Preneur World March 2024

How To Create The Perfect
Home Office Space
Nicolene Mausenbaum
Interior Designer Specialising In Holistic Design
The hybrid work revolution and
flexibility are key factors in the
current and foreseeable future
workscape, and the significant
increase in employee satisfaction
and boosted productivity seen
from hybrid work situations
has confirmed the benefits of
this former temporary measure.
Many employees experience an
improved work-life balance, and
the decrease in daily commutes
is a cost-saver for them and
has beneficial effects on the
environment, too. Employers
also benefit from a reduction in
running costs and a decreased
need for large real estate
footprints.
Best of all, they are now open
to offering their employees the
ideal work environment that
suits their working style, and if
you’re fortunate enough to be a
hybrid worker, it’s time to invest
in yourself by properly setting up
your home office.
Here are some key insights and
professional tips for ensuring you
set up your perfect home office
space.
LOCATION
Identify the ideal space in your
home for your workspace.
Consider things like good
ventilation, positions of power
points, easy access to your desk,
and a lack of obstructions and
interference when you need peace
and quiet to work.
If possible, consider having a
wall behind your chair- amongst
other uses, this can help to
screen off the daily activities and
possible interruptions from other
household members. You can learn
a lot about people by observing
how they show up in their daily
environment- and you’re wanting
to create a professional impression
of you and your company’s
brand online. Not only will you
feel more confident when you
know you look your best in your
professional space, your clients
and colleagues will know that you
mean business.
How do you feel about the
space? Can you envision yourself
working there for most of the day?
You need to be happy and
productive in this space, so you
need to be sure it works for you
and your unique requirements.
LIGHTING
Lighting is a critical element
to be considered when creating
your spaces and can affect the
overall mood, functionality, and
aesthetics of a space- as well as
promote a sense of well-being.
When considering the quality of
lighting in your space, you need
to think about the types of tasks
you perform in your daily work
routines. Most people would need
good general (ambient) light, with
additional task lighting like a desk
and floor lamp. If you’re attending
Zoom meetings, add a ring light
directly behind your computer
screen to ensure that your face is
evenly lit.
Not only should you consider
the artificial lighting, but also
the natural lighting available in
your future work space. Natural
light can help improve your
mood, energy levels, and focus,
which can increase productivity
and reduce fatigue. Exposure
to natural light during the day
can help regulate your natural
circadian rhythm, which can
improve the quality of your sleep
at night. Natural light can also
help stimulate your brain and
promote creativity, which can be
especially beneficial for tasks that
require imagination and problemsolving.
By maximising the use of
natural light in your home office,
you not only reduce your reliance
on artificial lighting but also save
on energy costs.
CLEAR THE SPACE
So now you’ve identified the
perfect spot, but before you create
your perfect home office, you
need to have a clean canvas to
work with.
This might mean that you need to
declutter your existing space or
organise it to accommodate your
new work area. If you haven’t
looked at or used an item in the
past 6 months, you might need to
consider repurposing it, donating
it, or selling it! Make a fresh start
and allow yourself the grace to get
comfortable in your new space.
MAKE IT YOUR OWN
Changing the colour of your
environment is one of the most
affordable and easiest ways
to influence your mood, your
productivity, and your general
well-being, so to create impact,
include accents of colour on the
walls and floors of your home
office. A feature wall can be
created by painting a wall an
accent colour of your liking or by
installing a vibrant wallpaper of
your choice.
Did you know that studies have
shown that green can enhance
reading ability? Plants and the
colour green are very relaxing
psychologically. When the brain is
44 PRENEUR WORLD www.preneur-world.com