Work from home like a boss

Top tips to create a home office you will love to work in

AS working from home becomes the new normal for many organisations, it is important to have a suitable workspace set up in your home that will inspire you every day.

Metricon design manager Ricky D’Alesio and senior interior designer Jacinta Evans, who presented in a recent webinar for Metricon’s Masterclass Series, share the latest home office design trends and tips to boost your productivity and improve your work-life balance

Find the perfect location – When working from home, it’s all about location. People tend to gravitate towards the dining table, but this is not the best spot to be working from. The separation between work and home is important.

Instead, you want to choose a quiet space away from others and any disruptions. Even better if your workspace has a door you can close or a screen. If your will have visiting clients, position your workspace at the front of your home so they don’t need to walk through the entire home.

Other considerations are the size of the space, access to power points and of course, the proximity to the Wi-Fi.

Organisation is key – A decluttered space promotes productivity. If you are short on space, opt for a desk with built in shelves and drawers.

Shelving allows you to store paperwork, stationery and other appliances such as a printer or scanner above, while drawers – especially when used with internal organisation units – will minimise clutter on your desk.

Pinboards, corkboards and magnetic boards will keep important information at eye-level.

Desk and chairs – When choosing a desk, you need to decide how much space you need and what shape of desk works best for your space.

Your desk, built in or not, should be at least 600mm deep and have ample storage. You might also like to consider a sit-stand desk, if you don’t want to be sitting all day.

Invest in a chair that gives you the support you deserve. Ensure the chair fits beneath your desk, is adjustable and is comfortable – no one has time for back and neck pain.

If you have carpeted floors, it is also a good idea to buy a plastic chair mat.

Get colourful – Playing with colour in your home office is important. Bright and cheerful colours will help you stay alert.

Earthy tones and warm colours are calming. While lighter tones will keep your space feeling airy and open.

Home offices are also a great time to get creative by using wallpaper or creating a coloured feature wall.

Light it up – Natural lighting is ideal, so if you can, try and position your workspace near a window.

This is a great way to save electricity, reduce eyestrain and even de-stress if the window looks out to some greenery or water.

If you do need to install some lighting, task lighting is a great option to suit your specific tasks, while desk lamps can add some personal flair.

Personalise your space – One of the benefits of working from home is that you can truly make your workspace your own. Hang artwork or photos of special memories or show off your memorabilia.

Don’t skimp on stationery and buy a matching set for your workspace. Include some indoor plants to help you relax. And finally, indulge in luxury scent candles, soft throws and anything that makes it space you can enjoy.

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