Creating a Home Office
During the pandemic and in the year afterwards, home working was commonplace. Even when offices started to open back up, hybrid working became a preferable option for many as it saved on travel costs and gave workers a better quality of life.
A survey carried out by Gallup in June last year found that 80% of people were working either entirely remotely or part of the week at home on a hybrid working model. Only 20% of people were fully office-based. And according to AT&T, the hybrid model of working will grow from 42% in 2021 to 81% by next year.
With this in mind, it’s essential to have a home office to attract more buyers. This could be a converted conservatory, garage room, alcove under the stairs, a spare bedroom or even a garden room separate from the home with electricity and heating.
A home office can give you a dedicated workspace wherever you choose to work. It’s essential that it reflects your style and is private and a space where you can shut yourself off from family life and household chores. Here are some tips for creating an ideal office space:
Bring in nature
Nature is our friend, and plants have been proven to reduce stress. Make sure you have lots of natural plants, fibres and textures in your room. Consider a seagrass rug, natural wood, bamboo blinds, greenery, and materials that reflect nature.
Calm colours
When you need to concentrate, opt for a simple colour palette to give you a calming space for working. If your work life is busy, try to balance this out with a quiet room.
Lighting
You want to ensure you don’t strain your eyes whilst working, especially in the winter. Similarly, you don’t want to expose yourself to bright sunlight when trying to view a screen. Use good quality blinds and curtains and bright lamps and bulbs.
Screen size
Don’t work on a small laptop for long periods. Instead, invest in a monitor to hook up your computer so you don’t strain your eyes.
Desk
If you’re worried about being too sedentary and not having to walk to work, a standing desk is a great alternative to help you stay on your feet and burn some calories. Some desks are adaptable, so you can use them in several ways. A good size desk is also essential and use paper trays to organise your documents.
Use a guest bedroom
If you have a guest bedroom, why not get a smaller bed and double it up as a home office? Alternatively, you could opt for a sofa bed, so you have a nice area to sit and read, but it can also double up as a bedroom when needed.
Use your loft space
If you have the budget, a home office in the loft can feel completely separate from the main house and give you the peace and quiet you need.
A handy nook
A great use of dead space is to create a practical work area under your stairs in the alcove. You can have a built-in desk made relatively cheaply to help maximise the area. You can even have a printer or shredder installed to hide them.
Tight on space?
There are some excellent space-saving solutions for those with a small area to work with. You could choose a desk that pulls down from the wall when not being used, space-saving desks and small but compact office chairs available. Another option is to choose transparent furniture made from Perspex or glass, which can give the room a sense of space.
Make sure you have handy sockets
An electrician can install electricity sockets into the floor to ensure that you aren’t presenting any risks of tripping over wires and cables. You can also purchase desks which have holes to enable you to tidy your cables from your computer and monitors.
