Whether you’re a freelancer working for yourself, a remote employee working for someone else, or someone with a full-time job and a side hustle, one of the biggest advantages of working from home is the ability to design your space. But it’s an advantage often left unleveraged.
When you work at home, you have complete control over your office space. Why not take the time to design a healthy office space? Separate yourself from the rest of the home, and create a space that allows you to be productive while also staying healthy. Let’s take a look at a few of the many ways you can create an office that is both healthy and useful.
Your Chair
The mere act of sitting can create health problems, but sitting in a chair that isn’t right for you will cause much bigger ones, including circulation issues, muscle cramps, back pain, and more. While the perfect chair for you might not be within your budget, you should invest in the highest quality chair you can afford.
Buy an ergonomic chair, if possible, as it will offer plenty of back support. Look for chairs that allow you to adjust every part of them. The ideal chair lets you adjust lumbar support, armrests and seat height to your individual body. The armrests should be level with the keyboard and the chair should also allow you to flex. This will ensure that you don’t over-stretch, and eliminate other bad habits that might develop as you work.
Your Desk
Your desk’s height is as important as having the right chair. A desk that’s too short will leave you unhealthily hunched over, while one that is too tall creates wrist and shoulder pains from stretching too far. You should also consider your workspace – do you really need a lot of surface area or will it just end up cluttered with papers, office supplies and half-empty coffee cups?
Consider a desk with flexible height which can be lifted to become a standing desk or lowered to function as a traditional desk.
You might also consider alternatives to sitting at your desk like a fitness ball chair, kneeling chair, or treadmill desk. The idea is to find an alternative to sitting all day that works for you.
Additionally, think about how you use the things at your desk. Consider a computer mouse shaped to your hand, a footrest that adjusts under your feet, and a soft keyboard pad to rest your wrists on. All of these will ease strain and stress on various parts of your body.
Electronics
Your comfort level is directly affected by the position of your electronics. If they’re too low, your neck, shoulders, and spine will hurt. Too high and your neck, shoulders and hands/arms will ache.
You should first set the distance between yourself and your electronics. Your computer or laptop should be just far enough away that you can just barely touch the screen with your fingertips while sitting up straight. If you can’t reach it, move it closer. If you can easily reach past it, move it away until your fingertips barely touch it.
You might think about putting a table next to your desk, and using a variety of stands to lift tablets and phones to a more comfortable level.
Posture
No matter what changes you make to your workstation to make it more ergonomic, it won’t do you any good if you have poor posture. Check the back support in your chair. If it doesn’t provide enough, and you can’t afford a better chair right now, tuck a pillow into the lumbar area to provide support.
Center your chair directly in front of your screen. Adjust your chair so that your feet can sit flat on the floor, while you’re still able to comfortably reach your desk.
Sit up straight, and don’t slouch or lean even if it feels more comfortable in the moment. Make sure to take regular breaks as well. Even with perfect posture, sitting in front of a computer all the time isn’t healthy. Set reminders on your phone or computer if you need to.
Noise and Privacy
Regardless of what you might think, no one can be efficiently productive when they’re surrounded by noise and constantly interrupted. You need some privacy and maybe even some soundproofing to ensure that you can work without hearing the TV or your kids running around.
Acoustic tiles and added insulation can work well as soundproofing. Soft furnishings like carpet, curtains, and upholstery can also absorb noise and lend an extra layer of quiet to the room. White noise, such as a fan, can also help.
Lighting
You need to light your home office properly in order to be productive. Whenever possible, use natural light from windows or sliding glass doors. If that’s not possible, or for working after the sun goes down, you’ll want a combination of general and task lighting to see clearly.
What’s most important is that you have the option to control the brightness and intensity of the light. Use at least two different light sources: a modern lighting fixture overhead and a desk lamp for task lighting. Keep direct light away from your line of sight, and remember that too many light sources in the room will make your eyes tired.
Design
After you’ve addressed the practicalities of furniture, lighting, and ergonomics, it’s time to consider the comfort of design. Anyone working in a dark, uncomfortable, boring or disorganised office will find themselves feeling tired and unproductive. The right interior design helps you concentrate and avoid wasting time and energy.
Design a bright and energizing office. Research has shown that cheerful office designs help people work longer without feeling tired. Consider contrasting colour shades to create a bright and dynamic office design.
Another option would be cool background colours to create a business-like atmosphere, and softer colours to stimulate creativity.
Allow for plenty of storage space with room dividers that also function as bookcases. Add spots of green with pretty landscape art to relax your eyes – and make sure it’s pieces that you love. Plants can also add some stunning nature to your office space, as well as providing oxygen and controlling humidity in the room.
Final Word
Personalising your workspace is the first step to creating a comfortable home office that inspires you and keeps you healthy and productive. A quiet, soothing space with your preferences imprinted everywhere will create an office that you enjoy spending time in. If you enjoy spending time there, you’ll automatically get more done and feel better all through the day.
Jeff E. Brown is a freelance writer, self-taught lifehacking teacher, DIY home improvement specialist, owner of two happy dogs and a barbeque master. You can find the largest guide he’s ever written here. You can reach him @jeff8rown.
