Remote working is definitely here to stay and more and more of us are working from home. Remote working station should be considered when planning interior design to home. An inspiring workspace is at its best an ergonomic workstation suitable for the rest of your home's interior design style: with a properly designed workstation, you get energy and efficiency for the working day.

When designing a workplace, it is important to consider your own work style, the nature of the work, and the needs of other people living in the same household. Well-thought-out space design is key here too: it is possible to make even a small space a comfortable, ergonomic, and functional workstation!

Here is 5 tips from our ergonomics expert for planning your home office:

1. Workstation location and design 

Use your creativity when designing the best place for your remote working station. If the nature of your work requires constant concentration as well as privacy, and there is space in your home, a separate study is probably the most sensible solution. Even if you don’t have an extra room, you can use creative space to build a comfortable as well as a quiet workplace. The best place might be found in a wasted space: take advantage of an empty hanging corner, recess, or space under stairs.

Maybe you don’t want a fixed workstation in your home or it’s something that simply doesn’t fit there? In this case, a convenient solution is an easily movable standing workstation. With the laptop stand, you can turn almost any fixed level into a standing workstation. This allows you to change the location of your workplace every day! The laptop stands folds to very small space so you can conveniently hide it in the cupboard at the end of the working day.

Choose storage systems according to your space and needs. The most important thing in storage is functionality and how things that are important for the working day can be kept easily accessible. If storage systems are part of your home’s living space, choose them to fit the rest of the decor. Storage solutions should also be considered if you want to get your working tools hidden and out of mind at the end of the day.

2. Remember ergonomics 

Good work ergonomics are just as important in the home office as they are in the workplace. While a sofa corner can sometimes attract you as a workstation or it’s easy to stay around to work around the kitchen table, they are bad options in terms of ergonomics. Poor working position causes e.g., back, and upper limb pain, neck pain and headache. Good ergonomics is above all an investment in one's own well-being.

The heart of a workplace is usually a desk and is also the most important single piece of furniture in terms of ergonomics. In terms of ergonomics and well-being, the best option for a desk is a height-adjustable table. The adjustable desk allows you to change position during the working day, allowing you to conveniently switch between standing and sitting work. The best working position is always the next position!

An adjustable desk is also handy if you have more than one in the same household. In this case, everyone can choose the working height that suits them best. Complement your ergonomic workstation with, for example, a high-quality active chair, an ergonomic vertical mouse, a standing mat, and an efficient work light.

3. Take advantage of natural light

Natural light has been studied to promote work efficiency and increase work comfort. When we get enough natural light, we can focus better, and our mood and quality of sleep improves. Natural light also makes the room feel airy and spacious. If possible, you should place the workstation against a window so that as much natural light as possible can reach your workstation and at the same time take advantage of the view outside.

If it is not possible to place a fixed workstation near a window, then with a convenient standing workstation that can be assembled in less than a minute, you can make yourself a workstation for example on the balcony, backyard, or cottage terrace!

4. Don't forget your own style 

Your home office can (and should!) also reflect your own style. Decorating a workstation is important so that doing the work makes sense in an environment that is pleasing to your own eye. Bring your favorite items, art, or greenery to the space, for example greenery has been studied to increase happiness and productivity. Strive to create the space you want to be in, rather than just the workspace you need to be in.

The use of colors in the workspace is very permissible and, for example, by painting a wall, you can brighten up both everyday life and, in your free time and properly designed, wall paint is a good way to create the illusion of a more spacious space. Please also keep in mind the background of remote meetings.

5. Remember breaks and free time 

In terms of well-being and performance, it is essential how we take breaks. For example, regular micro-breaks (less than 10 min breaks from work) improve job satisfaction, increase positive emotions, and reduce fatigue.

When working remotely, taking breaks, and overcoming fatigue can be more creative than being in the office. If you have a pet, even a small interaction will take your thoughts away from work for a while and reduce stress. At the home office, you can also, for example, exercise or stretch for 10 minutes or call a friend to catch up and suddenly you are feeling lighter for the rest of the day.

With well-designed storage solutions, you ensure that you get your working tools (and things) out of your mind after a day of work and can focus fully on your free time. You deserve it!