Top Design Tips for Home Offices

Five Top Design Tips for Your Study or Home Office

Even before the coronavirus and its associated lockdown, increasing numbers of people have been opting to work from home. Employees found it was much easier to achieve a better work/life balance if they didn’t have to put up with the daily commute to work – although it does mean that homes sometimes have to be reconfigured to accommodate a new workplace.

Here Xylo Flooring, suppliers of quality laminate flooring to developers and businesses throughout the UK, look at some of the key features to include when setting up this new working environment.

Invest in a Quality Chair

Wherever the home office is going to be, it’s worth investing in a high-quality, height-adjustable chair. Most of your customer’s time will probably be spent sitting down, although increasing numbers of people are opting for sit-stand desks as they prefer to work standing up.

When the chair is in the correct position – it should allow you to sit with your feet on the floor with your knees at a 90- degree angle – and you sit up straight you should be able to avoid any back or spinal problems. Adjustable chairs can also help prevent other problems such as swelling, stiffness and muscle fatigue.

Make Sure There’s Natural Light

If you are converting another part of the house, such as a loft, basement or garden shed, into a home office then try to have a window or skylight built in as part of the cost. This will help reduce the need for artificial light and save on any additional energy bills.

There are also several health benefits for the home-worker of being exposed to natural light. It is a major source of Vitamin D, which helps preserve your bones and reduces the risk of heart disease, weight gain and contracting various forms of cancer. Studies suggest that people who are exposed to the so-called ‘sunshine vitamin’ also enjoy improved mental health and better sleep.

Select Space-Saving Solutions

The improvements in technology and the tendency for business to be conducted online means that paperless offices are on the rise and the need for clunky filing cabinets has largely disappeared. However, space is usually at a premium in most home offices, either because the room has to ‘double up’ as something else, or because it has to fit into an unusual shape such as below the stairs or in a loft.

So built-in shelving should be fitted from the floor to the ceiling (and may also need to be of varying lengths, to accommodate stairs or roof lines). Drop-leaf or rollout desks will give users more room to work but can be folded back in at the end of the working day.

Trays, holders, adhesive hooks and ties will all keep electric cables well out of the way, improving the office’s appearance and making it less likely that anyone will trip over them. potentially disconnecting the electronic devices and losing vital work. And it’s essential to make full use of walls – chalkboards or message boards will help employees structure their working day.

Add a Few Personal Touches

Although studies or home offices should be a place of work, there’s no reason why they shouldn’t be customised. If you want to give the new workplace a fresh lick of paint, remember that studies have shown that pastel or neutral shades are generally better for productivity while ‘warmer’ colours like red or yellow will help get the creative juices flowing .

If there is the room, workers can create some personal touches by adding artwork, or photographs. Having an additional chair or even a sofa will help the home worker take regular screen breaks, even if it’s just for a few minutes every hour.

Opt for Quality Laminate Flooring

Quality laminate flooring is ideal for any home office. It creates a more workmanlike environment, unlike a carpet, and creates a good impression if clients ever have to visit. If the new home office is in a garden shed, or is in a converted outbuilding, then the laminate will complement the wood which is already there.

And because the new working area is likely to be in constant use during the day and may have to fulfil another function, such as a bedroom, at night, it will help if the surface is comparatively low-maintenance. Laminate flooring only needs the occasional sweep with a brush and dustpan or a wipe down with a damp cloth. Users won’t need to vacuum around all the furniture as they would with a carpet.

And laminate flooring is also durable and long-lasting – its colour won’t fade, and it is less likely to be scratched or damaged. All Xylo’s laminate flooring comes with a lifetime warranty for domestic purposes and a five-year one for commercial use.

Laminate Flooring from Xylo Flooring

Xylo supply high-quality wooden, vinyl and laminate flooring to the commercial sector, including shops, restaurants, businesses, builders and home designers. Our laminate flooring range includes the Urban Click range, our Urban Herringbone options and our London Collection. These include a variety of shades and styles so you’ll be able to find the one that matches your client’s needs.

If you would like to know more, either follow the links above or find your nearest Xylo stockist by contacting sales@xyloflooring.com.

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