Solo Spaces: 5 Steps Toward Developing a Functional Home Office

If you work from home, you are part of the new tribe of workers who are making the move to a non-commuting lifestyle. Given than commuting has been found to be one of the least enjoyable elements of people’s days (and one of the biggest contributors to stress), it’s important that we think of the home office and working from home as one of the true potential ways to do business.

Working from home comes with a great deal of benefits.

As we have already outlined, when you work from home you have the ability to avoid commuting, you can have a pet who has constant care and love, and you can also design an office that you love. We think that having an office you love is one of the biggest benefits, and we would like to share some of our tips for creating the perfect home office – whether it’s selecting the right dual monitor mount for your design work, or choosing the perfect tabletop from IKEA.

Please Pinterest responsibly

We love a good Pinterest as much as the next person, but we do have to advise you slightly on the right way to source your inspiration. For example, while the gorgeous ottoman and leather recliner combination may look stunning sitting fireside in that teak panelled antique filled room from Alberta, Canada; if you live in a sharehouse in East Brunswick you might need something a little more functional.

Pin it, by all means, but set your sights on what is functional and what is going to accommodate your needs. If you are a designer then guess what? You need a good chair. No, scrap that. You need an amazing chair. Because you’re going to be in it a lot. So make sure that you get a good sized desk, a good dual monitor mount so you can adjust your screens to suit your ergonomic needs.

Be ergonomic and follow the rules

Ergonomics are really important when it comes to your office setup.

You need to make sure that the top of your screen for your computer is at about eye level. As you scan down your screen your eyes are going to naturally close a bit and moisten up which is great for reducing overall eye fatigue. Make sure that your feet are flat on the floor. Spend the dollars on a chair that will make you want to put in the hours of work that you need to do.

Let there be light

Don’t work in a dungeon.

Make sure that you take advantage of the light or potential for it. If you don’t have direct light then get some directed in with a mirror. Make sure your desk is close to your window and nice and warm so that you get all the best bits of the outdoors without dragging your work station onto the lawn.

Get yourself some lamps 

If you are working into the night (which, let’s face it, we all do need to from time to time!) then you’ll have to have suitable light to make sure that you aren’t straining your eyes. Most of the overhead lights that we have in our homes are vastly unsuited for work. So try some table lamps.

Keep it green

We all love a good indoor plant, don’t we?

Make sure your home office is an homage to all things rainforest with a lovely selection of ferns, palms and potted plants dotted around. Besides the fact that plants are proven to decrease stress, they’re also just lovely to look at, don’t you think?

Make your home office into a haven and you’ll never feel like you’re at work ever again. Well, we hope not, anyway.