When lockdowns started in 2020 people never really considered that they would be working from home for almost two years and now it’s a reality for many that they could stay with WFH permanently. The makeshift desk, the kitchen table or the cluttered box room is no longer a viable option or long-term solution. Now workers want to create spaces that are more conducive to a pleasant day’s work. But before you start buying oak desks or pricey ergonomic chairs, here are five things to consider when putting together a chic home office.
Space
Let’s face it, it’s at a premium in many properties, so where to squeeze in a home office can be a challenge. “I visited lots of places during the pandemic for work, people were on laptops at the kitchen table and some were even working from bed. But you need privacy, space away from the kids and the noise of a busy home,” interior designer Emma Edmonds says. Start with the space, figure out how much of it you have, Matja Komu, home office furniture buyer at Harvey Norman, says. “We saw lots of young professionals living in apartments and space was a huge factor. It was about how big of a desk and chair you could fit in, so you might have to come up with a clever solution in the bedroom for example,” she says.
Light
It may not be an option in the box room but natural light is good for your brain, Edmonds says. “When lockdown started I initially put my desk facing a wall but that was depressing. I then moved it to the window and when cooped up all day it’s nice to be able to look outside at nature. I also need natural light for my job, working with colour, so low light levels would not be good. You can get reading lamps that give off white light if it’s a bad day out. There is also blue light and a yellow light, and the Irish tend to go for that, but yellow can make everything in the room look green, so I prefer white light lamps. Just remember to purchase a good quality blind that you can slightly see through or lets the light in but also stops the glare of the sun,” she adds.
Ergonomics
Making sure that everything is adjusted to your height and size is key to being comfortable and avoiding the dreaded hunched over desk look. “You need to make sure your feet are on the floor and your back is in at the base of the chair but office supply companies will offer guidance on that,” Edmonds says. When choosing a desk, make sure it is between 73cm and 77cm high, Komu says. “But if you’re very tall that 4cm will make a huge difference. Resist the temptation to use your dining chair or kitchen chairs, as you are using it for eight hours straight,” she says. “It offers no support. Buy an office chair designed for that purpose, with height adjustment. There are entry-level chairs to ones with all the bells and whistles, but height adjustment is most important. Adjustable arm rests are great too. A mesh back chair is good for ventilation. Lower back support is not always standard so look for that,” Komu says.
Materials
Something durable is key. “Melamine is easy to clean and you don’t have to worry about tea cup stains as you can wipe it clean,” Komu says. Scandinavian style and a minimalist look is very popular, according to Edmonds, with beech or birch, which are good woods for desks because of their natural appearance. “The grain is not heavy or thick so they take up less space visually. Pine is very orange and knotty so if you do have pine you can paint it a lighter colour,” she adds. Clear boxes are great for seeing documents, and stackable filing systems for the desk are good and some come colour coded. “If you keep it organised and clutter-free your mind is a little bit clearer. I like visual things like personal photographs or scented candles, make it personable,” Edmonds says.
Colours
Biophilic interior design is all about embracing the outdoors, filling rooms with natural light, natural colour schemes and lots of house plants. “My favourite colour for an office is green, but any earth or natural tone is good for working in, and it’s calm and helps you concentrate. It’s about bringing the outside in and also making it a welcoming place to be in,” Edmonds says. “It’s your home, you don’t have to stick to beige or grey for a chair either, you can order office chairs in pink if that’s what you fancy. Green velvet is gorgeous. It’s whatever does your heart joy,” she says.