Now that restrictions are beginning to ease, many people are choosing to continue to work from home. While some of these workers were in the work-at-home world before COVID-19, there has been an immense increase in remote workers due to the safety standards and new regulations that came as a result of the pandemic.
Now that the world is opening back up, many employers are offering part, if not all, of their staff to continue working remotely.
Working from home was an adjustment for many, and for some, it was a hard dose of reality. One of the things all work from home remote workers can agree upon is that everyone needs a designated workspace.
How that space looks will vary between the worker, their home, and their specific job. For example, those in banking are often told they must have a separate room away from anyone else with a locking door that no one can access for security reasons.
Whatever your space is defined as, there is a right and wrong way to design it. So here are some mistakes to avoid when designing your home office.
1. Distractions
Don’t put your office near distractions. What distracts one worker may be okay for another. If you are easily distracted by cars and auto traffic noises, stay away from rooms closest to roads – especially those with high traffic areas.
If you are easily distracted by pet noises, you’ll want to stay away from rooms closer to the backyard areas where most of the loudest animals tend to reside.
Are you easily distracted by televisions and or humans in general? You won’t want to share your workspace in a common area such as the kitchen, dining room, or living area. You could potentially make a shared study a usable office space by making sure there is a door that can be shut and all persons in the house know when your work hours are so they won’t disturb you.
2. Soundproofing
Failing to soundproof the workspace can be a huge distraction. While household noises will happen, getting the office or workspace as reasonably as possible will make for a more productive workday.
You also do not want everyone in the home listening to what you’re saying while working – conferences, phone calls, video meetings, and so one should all be kept as private as possible.
Soundproofing the workspace can include acoustic walls or tiles or do something as simple as having a good solid wood door to shout out the household chatter and distractions.
3. Lighting
Don’t forget to splurge for good lighting! When designing a home office, always opt for the best lighting your budget will allow. Poor lighting can be a significant hindrance to work production. If your office doesn’t have any or has minimal windows, or you don’t have enough overhead lighting, you’re going to strain your eyes trying to see throughout the day.
After a few hours, you’ll become tired, and your eyes will start to wear out before you do. Installing bright LED bulbs in your overhead light fixtures and lamps will make all the difference in space’s brightness.
4. Clutter
Failing to plan for clutter can be a significant roadblock for work productivity when working from home. Be sure to take the time to outline your space and take the time to eliminate all of the possible distractions within the room.
Plan and lay out everything you place to include in the space so that all of your electronics, furniture, and other items have a place. Think about the flow of your typical workday, which will help you create your office space flow. The things that are not within your typical workflow should be further away from your distance as not to create clutter – or a distraction.
5. Comfort
Comfort should be one of the most critical aspects of designing a home office, but it is often overlooked. Choose your office furniture carefully. You should visit a furniture store first so that you can test out the chairs and sit at the desks to get a feel for the comfort level before making a purchase.
But, even as restrictions ease and we begin to consider a post-pandemic world, we understand people still want to keep their distance and maybe not be out shopping as much as they used to. At MMT Furniture Design, our trained staff are on hand to answer any of your questions and get you the right office furniture without ever having to visit a showroom!
6. Walls and Corners
Since most home offices tend to be smaller spaces than the business office, having ample storage can be difficult when designing a home office workspace. You can easily overcome this problem by taking advantage of corner spaces and vertical wall spaces.
Tall shelves can help maximize storage, while shelves made specifically for corners can help make use of the odd space that usually gets unused. Hooks and hanging baskets can be another valuable resource by giving some additional storage without sacrificing floor space.
Are you ready to design your home office workspace?
At MMT Furniture Designs, all of our pieces are designed to fit into any office or home office. Our furniture includes plenty of smart storage solutions and guarantees the utmost functionality.
Being equipped with the know-how of what to look for when it comes to making your home office as functional and enjoyable as possible will keep you working happily all day long. Give your work area a makeover and see the difference in your productivity and overall comfort during your work day.
Ready to revamp your space? Discover the wide variety of options for your home and home office at MMT Furniture Designs.