Using ironing boards as desks fast became a new trend during lockdown as millions of people scrambled to transform their spaces into makeshift home offices.
Fast forward to today and working from home (WFH) is still the reality for many of us as new hybrid ways of working become the norm.
That’s why having a home office that’s comfy but also designed to optimise productivity is important.
32% more productive
Design experts from Cala Homes have provided tips on creating the ultimate home office to boost your overall wellbeing and productivity.
“Working from home is going to become the new normal way of working for many people and businesses, and here at Cala Homes, we have seen an increase in demand for home office space and integrated supporting technology,” says Steve Rule, the group design and technical director at Cala.
With studies showing that employees who have control over the design and layout of their workspace are up to 32% more productive, Felicity Stevens, an interior designer at Haus Interiors, says simple changes can have a big impact.
“When organising a home office, think angles: curved lines can promote feelings of relaxation and calm, particularly in a home environment, so an angular desk setup may be better to help focus,” says Felicity.
Studies have also found that exposure to natural light can have positive effects on our mental and physical health, and that workplaces with natural light improve productivity by up to 40%.
Shedding light
“Daylight has a profound influence on our health and wellbeing,” says Steve.
“It is important for our immune system, boosts our Vitamin D levels and keeps our bones healthy.
“It can also reduce stress, enhance our mood and even help us sleep better.
“At Cala, we’ve increased the use of lower-sill, wider windows and made more use of roof lights and windows to stairwells and landings.”
As well as lighting, decluttering your space by investing in good storage is also a must.
“It can be difficult to switch off from work at the end of the day if papers are beginning to pile up,” says Felicity.
“Equally, from a practical point of view, a bureau or a desk with a lid can make a big difference when working from a home office with limited space.”
Plants
And when choosing a colour scheme for your home office set up it’s worth noting that the colour blue stimulates creativity and boosts productivity, with a calming effect that reduces stress.
The colour green is also worth considering as it provides a sense of balance and calm, and lessens eye strain during long hours, while orange can encourage focus and concentration by increasing oxygen supply to the brain.
Neutrals – white walls combined with coloured accents – can also promote concentration.
Plants can also create a calm working from home environment.
“Plants not only smell nice and promote a feeling of calm creativity, but can also introduce a sense of routine, giving you something to monitor and care for during your lunch break,” says Felicity.
Conversation