What Makes a Home Office for the Working Professional?
2Aug '17
A home office is not just a desk and chair; it is a productive hub, a space that needs to be both functional and comfortable to work in.
Are you one of the increasing amount of people operating from home, as opposed to a fixed office elsewhere?
The professional/entrepreneur who spends most of their time working from home should maximise the space to replicate an external environment and therefore maximise productivity.
Here are a few first aspects you ought to consider when designing a home office that works for you.
Who will be using the Office?
Home professionals who work alone can really make the space their own, whereas shared workplaces would have different, more collective requirements.
As well as who’ll be using the office, it’s important to consider if you’ll be hosting visitors there. In this case, the office would act as a representation of your company – a space that echoes the values and services you want your business to be associated with in the eyes of your customers or clients.
So, the key qualities you should seek are functionality – how your office’s layout, features and overall design help to facilitate your everyday duties and responsibilities; and its atmosphere in relation to your business.
Productivity
There is nothing better than natural sunlight for creating an energising environment in which you can work for long hours. All windows and sources of natural sunlight should be maximised, and potentially made into the focal point of the room.
If windows aren’t a feature of the space you’re planning to use, you should ensure the office has bright lighting. Good lighting levels are essential to minimise squinting or aching of the eyes when looking at computer screens, for example. A dimmer switch can be a very useful feature as it allows you to adjust the lighting depending on the time of day, your mood and workload.
Functionality
In the modern business world, it’s safe to assume most offices require a computer, among other electronics such as printers and monitors. In order to avoid loose wires (a trip hazard), all required plug outlets should be in a convenient place, as close to where you plan on positioning your desk. There are also multiple accessories and furniture items that help to ensure a clean, tidy workspace, free of messy-looking wires.
It’s important to make sure you have enough ‘breathing space’ while sitting at your desk. The last thing you want is to be squashed right at your workspace with little-to-no leg room. Therefore, the size of your desk, chair and any other furniture such as cabinets and cupboards should be shaped to your workable space, as well as your stature.
Storage
With modern technology, most businesses don’t require as much of a paper trail, however, storage is still essential to ensure you’re as organised as possible, and can maximise the time spent expanding and improving your business, as opposed to finding important documents.
There are many innovative, space-saving storage solutions at your disposal, all of which our retail members can recommend and discuss with you.
Location
These days, it’s near-impossible to operate within an office-based business without internet access, thus meaning you may want to consider using a room that is located near your router. You may also need to utilise a space that has access to a telephone point if you prefer not to use your mobile or an internet phone.
When picking a room to convert into a home office, a key thing you want to avoid is noise. The last thing you want to do is try and work with outside rackets such as a barking dog, the neighbour’s kids or traffic drowning out your peaceful, productive work space.
Want to make the first steps towards your productive, functional home office? Locate one of our fantastic retail members today!