August 23rd, 2018

Hardworking Home Office

It’s not uncommon nowadays to find people working from home. With flexible working hours and work that can be done almost anywhere, a lot of former nine-to-five office workers are now able to work remotely. For most, it simply makes sense to forgo the commute, but that also means you need a space to effectively get your tasks done. Working from home has its perks such as more time with the furry friends and kids, but the sofa and dining table is not always the solution. Let’s get down to business and go over what you need for a hardworking home office. Read on!

The Essentials

You need some horizontal working space and that does not necessarily mean you need a huge desk. Think about the kind of work that you do and assess how much space you need to do it. Maybe just a small nook with a few feet of built-in countertop is enough for you and your laptop. We have turned an unused closet into a desk and storage space for clients. Or a very cost effective solution is a piece like this shelving unit from CB2 with an integral desk, also requires minimum space. If you need a desktop monitor (or two), keyboard and some space to lay out paperwork, you will likely need a desk with some depth. Do you find that you are glued to your work for hours on end? Consider getting a height adjustable desk. Studies have found that alternating between seated and standing work throughout the day is good for your health and keeps you engaged and productive. You can find a relatively affordable option like the Skarsta from IKEA! Have a bigger budget? Why not consider Steelcase’s AirTouch height adjustable for anyone, anywhere. Already have a desk? Why not consider one of the Ergtron solutions available from Haworth. They have a variety of space-saving mounting options. Your next investment should be a good chair. A task chair that is fully adjustable should not be optional. Look for one that is height adjustable and has good lumbar support at the minimum. Your back will thank us! If you have the budget, there are some great task chairs from Herman Miller (we are partial to the Sayl which can be found in our office).

Bonus Material

Although a task lamp is usually an afterthought, it should really be one of the first few items you buy. You can get really inexpensive ones from IKEA or some really beautifully designed ones from places like Inform Interiors and YLighting ]. We like to think that a nice desk lamp is like the jewelry for your desk – and it glows! Why do you need a desk lamp? They help to reduce eye strain and if you get one that is dimmable, you can adjust it throughout the day. Of course, we cannot forget about storage. If you run your own business from home you will likely need room for filing amongst other things such as stationary, a printer, and other miscellaneous items. Do you have a small home office? Consider getting a custom millwork solution that gives you plenty of working space, open shelves, and storage behind cabinet doors. By keeping the messy clutter out of sight (but organized) you are able to make your small office feel more spacious. Need some inspiration? We designed some lovely home offices for The Smith and Berkeley Village that illustrates a hardworking home office.

 

 

What does your dream home office include? Let us know with the hashtag #area3designhomeoffice