11 Tips For Making Your Home Office More Comfortable
Perhaps you have found lately that your living room isn’t set up for working from home. As we may be working from home for a very long time, it is worthwhile carving out a decent space.
As a general rule, to make your home office chair more comfortable you will need a comfortable ergonomic chair, as much natural sunlight as possible and a proper desk or table is at a height that allows for good posture. Keep your work surface clean and clear of clutter.
Check out some ideas for revamping your workspace and surviving the quarantine with minimal fuss. Below are some helpful tips on not losing your sanity while working from home!
Buy the Best Ergonomic Chair You Can Afford
You’ll thank yourself later. Most people spend up to eight hours a day at their desk, so the chair must be supportive and comfortable for those long working days. According to WebMD, sitting in an uncomfortable seat can lead to back pain or problems with circulation and musculoskeletal disorders (MSD).
Set Your Desk Height
Set your desk height where your arms are bent at 90 degrees and somewhat higher than the mouse/keyboard level. If you use a standing desk, your mousing hand should be directly in front of your mousing shoulders with elbows at your side.
Use an External Mouse and Keyboards
You may want to change up your mouse and keyboard due to the limited space in an office. An external hardware solution can be a great way to avoid ergonomic risks while still getting access to features like touchscreens, trackpads or numeric keypad for number crunching.
Establish a Standing Station to Alternate With Chair Use
Research has shown that standing while working can help prevent discomfort in the back, neck and shoulders. It is an excellent idea to establish an area for sitting down with ergonomic chairs and a place where you stand up on your feet; think of this space like two offices side by side (standing office and chair desk). If possible, make sure the height of both areas is at about shoulder level. This way, it will be easier to switch between the two positions when needed. It also helps if there are things like pencil holders or drawers near each station, so you don’t have to get up every time something needs attention.
Monitor at Eye Level
Keep the monitor at eye level tilting slightly towards you and at an arm’s length distance. Adjust monitor settings such as brightness, contrast, colour balance, etc., according to what is most comfortable. Don’t forget to download a blue-blocking app for your monitor.
Get Fast Internet
Get fast internet so you will be less frustrated and more efficient with your time.
The Indoor Plants
The indoor plants which hold the key to air purification are ivy and ficus. They both remove volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from the air, but they require different levels of sunlight. Have nature all around you with a fair number of plants. Maybe even set up some sort of mini-greenhouse too! Plants will contribute colour and beauty to your surroundings.
Display Artwork
Display artwork that is inspirational for your home office. It can be anything you want, but make sure it’s something inspiring to look at every day.
Natural Light
While it might be tempting to position your home office in the corner of the house with minimal lighting, this isn’t ideal. Natural light is essential for our eyes’ health and comfort. For example, having natural light can help reduce eye strain when you on your computer.
Earth Tone Paint
Earth tone paint is generally a mix of rose, brown and blue. If you’re looking to keep your home office in one colour scheme, earth tones are the way to go.
Tidy cords away. An easy way to tidy up your cables is by using cable ties. These are used to bundle and organise cords neatly so that they’re out of the way when you’re not using them.
Investing in a quality air purifier will improve the quality of your life. They are well worth the investment if you want to live in an environment free from pollution and allergens.
10 Tips to Make Your Home Office More Inviting
If you desire to make your home office more inviting, the following are a few ideas that would make anyone feel welcome:
Keep Your Space Clean and Free of Clutter
Get creative with room layouts if you don’t have the luxury of an entire room just for yourself. Fit in as much storage as possible without compromising breathing space or walking paths. Keep doors, windows, heaters/air conditioners at reasonable levels and be sure to change locations from time to time so that one area isn’t overused while other sites are ignored.
Eliminate Noise
Eliminate noise by using soundproofing methods like sound panels on walls or low traffic floor coverings like carpets. If necessary, wear hearing protection equipment such as earplugs when working near noisy machines or during construction periods.
Get The Temperature Right
Don’t work in an extremely hot or cold environment. If possible, make the room temperature at least 72 degrees Fahrenheit. Otherwise, wear layers to keep warm and cool when needed.
Try to Get As Much Natural Light As Possible
An excellent way to do this is to open the blinds or shades as wide as they can go. If natural light isn’t an option, try using full-spectrum bulbs that emit a range of colours and get your eyes accustomed to them for at least 30 minutes each day before you start working.
It’s also essential to have good lighting in your work area so your muscles will not tire prematurely from having to adjust constantly while reading online content or looking up information on various documents/papers. Plus, it makes things easier when editing photos that were taken with digital cameras! Ensure there is enough overhead lighting (or task lamps) for tasks where close inspection of details is required; this includes typing at the computer keyboard and reading printed material such as library books or magazines.
Put Up Art That Has Purposeful Significance to You
Purposeful art also helps that it’s aesthetically pleasing! Art will also give your home office that artistic, creative vibe, which is essential to many entrepreneurs. Another way you can
Choose Complimentary Furniture
Make sure they fit together nicely with each other and don’t take up too much room, so there’s enough walk-around space for when you need a change of scenery or some movement breaks!
Add Ambience Lighting
However, make sure that the lights are indirect to prevent any screen glare. A little ambience lighting is an excellent way to keep things looking cosier. One can also use a desk lamp or small night light for this purpose, but the lighting should not be too bright as it could cause eye strain and headaches.
Give Your Legs Plenty of Space
Ensure that nothing is stored under or around your sitting areas. By giving your legs enough space, your back won’t be strained or bent over uncomfortably. You want to make sure that you are not sitting too close to the edge of your seat either because this can cause pain and numbness as well.
Get a Mini-Refrigerator
Great for fruit, protein bars, or beverages. Make sure that your fridge is not too close to your desk. By placing items away from your workstation, you will promote more movement throughout the day.
Bring in Your Personality
Decorate your room with things you like. For example, if you are a boating enthusiast, then have pictures of boats. Your personal touch will make you feel more at home and comfortable.