At the height of the Covid-19 pandemic, homeworking was the Government's work method of choice and with England in the middle of a second national lockdown, it is no surprise that working from home has continued and is arguably here to stay. It is very tempting to spend your work hours slumped on your bed or sofa with your laptop precariously positioned with your favourite TV series playing in the background. Nonetheless, it is paramount to try and establish a clear boundary between home and work to protect your health and wellbeing and ensure you remain focused on your work.

Home-life is typically associated with relaxing, eating, and, sleeping meaning that being productive is often nearly impossible to achieve. A dedicated workspace to effectively separate home and work life is often required. In this blog, we discuss our top tips for creating the perfect home office.

Finding the best space

Finding the best space for a home office will differ from home to home often utilising the spare room is most appropriate but, if working from home is to become more long-term, an alternative space and investment may be more suitable. For example, a loft conversion will completely separate office life from the rest of the house and create an ideal workspace. Similarly, converting a garage or annexe will create similar benefits. If a home office isn’t possible in your home, under the stairs and landing spaces can be transformed into perfect workspaces. Landing space is often wasted and never fully utilised - transforming this space can help use up wasted space and, combined with a large window, can provide the perfect backdrop for a productive office.

Comfort

Comfort is one of the most important factors to consider when designing a home office. Whilst sitting on your sofa or bed may be convenient or provide short-term comfort, it is important to invest in appropriate office furniture to avoid long-term postural, back, or neck problems. We have three top tips to ensure your office provides ultimate comfort and support for your neck and back:

• Invest in a good office chair to ensure your spine is in a neutral position
• Keep the top of your computer/laptop screen to eye level or slightly below
• Position monitor/screen at least 50cm away from your eyes

Lighting

Good lighting is essential in a home office to keep yourself focused and alert; an office with poor lighting can cause eye strain, headaches, and a lack of motivation. Ideally, natural light is best as it helps to improve your mood, comfort, and wellbeing. However, if your office space lacks natural light selecting the correct lighting and bright decor can be equally as effective.

At Arc Design Services, we specialise in an architectural design dedicated to offering a fresh and exciting approach to every project. With this in mind, Arc Design Services could help add a home office to your existing home, renovation, or extension project allowing you to achieve a perfect productive space. Contact our experts today at Arc Design Services at www.arcdesignservices.net or call 0161 928 4433.