Halfway into 2021, it appears the working from home scenario many of us adopted in 2020 may be here to stay in some capacity – whether through lifestyle choice or necessity. Either way, we may find ourselves looking around our hastily prepared home office spaces of last year wondering how we can make them more appealing and productive. So, we’ve put together a list of key home office trends for 2021.
Light – Create a working space that is light filled and fresh. A dark, moody environment will make it even harder to be productive when you’re struggling for motivation or inspiration. Maximise natural light, avoid heavy or overly patterned window treatments and go for a minimalist look and feel. Use a table lamp to provide soft lighting.
Colour – While a neutral colour palette lends itself to a focused environment, a lot can be said for injecting some colour into your home office – especially when you’re missing out on the ‘colour’ that face-to-face co-workers provide. A happy medium? Keep your walls, flooring, and window coverings neutral and add splashes of colour with a bright floor rug, statement chair, inspiring artwork or indoor plants.
Indoor plants – Not only do they bring the outdoors in, provide a calming, relaxed environment and look great, they also clean the air. A must for keeping your home office fresh. Think Peace Lilly, Fiddle Leaf Fig, Mother-in-law’s Tongue and trailing plants like Devil’s Ivy or Chain of Hearts.
Backdrop – The thing that nobody thought of as we started working from home? The Zoom or video call backdrop. Have you started a video meeting only to realise your co-workers or clients have a direct view into your bathroom? Or kids and pets are running past the doorway? Start your backdrop off with a blank wall and add a side table with some books, plants, or a piece of art.
Furniture – It goes without saying your home office desk and chair are crucial to your productivity. While it’s important to have pieces that are visually appealing, their ergonomic design and functionality can’t be overlooked. Whether you go for a classic desk, a console table with thin metal legs, a wide desk fixed to a wall or windowsill or a traditional desk with drawers and storage, comfort and size are key. Similarly with your chair. It may be tempting to have that spectacular looking piece of furniture in your home office, but the reality is after a few hours of sitting you’ll be wishing you went for the more practical, deep, wide chair with a range of height, back and head adjustments. If you can, strike a happy balance between comfort, functionality and design.
And most importantly when working from home – remember to switch off at the end of the day. Don’t be tempted to check your emails or finish that report instead of dinner with family, connecting with friends or unwinding with a book.
Looking to create a space to work from home? Give us a call to discuss how we can help get it done!