As home renovation specialists, we have an experienced insight on the impact that the pandemic has on homeowners, and how they use their homes. Our team works to create amazing home improvement design packages for our clients, whether they want internal refurbishments or to install a kitchen extension in London.

2020 was the year that working from home (WFH) became the new normal. Many of us had to set up our work computers and documents at our dining room table, which is not always the ideal environment for maximum productivity. We wanted to share with you the ways that you can create a comfortable workspace where you will feel highly motivated to seize the workday.

Location

A room dedicated to your office work is generally the ideal set up, as you can clearly separate your work life from your home life. This allows you to maintain a healthy work-life balance. It is best to install your office room in a location where it is quiet in your home, for example, within a loft conversion or between bedrooms.

Open areas

In contrast, due to the acceleration of the pandemic, many of us have resorted to setting up our workspaces in open areas of our homes. By this, we mean placing a large desk in the corner of your dining room, living room, or open plan kitchen. This set up is great if you want to keep an eye on your kids or your boiling pot of water whilst you do some light admin.

Small spaces

A great idea that has popped up more frequently is the solution of converting a storage space into a separated work area. As an example, let us refer to an under-stair’s storage room. If your storage room has minimal shelving, it may be the perfect place to put your desk. Just take off the door from its hinges, redecorate the walls into something a bit cosier, and place a small desk within the room. Your seat would stay out from the room, facing the desk. The added privacy can help you concentrate much better as distractions will be blocked out.

Bedroom

One of the less stimulating of the list, yet commonly practiced option, is to place a desk in your bedroom. We believe that this layout is not motivating because it can seriously impact your mental health. It makes it difficult for the worker to separate their personal life from work life and does not allow you to step away from the stresses of business. Your bedroom must be a safe haven to get some optimal sleep, recharging you for the busy day ahead. In this scenario, it is likely that you will associate your bedroom with work, which definitely does not help us sleep.

Lastly, consider putting you desk near a window to promote creativity. Placing your desk to face a window is great for creative work, whilst facing a wall ensures less distraction and ultimately increased productivity.

Furniture

Before planning your workspace layout, you must identify the main furniture pieces that you wish to work with. You will have a desk, but the size of the desk is crucial, especially if you plan to work in a small space. There is a wide range of desks of all sizes on the market, with some places even offering fold-away desks that tuck themselves away into what looks like a floating wall cupboard. A standing desk is great if you feel like moving around while you work. You will also need a desk chair, but do you want it to include arm rests, a head rest, or a built-in inflatable backrest? There are even niche choices like kneeling chairs that are amazing for your posture.

Comfortable seating

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Do you want to work in a space that is formal or informal? Adding a plush armchair or sofa creates a designated area for you to takes breaks in-between sessions of hard work. This can be by a window or in the furthest corner away from your desk, allowing you to fully detach from the tasks that are causing you undue stress.

Storage

Depending on the type of work you’ll be doing, it is always a good idea to consider how much storage you will need. For example, installing some shelving is pretty standard, but do you need extra drawers or a filing cabinet? You can look for a desk that has plenty of storage space to maximise on your floor area, but make sure it’s not so clunky that it overpowers the aesthetic of your workspace.

Décor

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A subtle way to separate your workspace from the rest of your house is to alter your décor. This is particularly true for a work area within an open space. Adding a fluffy or woven rug under your chair helps to create a zone with a different feel from its surrounding. This is also true with accents such as wall colour, window dressing, lighting (warm or cool lightbulbs), and plants.

We hope you are all staying safe and healthy this autumn and that our post has helped you to create a WFH set up that is more in line with your needs. If you would like to discuss any of your home improvement projects with one of our friendly Home Tales team members, you can call us on 02070432378 or email us at hello@hometales.co.uk. Alternatively, book in a free telephone consultation here.