Companies around the world have had to change their working habits in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic. In place of crowded open plan, offices are now thousands of people working from the comfort of their own home. With the uncertainty of future working arrangements, many are setting up home offices in their kitchen, living rooms, or bedrooms.
However, an improper desk setup combined with distractions around the home can hinder productivity, as well as health and well-being. If you’re looking for ways to design your own home office, we’ve put together a short guide below.
Create a Designated Space
The first step in building the ideal home office is to create a designated space. Rather than situate yourself at the kitchen table or on the living room floor, find a way to create a small area that is designed just for your office. If you have the means and the financing, renovation is, of course, an option, especially if you know that you will be working from home indefinitely.
But for those who don’t want to go down the renovation route, find ways to rearrange the space, throw out old clutter, or move furniture to accommodate your home office. Or, even better, set up shop in your attic or basement.
Build Your Own Desk
If you’re an avid DIY enthusiast and want autonomy over the design of your desk, why not make it yourself? Building your own desk gives you say over the height and style, ensuring that you can create the best ergonomic design suited to your body type. Depending on your preference, you could build a rustic wooden desk, or you could go more modern with something metal — even if it’s just the legs. In that case, you may need additional DIY tools like clamps, levels, welding rods, and a cordless drill.
Make Your Own Shelving/Filing Systems
Rather than splash out on new office furniture, you could also build your own. Wall shelves can be relatively straightforward if you want to keep it simple with brackets and a few panels of wood. However, if you are more daring and skilled at woodwork or carpentry, why not have a go at building your own filing cabinet? There are some beautiful design ideas out there, and it could end up being your home office’s pièce de résistance.
DIY Decor
Again, depending on your level of skills or artistic talent, you could also decorate your home office yourself. Whether it’s wall hangings, ornaments, or even lighting, the options are endless in terms of what you can create. The added benefit of making your own home office décor is that it gives you a hobby alongside your day job.
Remote working may be the norm for quite some time, so if you know that you will need your home office for many months (or years) to come, why not have a go and build your own? By investing the time, you can ensure that your space is comfortable, ergonomic, and enjoyable to work in.
