Image by ErikaWittlieb from Pixabay
By Ashley Zimmermann, Creative Content Director for @designREMODEL
Change has been one of the main themes during 2020-2021. Change is hard, but it can be good for you and exciting and refreshing. “Working from home” (WFH) has become much more of a norm across society, and shifting away from “The Office” necessitates a new space. What better time than now to reimagine your workspace?
Brainstorming
Many singles and families already have at least one dedicated workspace, whether it’s for paying bills or finishing homework. That might be a spare bedroom, a desk in one’s bedroom, or even the living room or kitchen table. Ideally, you could repurpose the space you already have into an office- i.e. that spare bedroom, the attic, or even an outbuilding or shed.
If you don’t have an extra room, don’t worry; Ideal Home suggests some pretty amazing little working spaces in their article “Small home office ideas – work from home no matter how tight the space.” Utilizing small pockets of wall space, like putting up a wall-mounted storage unit to serve as your ‘drawers’ or installing a single shelf to use as a desk, are among their suggestions. They also feature a cute little office space under a staircase.
If you are short on space and if it better suits your taste, you could section off a corner of the kitchen or living room area to serve as your workstation. Think homework/housework laptop station, but more intentional.
Function
Function equals productivity. Function equals practicality. Therefore, your prime consideration should be how you can make your space work for you- it needs to operate as an office. HGTV.com says, “Don't Sacrifice Form for Function,” but I would argue this is easier said than done, especially if you are working with a small space. Regardless, I disagree. Set up the practical workspace first, decorate later.
Lack of visual clutter is my key to productivity. My younger self would never have believed it, but productivity has been one of the simple joys of my adult life. I love a decluttered workspace. Everyone at the office was always amazed at my clean cube. (Mind you, this was and is an intentional system I put in place for myself because if my space is not immaculate, I get too distracted and can’t get anything done.) I need a clean, organized, workspace to be productive. Do some thinking: what do you need in order to be productive? Once you have an answer, build that into your home office plan. Set yourself up for success.
Decor
Now on to the fun part. Depending on your available space, a fresh paint color can change the aesthetic and energy of your office. ELLE Decor suggests some beautiful paint shades that will set the stage for a productive and calm office space. Their list includes tried and true blues, neutral grays and whites, and even some green shades.
On the other end of the spectrum, if you think a fun wallpaper print will keep your creativity high, go for it. What works for most people might not be conducive to your work style. HGTV.com and Lifehack suggest lots of additional decorating ideas to make your home office a happy place, like plants, photos, or your kids’ artwork.
If you have natural light available, utilize it. If that isn’t an option, make sure you have enough overhead lighting and lamps. Squinting at your computer screen does nothing positive for your posture and eyesight (I speak from experience).
Ergonomics
Your back health is important. You can set up your office in that space under the stairs or in the attic and still have a good chair. Do NOT do what I did for my first several pandemic WFH months and sit on the living room floor with your laptop on the coffee table.
Invest in a good chair if you don’t already have a decent one. Your chiropractor will be proud of you. Consult Forbes’s list of “15 Best Office Chairs to Upgrade your WFH Space”- they have a chair for everything (best overall chair, best under $200, best for back pain, best for small spaces, and more). The Spruce tells us lumbar support, height and backrest adjustability, padding, armrests, breathable material, and sufficient seat depth are factors to consider.
You could also explore standing desk or sit-to-stand desk options. This can be a game-changer. Forbes has a best-of list for these, too.
Something for Everyone
When I had to transition to the WFH lifestyle in March of last year, I set up my two monitors in my bedroom, and I knew nearly immediately that it wasn’t going to work. I’ve spent years working in old-school offices without proper natural light, and I was not going to willingly put myself in that position again when I had a lovely, lush tree line right outside my balcony. So I bought a basic sit-to-stand desk and set up shop in a corner of my living room, right next to the said balcony.
As I mentioned earlier, I make sure the desk itself is nearly empty except for the items I’m using at the time and a cup of coffee (and snacks). I have it set up against my white wall with a large photo print hanging overhead. I don’t keep any knick-knacks on my desk. If the area gets too physically or visually cluttered, I don’t work as well. I know myself.
You are allowed to trust your gut instinct, too. Your space needs to work for you, especially when the space is for working! Survey the room or corner you have available and look through some of the features and ideas linked above. I am confident that you will be able to create a comfortable and practical space that you will enjoy.
P.S. Take a look at our 2019 home office blog post: 8 Ideas for Creating the Perfect Office at Home
References:
https://www.trendir.com/modern-outdoor-home-office-sheds/ - 21 Modern Outdoor Home Office Sheds You Wouldn’t Want to Leave
https://www.idealhome.co.uk/home-office/small-home-office-ideas-222302 - Small home office ideas – work from home no matter how tight the space
https://www.hgtv.com/design/rooms/other-rooms/10-tips-for-designing-your-home-office - 10 Tips for Designing Your Home Office
https://www.elledecor.com/design-decorate/color/news/a8927/best-office-colors/ - 25 Designer-Approved Home Office Paint Colors
https://www.lifehack.org/articles/productivity/14-simple-things-you-can-upgrade-your-office.html - 14 Simple Things You Can Do To Upgrade Your Office
https://www.forbes.com/sites/forbes-personal-shopper/2021/02/23/best-office-chairs/?sh=551d07fe7add - The 15 Best Office Chairs to Upgrade your WFH Space
https://www.thespruce.com/things-to-look-for-in-office-chair-1391492 - What to Look for in an Office Chair
https://www.forbes.com/sites/forbes-personal-shopper/2021/03/30/best-standing-desks/?sh=34b5cee0208a - 9 Standing Desks That Help You Spend Less Of Your Day Sitting
https://atdesignremodel.com/blog/8-ideas-for-creating-the-perfect-office-at-home - 8 Ideas for Creating the Perfect Office at Home