If you work from home, make your chosen space compatible and you'll be far more productive
A LOT OF people who have outgrown their homes have had to shelve plans for trading up until the housing market is more favourable. In the meantime, it can be a struggle to find space for all the people, pets and clutter your home accommodates.
While tripping over all those obstacles, you could be excused for thinking that a dedicated home-office is the last thing you have space for - and you may even have convinced yourself that you don't need one. After all, balancing the laptop on your knees while watching TV suits you just fine, and having stacks of work papers strewn across the dining room table is precisely the look you are going for, actually.
It could be that you already have a computer workstation, but have concluded it is far from the dynamic nerve-centre you once envisaged. Outlined below is everything you need to know in order to create a home work-space that actually works, no matter how much room you have to devote to it.
Whether you work from home every day or only use your home computer occasionally, having a dedicated work-space is critical. Work carried out from home should ideally take place in an area that provides some psychological separation from other home life. Your home work-station should be furnished and equipped so you can work efficiently and productively, and at no risk to your health. If a home work-space looks welcoming, it may encourage you to use it more often and get more work done.
Locating your work-space in one of the main thoroughfares of your home, such as the living room or kitchen, will most likely be disastrous. The comings and goings of the rest of the household will be a distraction.
The ideal spot to site a work-space is in a room that is used less frequently, such as a dining room or bedroom. In a dual-purpose space, opt for office furniture that blends in with the existing scheme. Consider using a bureau that can be closed up neatly at the end of the day, keeping clutter out of sight. If possible, position your desk in front of or near a window, as natural light improves concentration and mood.
If the space you're converting into a work-station is particularly confined, it might be worth visiting Ikea in Belfast. Ikea's latest work-space ideas are especially designed for those of us without a dedicated home-office, but who are nevertheless insistent on transforming some dinky void into a computer station. "Think spaces, not rooms," the 2009 catalogue advises. If you are a laptop user, be sure to check out the diverse range of space-saving laptop furniture. Ikea also has some funky alternatives to standard office chairs, which are great for keeping your work corner from looking too office-like. Homebase is another good resource for cheap and cheerful desk-chairs and accessories.
However, if you plan to spend more than two hours a day at your computer, it is imperative to have an ergonomically designed chair. Choose one on casters with lumbar support, adjustable height and front-back tilt.
Working from home can increase the risk of back pain and repetitive strain injury (RSI), particularly if you opt for an ad-hoc furniture arrangement. So, while a top-notch office chair may not come cheap, it is a wise investment. If your desk-bound job leaves you suffering from RSI (or if you just want to find out about it), check out www.beatingrsi. com for practical advice.
Lighting is another important feature of a successful work-space. Equip your desk with an adjustable task lamp and make sure it allows you to read your computer screen with ease.
Keep your home work-station tidy and inviting and choose attractive storage options. Cut down on cable clutter by opting for wireless gizmos whenever possible, and gather any wires together with cord clips and tape them to the bottom of your desk. Keep supplies and paperwork nearby, rather than off in another room. Make use of every inch of space by, for example, putting overhead shelving in your work area.
Check out Muji, in Chatham Street, Dublin 2, (01-6794591) for simple, good-looking office storage options. Consider keeping important documents and certificates in a fireproof safe or filing cabinet, so that in the event of a fire they will not be lost.
• Zita Spring blogs at www.homebug.net