A rising number of people are working from home rather than traditional office spaces. Some do so on a full-time basis, while others work flexibly, sometimes operating from company premises and sometimes remotely.
Whatever their working pattern, it is vital that these individuals have access to suitable office furniture. Over recent years, employers have become increasingly aware of the potential ill-effects of substandard and unsuitable desks, chairs and other items on personnel. Having to put up with poor quality furniture can lead to a range of problems. For example, people can suffer back and neck ache and repetitive strain injury.
Given the importance of this issue, it is no surprise that many organisations put considerable effort and resources into getting the right contemporary office furniture. However, sometimes businesses and individuals fail to recognise the significance of suitable home office furniture. Often, people rely on items they happen to have at home already, some of which may be unsuitable.
Writing about this issue on Forbes, design and environmental psychologist Sally Augustin said: “Oodles of time and research go into designing corporate workspaces, but home offices are different. People creating office spaces for themselves usually don’t have access to all of the studies that have been done to determine what design aspects allow them to work best.”
However, she added: “Research from the social and physical sciences has shown that anyone can create a home office that allows for more productivity.”
Offering advice to workers, she recommended “reconfigurable furnishings”. On this subject, the expert remarked: “Control of our environment has been linked to improved professional performance. This means leaving yourself options to rearrange things and move around as you work. A rolling chair and multiple work surfaces will give you the freedom to switch positions and manage tasks more efficiently.”
If possible, working spaces should look out over nature or water, she added. This is because natural scenes like these help to de-stress individuals. For those who do not have access to such views, Ms Augustin recommended the addition of a few green and leafy plants.
Having visual stimuli on the walls may also help. The specialist noted that most people stare at their computer screens all day, but it is important to look up and into the distance on a regular basis as this allows people’s eyes to rest.
Colour is another key consideration, Ms Augustin claimed. About this, she said: “Paint the walls green. Seeing greens on surfaces has been linked to thinking creatively.”
By thinking carefully about their home offices and making sure they get suitable items of modern office furniture, people can enhance their experiences of working remotely. While a little investment and effort may be required to create the perfect working space, this should prove to be worthwhile.
It could help to boost people’s productivity and make their working days more pleasant. The great thing is, it is now simple to access all the relevant products. By heading online, people can get everything they are looking for in no time.
About the Author – Anna Longdin is a freelance blogger who contributes regularly to a wide range of office furniture sites, including Calibre Office Furniture.