Home offices play a major part in our daily lives, from taking care of quick admin tasks to a full day’s work
One thing is for certain, working at home is just one of the many things that have be become part of our “new normal”. But what started as a juggle of papers and laptops on kitchen tables has become a growing movement towards home offices that offer more flexible hours, with no commute.
The temporary workspaces of a couple of years ago are now transitioning into something more permanent and user-friendly. So, how can you create the ultimate home office at your place?
Choose the space
When working from home you want a space that combines comfort and connectivity, with everything you need at your fingertips. Think of a home office as part of your overall home design, rather than somewhere to “make do”. Consider how you’re using all the rooms in your home at the moment. Do you really need to keep the guest room empty “just in case”? Could that storage room be cleared out and repurposed?
Creating a clear division between work and home is also ideal. Shutting the door on a home office marks the end of a workday physically and mentally, rather than just tidying papers into a pile on a side table.
Make it work for you
How you feel in a space makes all the difference to how well you can work in it. Having the right furniture and electrical solutions – even the right décor – all affect comfort and productivity. Here are some key considerations when planning your ultimate home office:
Location and environment
Start with the basics when planning your workspace.
- How noisy is it? If you need quiet for regular video calls or writing, avoid being near the kitchen or other high-traffic areas. Conversely, if you’re working at home with small children you might need to be closer to the bedrooms or living area.
- Is there clear mobile phone reception?
- Is there sufficient Wi-Fi coverage, or do you need to add data cabling?
- Is there enough natural light or do you need extra task lighting?
- If it’s a sunny room, do you need light-filtering blinds to avoid glare?
- Do you need to add heating/cooling options?
Furniture
Make the space functional and easy to use.
- Choose a desk (sitting or standing) that is comfortable and has sufficient storage for your needs
- Ensure your chair is ergonomic and fully adjustable.
- Invest in shelving or extra desktop storage so everything you need is within easy reach
- Keep things tidy with bins for rubbish and paper recycling.
Streamline your workday
Choose devices that streamline your workday.
- Save space with an all-in-one printer/scanner/copier
- Invest in a monitor to reduce strain on your eyes if you’re using a laptop all day
- Boost your mood and productivity with the right LED lighting for your workspace.
- Add extra power points or consider a quad power point to reduce the need for power boards, or choose sockets that incorporate USB C and USB A+C options for charging phones, tablets or wireless mouses. The PDL Iconic USB Charging Station can hold a tablet or two phones so they’re within easy view as they charge.
- A home office will add demand to the Wi-Fi load and can slow speeds. Installing data cabling for your PC/laptop and printer can help to avoid this.
Décor
Style your space to create a home office that you enjoy being in.
- If you don’t have the luxury of a ‘green’ view, then bring it inside with a selection of pot plants
- Colour can add energy or a sense of calm. Artwork or decals are a simple way to inject some colour, or consider repainting the room for a total makeover.
- Add the perfect contemporary finishing touch to your new workspace with PDL Iconic switchgear, which comes in a wide range of shades and styles.
Electrical solutions
Safeguard against electrical issues so you’re always connected when you need to be.
- Make your workday even more seamless with PDL Wiser Smart Home which can give you control of everything from lights and heating to blinds and home audio – all from your smartphone.
- It can even notify you when the front door opens as the kids come home from school.
- Wiser adapts as your needs grow too, so you can add new devices or appliances to the system over time.
“In my home office I have an automated blind system that controls the blind to just the perfect height for when I need to reduce the glare but let in some natural light” describes Brad, a PDL Wiser Smart Home homeowner.
Protect your home
- Ensure your home office stays connected during any power issues with back-up power solutions like an uninterrupted power supply.
- Protect your home and your devices with a few simple additions to your switchboard. Talk to your electrician about a surge protection device to help protect your electronic equipment from lightning strikes, power surges and voltage strikes. Arc Fault Detection Devices (AFDDs) (PDF 3.3MB) add extra peace of mind when adding devices to your home’s electrical load as they detect arc faults – one of the most common causes of electrical fires.
