By Eugenia Triandos and Korina Khamis, designers & Co-founders, Hibou Design & Co.
Whether you work from home on a regular basis, or you find yourself now tucked in an ad hoc home office (aka the corner of your bedroom) amidst to the pandemic and resulting social distancing, you’ve likely come to learn that working from home has its pros and cons.
Remote work has long been touted for the flexibility, comfort and cost-efficiency it offers. On the other hand, those accustomed to a traditional work environment may find themselves struggling to focus and stay productive in a home office.
Here are some of my tips to set your home office up for success.
Get In The Zone: Whether your home office is temporary or a more permanent arrangement, select a spot in your home that is away from noise and traffic. The in-and-out of a nearby entrance, background noise from the kitchen or TV area, or kids going about their usual activities can derail your flow. Some often-unused areas that can be converted into a small home office include a spare closet, the nook under the stairs, or built into the kitchen.
Lighten Up: In my own business and in my professional design experience, a clear and clutter-free workspace can contribute to a smoother workday, more creativity and less stress. Lighten your workload by storing your files digitally. Odds are you’re working online anyway, so consider setting up a digital drive for online storage and sharing. You’d be surprised at how much valuable space your printer, boxes of paper, printing supplies, envelopes, etc. eat up.
Get lit. No one functions well while squinting and suffering eye strain. Ensure your home office area is well lit with a layered lighting plan. If natural lighting via windows is an option, go for it. Your eyes will thank you. If you don’t have a window at your immediate disposal, “ambient lighting” is your saving grace. This is the room’s overall illumination, like overhead or pot lights. Next, task lighting comes into play to illuminate your tabletop, desk or reading nook. Regardless of where you like to hunker down, ensure the area is lit accordingly. Last but not least, accent lighting is decorative but it can add ambiance and emphasis to inspiring items, such as your prized collection of books, art or samples of your best work.
TIP: If you don’t have a window nearby, opt for a mirror. A properly-sized and strategically placed mirror can create the illusion of a window with a view, while visually doubling the size of the space and amplifying its light!
Think “multi-function.” Now before we dig into double-duty, let’s be clear – a “multi-functional home office” is absolutely counterproductive. Regardless of where you set up your home office, however big or small, ensure your home office doesn’t double as the laundry folding table or kids’ craft zone. Rather, the multi-function factor comes into play when it comes to your furniture. Always opt for multi-functional pieces that can serve another purpose – a top priority if your space is limited. An ottoman or table with hidden storage underneath, an efficient filing system (if you haven’t gone digital yet) or a sitting-to-standing desk are a great investment and available for purchase and delivery online.
Ergonomics 101: Did you know that people spend roughly 7,709 days of their lives sitting? How you sit affects how you feel physically and mentally, and a comfortable chair can even boost your productivity. When it comes to a home office, comfort takes precedence over aesthetics, and function over form. However, this doesn’t mean you have to compromise on style.
Look for pieces that are both practical and beautiful, and infuse personality into the space. Play with silhouettes, scales and layers of furnishings to personalize your space.
Get Inspired: At the risk of contradicting ourselves, out next tip is to surround yourself with beautiful things that inspire you. Dust off your collections and put them on display. You never know what they might spark in the course of your workday! These can include some of your favourite books, photographs, art, or mementos from your past or your travels – the operative word being “or.” Remember to be mindful of the “declutter” rule, so be selective in your choices.
When you’re working from home, ensure your time spent working is as productive as possible. Perhaps one of the biggest challenges in working from a home office is shutting down at the end of the workday. Keep a schedule when you know when it’s time to “go home” – even if your living room is a few steps away. If you need help putting together your concept or taking your project from start to finish, were here to help contact us today to schedule a free 20 minutes discovery call with them.
