In the past year and a half, the home office has proven to be invaluable. It has allowed many businesses to continue operating and individuals – to keep earning an income in the middle of a global pandemic.
Many people are still considering the addition of a home office to their flat and haven’t executed the project yet. If you’re one of these people, you’re probably wondering about the best design choices for the space.
A home office needs to be functional, distraction-free and comfortable. This being said, many home owners commit interior design mistakes when attempting to put together the perfect professional space in a residential area.
Some mistakes are much more serious than others. Here are a few of the biggest offenses and the reasons why these could ruin your office interior design completely.
1. No Separation and Soundproofing
You can’t just put a desk in the living room and call it a day.
A home office is a separate functional area. Depending on the specifics of your job, you’ll have to engage in tasks that require concentration, logical thinking and timely communication with colleagues. Hence, you need thorough separation of the home office from the rest of the flat.
Even if you have to put the office in another room like the bedroom or the living room, there are still ways to achieve some seclusion.
Movable panels and a bit of soundproofing can do wonders for the creation of a completely separate area. Even if you don’t succumb to distractions easily, creating such a quiet zone will definitely benefit your productivity. The good news is that both separators and soundproofing products are readily available on the Singaporean market. And if you work with an interior design company, you’ll get proposals that are best suited to your individual needs and budget.
2. Corporate-Like Office at Home
Many people who are trying to put together a home office will simply try to recreate the corporate aesthetic.
This is a major problem. The way you work at home and in a corporate space isn’t the same. This is why bringing the office to your home is not going to work.
Traditional offices (think of the old-school cubicle) are very generic and sterile in appearance. There has been a major move away from such designs, even when it comes to corporate spaces.
Being at home allows you to enjoy some flexibility and comforts that aren’t available in the typical office. Make use of those to make your home office cosy and enjoyable. A soft couch, a few plants and a beautiful vintage desk will work much better than the bland office furniture you can buy from just about any store.
It’s also a good idea to feature some art and colour in the space. Even if your job isn’t linked to creative processes, a bit of beautiful art will help you get inspired to tackle the day ahead and have an excellent time.
3. No Ergonomic Furniture
This mistake is at the exact opposite end of the spectrum.
While some people go too corporate, others embrace too much of the home comfort. As a result, working in a home office all day long becomes linked to issues like neck stiffness and back aches.
A regular table and a chair aren’t going to cut it. These are not designed for prolonged use. If you sit on such a chair for far too long, you’ll be putting strain on all of the wrong spots. You’ll end up very sore and in time, the problem will intensify.
Seek ergonomic furniture, especially when it comes to your chair. It should provide sufficient lumbar support and enhance your posture. A high quality home office chair is especially important if you’re going to be spending more than a few hours per day in front of the computer. While such pieces of furniture tend to be somewhat costly, an investment like this is going to be worth it.
Very often, a home office will be put in a corner or a little area that isn’t being used for anything else.
The problem with such home spaces is that they’re often poorly lit and away from windows. And anyone who has ever spent more than a few hours in an office knows just how important natural light is. Light creates a positive mood and it’s also been found to have an important effect on productivity.
Even if you can’t put the home office by the window, there are ways to ensure proper illumination.
Layered lights are an excellent choice. An overhead lamp, a standing lamp and a task lamp on the desk itself will allow you to customise the illumination to meet your specific needs.
It’s also a good idea to use mirrors and reflective services in the office space. When positioned cleverly, these can bring some natural light from other parts of the flat to the office.
Your home office should never be an afterthought. It requires careful planning and some investment in furnishing to be functional. Even if you’re in a hurry to put a home office together, you should still focus on all the essentials to get a space you’re going to enjoy for years to come.
If you’re clueless about putting a home office together, contact Home Guide. We have a lot of experience in home renovations that include a home office as part of the home interior design. and we’d be more than happy to boost the functional appeal of your flat.
