Work from Home in Style: The Ultimate Guide to the Perfect Home Office
Though the work from home concept existed before the Industrial Revolution, it only gained popularity in the 21st century. It describes an arrangement where a person performs the job responsibility from home instead of an office. Hence, a home office is a separate desk, space, or room designated in the home, designed for official business or work purposes. A home office can serve those who are self-employed or work remotely for an employer. A well-designed home office can create a distinct functional space, boost productivity, and enhance work-life balance. So, to create an inspiring office to work from home in style, start by – defining the purpose, identify the essential elements of a functional home office, and appreciating the advantages.
Understand the Purpose to set up a Home Office
The first step in setting up a home office is to define its purpose. Understand the basic functionality, the number of hours you need to spend there, what kind of devices you will require, and whether you must have a quiet area for focused work or a can function in an open space.
Once the requirement is clear, select an ideal location for your home office to maximise your productivity. Depending on your requirements, a home office can be set up in the corner of a living room, in a spare guest room, in a garage, or basement,
Lastly, design the home office to integrate with the rest of your home décor. You can opt for a DIY project or contact a professional interior designer to create your home office.
What are the Work from Home Office essentials
The best work from home office set up has 7 essential elements that increase productivity levels when working from home. They are: –
1. Ergonomic Furniture and Products
Working from home may involve sitting for long periods. Hence, it is a good idea to invest in ergonomic furniture and products like an adjustable chair with lumbar support, adjustable standing desk, adjustable keyboard trays, monitor stands, and headsets with automatic diallers. Ergonomic furniture and products help maintain a good posture, reduce work fatigue, and prevent musculoskeletal issues. They improve people’s working conditions and increase efficiency.
2. Lighting
Natural light is best for a functional home office as it ensures adequate lighting and helps save electricity. While working on the layout for a home office, maximise natural lighting by positioning your work desk near a window or placing a tall mirror opposite the window to reflect natural light. Also, if you are using artificial lighting, aim for a combination of ambient and task lighting. Bad lighting can cause headaches and visual fatigue.
3. Internet
Today, most homes have high-speed internet. This is essential to maintain smooth connectivity with office colleagues and external clients. The right Wi-Fi systems, Ethernet connections, software, and hardware help to seamlessly conduct video conferences, save large files on cloud-based applications, coordinate schedules, scan documents, take print-outs, and more. Choose the right Mbps, laptops, and printer scanners when working from home.
4. Multi-Functional and organisational units
If the home office is small, the furniture must be multi-functional. Foldable chairs and desks and Murphy beds help save space when not in use. Likewise, vertical file organisers, filing cabinets, shelving units, under-desk rolling carts, desktop organisers, penholders, magnetic boards, cable management systems, and wall hooks can help create a functional and clutter-free workspace. Proper storage and organisation systems promote easy access, clarity, and improved efficiency while keeping your small home office tidy.
5. Decor Style
A home office must look professional yet blend in with the décor style used in the house. Whether minimalist, rustic, or eclectic, ensure the office space incorporates your personal touch. The home office must look aesthetic enough to motivate you to get to work. The right ambience can foster creativity and innovation. Adding small décor items like plants, artwork, photo frames, vision boards, mementos, and inspirational desk quotes can help your home office look and feel beautiful. Also, the colour used in the home office can enhance the work environment, have a positive effect on productivity, and overall contribute to physical and mental well-being.
6. Privacy
The lack of privacy in a home office can hinder productivity. The home office must be separate from household activity areas to avoid constant interruptions and distractions. Also, noise can disturb one’s train of thought and concentration. Regardless of whether the home office is a desk or a room, ensure privacy is maintained to accomplish your working goals smoothly. Also, if you have colleagues joining in often or client visits, ensure the home office space is easily reachable.
7. Security
Working from home does pose security concerns. Thus, ensure you pick a quiet space, don’t allow other family members to use your work devices, use encrypted WiFi, and use a VPN to connect to your office. Furthermore, use modern browsers, use a strong authentication like fingerprint or facial recognition to access your device, use Multi-factor authentication (MFA) to access cloud-based resources, and install anti-malware programs.
Advantages of Work from Home office set-up
For employees
– Eliminates commute time,
– Saves expenses on work attire, transportation, parking fees, childcare, etc.,
– Freedom and flexibility to work from any location,
– Better work-life balance, and
– Personalised and safe environment.
For employers
– Saves costs to rent or own an office and reduces overhead costs,
– Avail of larger talent pool spread globally,
– Improved inclusivity,
– Fewer sick days, and
– Lower employee turnover.
Work from Home has become an appropriate model for many businesses from start-ups to well-established companies. It will continue as a part of hybrid working throughout India and other parts of the world. Thus, it is essential that you create the perfect home office to Work from Home in style!
