Today, there’s a growing trend of more and more people working from their homes. Working from home demands having a home office.
Since you’ll be spending a lot of time in your home office, you might start seeing and feeling an imbalance of function and form in your workspace.
You’ll need to create a balance between aesthetics, function, and comfort in your workspace by considering their importance and prioritizing them.
In case you’re confused about how to renovate your home-based office, then your body may actually tell you what to do. Most people establish their needs from what their body feels, especially when they feel body aches when working.
As a telecommuter, it’s advisable to actively listen to your body. Musculoskeletal disorders related to work have been found to cause loss of work time. Here are some office renovation ideas for designing a highly comfortable home-based office.
Ensure there’s Proper Lighting
An average telecommuter spends around seven hours every day glaring at the computer screen. Although most people assume that a brighter computer screen is better, glare from computer screens makes the eyes strain. It’s actually advised to direct the light from monitors away from the line of eyesight.
The best option should be allowing for maximum natural light into the workspace. Supplement natural lighting with a high-quality desk lamp.
There’re more lighting ideas you may try in your home office to avoid the problems of glare from your computer screen such as:
- Tilting the screen in such a way that you don’t bend your head or neck when working.
- Positioning the monitor in such a way that the windows in the room run alongside your workstation instead of being behind or at the front of the screen.
- Using a desk lamp at your workspace in such a way that it shines onto the paperwork rather than your computer screen.
Use the Right Office Furniture
In case you can afford to revamp your entire home office, simply start with upgrading your office chair. It’s advisable to only buy a chair after sitting on it for some testing.
It’s necessary to ensure that it’s comfortable for you. Also, ensure the chair comes with a warranty just in case it gives you back pains.
Only go for an adjustable chair. Ensure each component is adjustable. Also, ensure the seat height, armrests, and lumbar support adjust well to your body.
The key here is movement. The best choice would be an office chair that can move 360 degrees. It should also allow for bouncing and rocking.
The perfect partner for the adjustable office chair is an adjustable office desk. An office desk with a fixed height brings about back pain.
You’ll notice an instant difference upon switching to a desk with an adjustable height. Their popularity is growing due to their benefits in easing body pains when working.
As you improve your office space at home, you might also want to invest in ergonomic accessories such as:
- A stool for perching on
- A footrest (flexible) for sitting and an anti-fatigue mat for standing on
- A lift for your laptop or a movable monitor rest
- An adjustable keyboard with padded wrist rests
A Modular Layout
When you start telecommuting, or when you change from one role to another within your organization, then you might end up assuming different work positions and habits.
You might even notice that you tend to pace when making calls or you’re no longer using your cabinet as much as you would before. As such, consider a new office layout that’ll allow for flexibility rather than sticking to a permanent one.
Have the furniture designed in such a way that it fits the workspace and can be moved around easily whenever a change is needed.
You can even have wheeled furniture and ensure no furniture is bolted onto the walls. If you need shelves, ensure they can be easily removed or added.
Also, remember that the body changes over time. For instance, you might need bifocals some day and if so, you’ll need to have your monitor adjusted to make it possible to read the information on the screen without having to bend your neck.
Also, your physician may discourage you from spending much time while seated and this would lead to changes in your work life. At such a point in life, you’d find it necessary to move the treadmill from your basement to the home office.
In simpler terms, what may have been working for you for several years now might not work tomorrow. Thus, it’s important to allow your office to evolve and grow with you.
While listening to how your body feels, remember to respond according to your mental thoughts. For instance, if you start each workday with anxiety, then you might need to have your paperwork organized.
Also, maybe your workdays are ending with a feeling of being depressed or feeling isolated from your family members. In this case, personalizing your office might be the best step towards making your home office more comfortable.
Regardless of where you choose to start, continue addressing other important areas of your office to ensure you get the most thoughtfully decorated and ergonomically efficient home office.