Telecommuting, work-at-home and remote workers are popular bywords in the corporate world today. This type of work arrangement seems to be a trend that isn’t going anywhere soon since it offers several benefits to both employees and organizations: better health, improved work-life balance, enhanced work productivity, and cost savings, among others.

But for employees to enjoy the benefits that working from home provides, it is essential to have a workable home office. With the right workspace in your home, you will be able to do your job properly and consistently churn out the results your boss is looking for.

Setting Up Your Home Office

Office designers in Dubai say that any area in your abode can be an effective home office. The key is to make sure that you use the space well. You can do this by considering these five important elements when designing your home workspace:

1.     Location

Before coming up with a good home office layout, put some thought into the area where you can establish your workspace. For many people, any room with a door for privacy and a window is already enough. This means you can convert a spare bedroom into your office. In case you don’t have any vacant rooms, you can use a bright corner in the basement or transform a portion of your garage into your personal office.

2.     Space

Once you’ve decided where to set up your office, you now have to consider its size. It is essential to factor in the actual size of your future work area to know which types of furniture and equipment to use and how many you can fit. Keep in mind that you need to constantly be comfortable inside your office, so simply filling it with several bulky items isn’t recommended.

3.     Light and ventilation

Whether you will be establishing your office in a spare room or in an empty spot in your home, setting it up in an area near or beside the window will help greatly in your light and ventilation needs. The right amount of natural and artificial light in the office will allow you to enjoy spending several hours here every day. A window will also enable you to breathe in natural, healthy air regularly. If ventilation is a problem, consider investing in a portable heating and cooling machine which you can remove from your office when not needed.

4.     Functionality

The functionality of your home office depends greatly on the types of furniture and equipment you will be putting here.

First, you need to make sure that you will have good internet or Wi-Fi connection in your work area. If you need to use a landline frequently, ensure that you have one in your office as well.

Next, consider the pieces of equipment you have and will need to do your work. Will you be using a desktop computer or a laptop? Do you need a printer, scanner, photocopier, paper shredder, etc.? In case you will be using a laptop, you won’t need a big desk and you can place one or two other pieces of equipment on this table. If your job calls for lots of files and paperwork, invest in the right number of filing cabinets and other storage solutions.

The important thing is to keep everything at your fingertips to get your work done faster and easier. Also, make sure your office is free from clutter; this includes organizing messy cables and cords, which can cause accidents.

Lastly, to have an effective home office design, don’t forget to invest in a good chair. It should be one that is comfortable while providing the right amount of support since you will be sitting in it for hours. Consider getting an ergonomic chair or, at the very least, a swivel one so that you can adjust it to the right height.

5.     Acoustics

When working at home, you’ll be in an environment that may present difficulties controlling noise (a crying baby, dogs barking, loud sounds coming from a lawn mower, etc.). To minimize distractions and the possibility of making embarrassing phone calls, right from the start, make sure to place your office away from loud spaces like the living room or the baby’s bedroom. Also, insulate the room against sound as best you can.

Being efficient, reliable, and productive are qualities that will be doubly important when you start working from home. Having the right home office design will definitely help you achieve all of these.

AUTHOR BIO

Shane Curran

CEO at Interact Group LLC

Interact Group is a design-led interior fit out company that aims to set new standards in the UAE interiors market. Driven by their dedication to total customer experience, the company’s mission is to bring truly specialized teams to complex design and fit out challenges, utilizing their unmatched ability to deliver spaces efficiently and above expectation.