of your space. Just make sure the seat is high enough for you to comfortably type or sketch at your desk.
The right Position
No matter what type of work you do, your eyes are bound to get tired throughout the day. They will need periodic breaks from the screen or paperwork they’re focusing on. If you are lucky enough to have a view, set up your workspace so that you are facing it. Looking out into the distance at something beautiful is a good way to rest your eyes, and get your creative juices flowing.
If that isn’t an option, then pick calming or inspiring artwork that you can gaze at once in a while. A sterile and boring space won’t do much for your motivation and inspiration. Besides, it’s your HOME office, you can decorate it however you like.
The right lighting
Natural light has long been known to have a profound effect on people, with studies being conducted on the subject as early as 1920. Exposure to natural light has been found to improve our mood, contribute to better sleep, and in turn boost our energy and productivity. So, swing open your shutters and let the sun shine in!
The right monitor set-up
Anyone working with a screen needs to consider potential glare when setting up their workstation. It’s best not to position your monitor right in front of a window. Bright light directly behind your screen can cause eyestrain. Another way to keep the glare down is to invest in window treatments that diffuse the light coming into the room. While natural light can increase productivity, it WON’T if you can’t see what’s on your screen or strain your eyes trying.
The right noise level
If you’ve got an entire room to spare, complete with a door you can close, then noise shouldn’t be too much of an issue. But for those who have their workstation set up in the living room or kitchen, noise can be a problem. Especially these days when other family members, children, or flatmates have to stay home as well, it might be wise to invest in noise-cancelling headphones.
The right view
If your windows boast beautiful and inspiring views, great! Set up your workspace where you can look out at them. However, if the view from your home office is less than picturesque, consider adding a bit of greenery to it. One or two houseplants will do, giving you a glimpse of nature throughout the day. As an added bonus, your air quality will improve, and consequently so will your concentration and productivity.
There is no denying the benefits that come with the ability to work from home. It certainly offers a less rigid schedule, but requires a lot of discipline as well. Keeping motivation and creativity steady throughout the workday is not an easy task in any setting. Even those of us accustomed to this remote-work lifestyle can struggle to keep focused at times.
Some chose the lifestyle long ago for personal reasons, but for much of the workforce, telecommuting hasn’t been a choice. Remote work is the ‘new normal’ as the world attempts to cope with a public health crisis. Like it or not, home is the new office, for now at least, so you might as well be comfortable in it.
