Design + The Work/Life Balance
Work-life has undoubtedly changed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. We went from sitting in traffic, doing the 9 to 5 grind, and back to sitting in more traffic. When all of that came to a screeching halt in March 2020, many homeowners suddenly realized that their home base wasn’t functioning as well as they needed it to. The uneasy feeling we all felt at the start of the pandemic was exaggerated by environments that weren’t designed to encompass every single part of our lives. Open floorplans became arenas for sound to constantly travel from room to room. The trending cool grey tones suddenly became cold and uncomfortable. Kitchen tables became the CEO’s office, the teacher’s desk, the students’ desks, and lastly of a place to gather at meals. More than a year later, some things have gone back to the way they were, but much of the workforce has been able to continue working from their homes. There are plenty of reasons that working from home is great, but many are missing their old workspaces which were specifically created to do their job.
The importance of dedicating an area of your home to work is a necessity. We have gotten to the point where the home office has gone from a situation of necessity to a situation of comfort and convenience. So, let’s talk about making a home office that provides comfort and convenience!
First and foremost, what are the necessities that you need to do your job? It is going to be important to design a space around these things that you need to function. For instance, if you have multiple pieces of technology that need electrical connections, the design would either need to work with the existing electrical outlets in the space you have, or it may become necessary to add in some outlets to make your life easier. Having a desk surface that is appropriately sized to spread out and not feel cramped is always nice. And of course, having a comfortable chair that keeps you in a proper position will improve the quality of your workstation. Then comes the fun stuff. Deciding on an aesthetic for your home office is important. This is supposed to be your space to do your thing in and be the most productive. If your job really stresses you out and you need to try and keep yourself cool and tranquil, then neutral tones with soft textures may be the best for you. Or maybe you are someone who needs to feel stimulated because your job is monotonous. Some energetic colors with various textures and patterns may invigorate your spirit.
It can be a challenge to step away from work when work is literally only a step away. Depending on your house and the space you have available, your office may end up being close in proximity to your sleeping space or close to the areas of the home where you spend time with family. It is important to keep a healthy work/life balance and the challenge to do that only increases when it is so easy to take a couple of minutes to pop in and take care of some things. It is crucial to make a conscious decision to step away from work when it is not working hours, but the design can also make this easier for you. In an ideal world, you would be able to shut a door so visually you are cut off. By creating this barrier, it does help separate the rest of your home from the office. If a door is not possible in your space, it is always an option to come up with a creative solution to somehow create a division.
If you find yourself struggling to improve your home’s functionality to help with work/life balance, speaking with an interior design professional is a great first step. Interior designers will help you determine what is critical to you, discuss the next steps in your project, identify a budget and keep everything moving along in a timely and convenient manner.
No matter your next home project, remember, good design can go a long way.
