by Paula M. Bodah
a comfortable workspace is key for at-home workers
ONCE UPON A TIME, working from home was only for the self-employed and gig workers. Today, working remotely—whether as part of a hybrid position, as a full-time remote employee or a freelancer—has become more common. Whether you have a whole room to yourself or just a desk in the corner of a guest room, you should love your workspace and feel productive when you’re in it. In addition, you want to have a quiet space and have it look great in the background for virtual meetings. The top things to consider are lighting, sound and the ambience of your space.
Lighting
Lighting is important to consider for your mood when you’re working. Do you prefer sunny and warm or diffused light and maybe a desk lamp? The right window treatments can control the natural light. If your window is in front of you, you don’t want harsh, blinding light in your eyes. And if it’s behind you, you have to diffuse it. Try a honeycomb shade that can be raised from the bottom or dropped from the top as a good option. Plantation shutters look upscale and reminiscent of a library, while a Roman shade can also be a stylish choice.
But for video meetings, you need to get the lighting just right. Too much light and you look washed out, too little light and your co-workers won’t be able to read your facial expressions. Think about how you orient your desk in relationship to a window. Ideally, you want natural light in front of you and never behind you. Designer Todd Stringer of Albuquerque’s Dana Stringer Interiors concurs. “If you have a window right behind you, you’re going to look like a silhouette,” he says.
To minimize glare, Stringer advises keeping glossy surfaces to a minimum. “Shiny walls will bounce the light,” he says, so stick with flat paint or a non-reflective wallpaper. Also, avoid task lighting or overhead lighting that can cause harsh shadows on your face. You can also invest in a quality ring lamp for video meetings to ensure you have ample light so you look polished and professional.
Sound
Not all people can work with noise and distractions— especially if you’ve been away from an office environment for a while. But if it helps you concentrate or is generally soothing, opt for a smart speaker to allow you to control the music and volume with your voice. So, if it’s across the room, and your phone rings, you can simply tell the device to pause or turn off the music before picking up the call.
Background music from within your workspace is one thing, but what if you need to dampen sound coming from outside the room? If you’re lucky enough to have a whole room for your office, there are many ways to mitigate sound. “The most obvious is a good door,” Stringer says. “It’s worth the extra money to get a solid core door.” If your office backs up to a well-used space like the family room, a bookcase on that wall can soften the sounds of kids playing or watching TV.
Choose acoustic panels to dampen ambient noise. They come in colorful geometric shapes, grays and browns for a muted look, or even decorative cut-wood panels that are excellent for absorbing sound. And of course, area rugs help, too.
Ambience and Background
Surround yourself with inspiring decor that makes you feel happy and influences your creativity. Although you might want to look up and see beautiful items, you should also think about what’s behind you—directly in view during Zoom meetings.
Bookcases or shelves can make a good backdrop, but be sure to give some thought to what you display. You don’t want people getting distracted by your background and not listening to what you say. Curate a collection of books, decorative elements and art to create a pleasing backdrop. Keep the look minimal and monochromatic, if possible. Consider grouping books or magazines in magazine holders to create a streamlined look. Turn books spine-in to eliminate distracting colors and words or cover books in vellum to obscure the cover art. And always be sure, if the book spines are legible, you don’t have anything offcolor showing.
Consider the walls behind you, too. Stringer suggests when you choose a wall color, make sure it’s a flattering hue. “If you’re going to be seen a lot, pick a color that looks good on you.”
The most important thing about designing a workspace is to ensure it’s comfortable for you. That will encourage top productivity, creativity and a pleasant work experience—who wants to work any other way?
