Despite the world returning to regular post-pandemic times and many people are still working from home or making the jump from being employed to working for themselves, in 2022, there were over 340,000 self-employed people in Ireland alone.
With working from home still being a popular choice for businesses, it makes sense to have a dedicated place where you can work from home, a.k .a. the home office.
But do you need an office when you have a knee and a sofa? While many people are just as productive working from the couch, it can be beneficial to have an office or a space you can make into an office to help separate home life and work life to get some more definition to your days and segregate your working time from your free time.
With this in mind, what exactly does your home office need?
Furniture
Not just any furniture, ergonomic furniture can help you increase comfort when working and reduce the number of aches and pains you experience. Lose that slouched hump you have gotten from leaning over your laptop by finding a desk and chair from reputable companies such as Waterfront Warehouse that is comfortable to work from and offers you the support you need when sitting down for long periods. On top of this, you might find you need shelving, bookcases or filing cabinets, depending on the nature of your business too. But at minimum, ergonomic furniture is a must.
Good Lighting
Next, you must ensure the space or room you choose has good lighting. This can be natural light flooding in through a window or artificial lights that allow you to see your screen clearly and not put extra strain on your eyes. Plus, the more light there is, the better you feel compared to working in a dark, dingy room.
Location
The location of your home office is vital. Even if you don’t have much space in your home and your office is more of a corner or part of a wall. It needs to be in a low-traffic space so you can get away from general living areas or the busyness of your home. It should also be away from noisier aspects of the home, such as the kids’ bedroom, the front of the property by the main entrance or facing busy roads and offer some vestibule of privacy even if you have to put a screen or barrier between you and the rest of the room if you don’t have a door to close. You still need privacy to work and to reduce the noise if required. Think carefully about where you will be the most productive in your home to get the perfect home office space.
Decor
Lastly, the room or space needs to be something that you want to spend time in. So think carefully about the colours you use, the decor you add and the accessories you need in your home office. Some people don’t like any clutter and find it distracting, while others require a splash of colour on the walls and all the motivational signs and posters to give them that boost each day. Whatever works for you, be it plants, art, or books, use it to your advantage.
There is no one perfect home office set up; the perfect design is one that works with your body and business to allow you to work in comfort, be productive and get the job done each and every day.