Working from home sounds like a good idea
on paper. You can attend Skype meetings in pyjamas; you can have your cat
nearby; and you can play any music you like.
But, working from home can also kill your productivity.
It can be a challenge to be on top of your game when you have so many
distractions around.
I do need ideas as to how to improve my productivity @ home.
So, here are these
tips to create a good home office :
1. Find a good location
If you have a spare room, turn it into a
dedicated office. But if you have a very limited space, find any corner with
the least foot traffic.
Above: Even the back
of your bed can be used as an office. Design by Team BJ Design.
Source
2. Add proper furnishing
Invest on a good desk and chair that is
meant for serious work. Don’t just settle with a plastic stool and meja lipat
that you have spare in the storeroom. If there’s a window (which is great for
natural lighting and ventilation), make sure there’s a curtain there to avoid
glare during the day. You should also consider painting the wall around your
workstation with colours that promote productivity and positivity like blue and
green.
3. Keep it cool
Make sure your
workstation or home office is well ventilated throughout the day. You can
either install
a split unit air conditioner or a ceiling
fan to ensure you are comfortable while doing your work. Every once in a
while, open the window to let some fresh air in. Now that’s something that you
could never do when you are working at a regular office.
Above: Adding a cosy
work area. Design by NL
Innovations. Source
4. Reduce noise
If possible, try to eliminate as much noise
as possible. This includes the sound of people walking in the corridor and the
voices of your kids screaming. You can insulate the small gap under the door
and around the window with rubber seals or strips. Alternatively, using a much
thicker and heavier curtain would do the trick too.
5. Install lots and lots of plug points
A decent home office may need at least six
plug points on the wall for the work lamp, phone charger, computer, speakers,
printer and more.
Some might prefer to just use the extension
cables and three-way adapters for the appliances that they seldom use. But it
is just much safer if you have
a professional electrician to install additional plug points on the wall.
Above: Desk-level plug points. Photo by Victorix
Interior Design. Source
6. Subscribe to a fast broadband service
There are a lot
of business-class broadband plans available throughout the country such as
UniFi, Maxis Broadband, Streamyx and YES. Usually, there is a minimum
subscription contract of one year or two years. It is quite a long-term
commitment, but worth every cent.
7. Avoid Ergonomic Mistakes
Do you always get muscle aches around your
shoulder? That is the result of hunching down at the computer for too long and
unergonomic sitting posture. You can either buy a desk that is suitable for
your height or simply order custom built-in desk for your home office.
Also, remember to take a break in between
your work and follow the 52/17
rule.
Design by Clover Buildcon.
Source
8. Have plenty of storage space
Make sure your workstation has a lot of
open shelves to keep the books and files, locked drawers to keep the
confidential documents. Every now and then, declutter your desk and stow away
all the documents and books that you no longer need.
Build by Ninety One
Design & Build. Source
9. Ensure good lighting
Make sure your office is well lit with
ambient lighting. You may also add a task light just above your desk to further
illuminate the area. This is especially important if your workstation doesn’t
have a large window or sliding door for the natural light to shine through.
(Read more: Six Ways to
Light Every Room in Your House)
10. Inject your personality
Finally, you should
add a little bit of your character to the area. If you love to travel, hang a
framed world map to reflect your personality or if you love action figures, order
a custom glass cabinet to display your collection.
I think that’s all that you need to know
about designing your very own home office. It can take up a whole room or
simply a small area under the stairs. But most importantly, it should be a
design that enhances work productivity.
If you need help from a professional
contractor to assist you, visit Recommend.my
012.280.1977
