Tina O’Rourke – Holistic Interior Design, Feb 2007

The Home Office

With the emergence of broadband, alongside other technological advancements; working from home is fast becoming an accessible option to many people in today’s modern world.

While this is an excellent option there are many pros and cons to working from your home. Will you be able to set up a dedicated work space? If not working from your living room or kitchen may lead to working longer hours or a blurring of the lines between work and home life.

When setting up a home office there are many things to take into consideration, not to mention if there is the space available. Also, a mistake people can make when they leave their place of employment, is to set up a workplace at home duplicating the work environment they have just left.

The five basic requirements for a good work environment are:

A quiet place where one can work undisturbed.

Good ventilation and light.

Proper installation of electrical equipment and protection from their emissions.

Well-designed storage, furniture and fittings.

Personal items, which lend support and inspiration.

Desk Location – The best location for a desk is by a window where you can benefit from the natural light, air and a view. If possible, the window should be eye level, so as to look out at the horizon intermittently, this helps the eye muscles to relax while concentrating on the task at hand.

Light Source – Day light bulbs give out a clear bright light as close to daylight as possible. These bulbs are very important for designers, crafts people and architects as they allow for true colours to be matched correctly. Daylight bulbs also prevent symptoms of SAD – seasonal affective disorder.

Dedicated Power Source – If possible, having a dedicated power source of energy, solely used for your office space, computer, etc would be ideal, but not necessary. Surge protectors should be used with your computer at all times. It is also important to make sure that you allow for enough power sockets for lamps, answering machines, faxes etc.

A Creative and Inspirational work environment – You can make a work area creative and inspirational by displaying pictures, paints, postcards as well as installing a creative/inspirational notice board for one to stick ideas to. Plants will soften hard lines and make the place friendlier as well as healthy.

Office flooring – If at all possible, avoid synthetics carpets as they allow static electricity to build up in a room.

Avoiding repetitive stress injury – The best position for a computer in an office, relating to the user, would be to have the computer screen at eye level and the keyboard at the right height for your forearms to be right angles to your upper arms. If it is not in this position repetitive stress injuries can result.

Tina’s webpage

This article was first published in News and Views February 2007