Design the Home Office You Will Love to Work In

Working from home has become the norm for 40% of kiwis - how many of us enjoy the luxury of a home office that we felt good in? Now is the time to revamp your work from home set up to create a home office space that works for you.

It begins with a good chair...

If you spend 40 hours a week in your office a good chair is key! A good chair should look good and compliment your work space.

Arguably more important than looking good is that it feels good - a chair that is comfortable and ergonomic will leave you feeling good at the end of the work day and save your posture for years to come.  Do your research and take some for a test drive to see what works for you, there are a plethora of styles to suit all different needs.

... or lack thereof?

In response to studies showing that sitting all day can be bad for your health the standing desk has risen in popularity.  Read a little further and the argument isn't so black and white, experts recommend splitting your time between sitting and standing so having a desk that is adjustable is your best bet.

"Don't work from bed.

You want your bed to be a place

of peace and calm, not work stress."

-Liz Grossman Kitoyi, co-Founder and CEO of Baobab Consulting

Express your Personal Style!

Your home office is yours! Take this opportunity to really express your personal style. Here are some tips to get you started.

• Use paint or wall paper to add colour and pattern
• Furnish the space with pieces you love
• Hang art that inspires you or pictures that remind you of what drives you
• Add your personality with things that bring you joy. This could be pot plants, could be a treadmill desk, could be an espresso machine, could be your prized signed All Blacks jersey - whatever brings you joy!

Maximize Horizontal & Vertical Storage

Home office spaces aren’t generally rich in square footage, and this is why you need to use the area efficiently. Floating shelves can be added to the walls to get office equipment and papers off the desk. Designate one of your desk drawers as ‘to-do’ and keep all your pending assignments there. You can also try cube storage to hold books or knick-knacks.



Create Separation Where you Can

One of the best things you can do to create a healthy balance between your home office and your home is to separate the spaces as much as your home allows. For some folks you may mean a small separate structure on your property, for some it will be a dedicated or dual purpose room in your house and for some separation may be as simple as sitting on the opposite side of the dining table for work vs dining.  Whatever you can do to maintain as much of your home as a non work area is best.



If your future holds more work from home you may consider renovating to create a space that better serves you and provides separation from your living space - check out these ideas of how to renovate your home to better accommodate a home office.