Working from home is no longer just a trend, it’s here to stay.
Interior Style Advisor Rebecca Snowden at Furniture And Choice (FurnitureChoice.co.uk) explores 3 ways we can update our home office spaces by putting our wellbeing first.
1. Zoning out
With a recent UK government report revealing that nearly 40% of UK workers work from home sometimes or full time1, having a work from home space is no longer just creating a makeshift space in your spare room or kitchen table. Working from home is now about being flexible and stylish, while making your space adaptable to your needs and wellbeing.
Setting boundaries between work and play has always been a challenge especially when space is limited. However, that doesn’t mean you can’t make it look utterly chic. There’s been a rise in popularity of broken plan layouts and creating zones in the home. Making structural changes is one way to go about it if it’s within your budget like installing a partition, zoning an alcove with tiles or adding wall slats. You can even make the most out of their outdoor spaces with office pods in the garden. Glass-fronted pods in particular are a popular option as you can soak up the natural light.
2. Switching off after work
There’s now a rising trend of people who just want to make their office ‘disappear’ by the end of the day. Folding desks are a popular option and is currently trending with 12k searches a month on Google. We can totally see why as you can fold it away when not in use. Look for ones that have storage or that can be mounted to the wall. If you need more storage for your workspace, source some collapsible storage units which can be moved aside if needed.
Besides wanting to ‘switch off,’ it’s also about finding balance when you’re working. An ergonomic chair is a must or a standing desk goes a long way in helping prevent back pain. What if you’re looking to recharge? A corner for meditation or stretching is one way to unwind or even a listening corner as listening rooms are trending as a place to kick back and relax.
3. Finding comfort in colours
Did you paint your workspace or just start setting up your laptop in one area? The colour scheme may not be cutting it anymore so a colour refresh may be just what you need to uplift your workspace. You don’t even have to paint the whole room, just have one accent wall. Neutral colours like beige, cream or taupe are the usual go-to for comfort. However if you’re bored of the usual neutrals, blue or green tones are great especially if you want to give your eyes a rest from looking at your screen.
It’s hard to believe it’s been 4 years since we’ve set up our work from home spaces and it’s probably about time to refresh your space. These small touches can make a big difference to rejuvenate your space - whether it’s tying it together with the rest of the home or adding a dash of your personality.
For more ideas on how to your work from home space, read our work from home ideas guide.
1 Homeworking in the UK: Before and during the 2020 lockdown (Cardiff: Wales Institute of Social and Economic Research, 2020, Alan Felstead and Darja Reuschke)
