Working From Home: Create your WFH Space with Function and Style
The coronavirus pandemic has sent millions of professionals--many for the first time--home to work. Children are homeschooling as well, forcing families to scramble for enough functional workspace to meet everyone's needs.
Many of us may continue working either permanently or occasionally from home into the foreseeable future.
If you're looking to convert makeshift work stations at the dining room table or in a guest room into more functional office space, read on for tips and ideas!
Optimize Ergonomics
Opt for Maximum Comfort, Minimum Strain
Functionality is especially important in the office environment, where many of us spend hours sitting in front of a computer.
Sitting hunched over your computer with your hand jutting forward to reach the mouse can lead to pain and stiffness in the back, neck, shoulders and wrist.
Experts in ergonomics who study workplace design recommend the posture and sitting position pictured below to reduce the risk of eye strain and repetitive use injuries.
Start with Your Chair
A Fully Adjustable Model is a Wise Investment
Spending on an office chair is a good investment, especially if you're sitting in it up to 8 hours a day. Ideally, you should choose a chair that can be adjusted to your size and preferences. The goal is comfort--and to achieve those 90 degree angles with your feet flat on the floor.
A fully adjustable chair (like the iconic Herman Miller Aeron above) allows you to change the height, seat depth, arm rest height and lumbar support. If you're sharing office space with another adult or even children, this adjustability will come in handy.
The Aeron, from Design Within Reach, is on sale for $845 and comes with a 12-year warranty and a 30-day return policy.
Selecting a chair at a local office supply store will allow you to test out several models before purchasing.
This popular model from Staples, the Tempur-Pedic Ergonomic Mesh Mid-Back Task Chair, comes in multiple colors and is $299.
A less expensive adjustable option is this model from Wayfair. Seat height and arm rest height are both adjustable on the HON BASYX Biometryx Commercial-Grade Task Chair, on sale for $199.
Choose a Desk or Table
Sit-to-stand, small space & multiple user options
Many workplaces are outfitting offices with sit-to-stand desks to allow users to change positions throughout the day. Costs range from a few hundred dollars to as much as $3,000.
The Grant Adjustable Desk from Crate and Barrel (below) is one of the many models available on the market. At $899, it's about middle of the road price-wise.
“Consider your desk or table and chair together. To maximize comfort and to prevent joint pain and stiffness, both need to be at the appropriate height."
The beauty of the adjustable UPLIFT V2 desk (below) is its height range--from 25" to 50", which can accommodate sitting and standing for all sizes of users. It's available in 17 finishes, including solid woods and laminates. Starting price for a 48" x 30" model is $1,433 with free shipping from Human Solution.
For small spaces and occasional WFHers, we love this desk that folds up so that it's flat against the wall. It gets extra points for storage and a place for the printer.
It's the perfect size for an apartment or for adding unobtrusive work space to a living area or guest room. It's the Wynell L-shaped desk, $579.99 at Wayfair.
The sleek and modern 47" Derby Desk (below) from Pottery Barn offers lots of flexibility. You can add the matching 40" rolling cart to extend your working space. In 3 finishes: walnut, white and gray (shown here), $407-$495 for the desk and $319-$367 for the cart.
Workspace Workarounds
Optimizing Your Own Furniture
If investing in new office equipment isn't in your budget, no worries--there are always workarounds.
Standard office desk height is about 29-30 inches. Depending on your height--and the seat height of your chair--your resting elbow may fall lower, at 25-26 inches. A keyboard tray that affixes under the desk or table is a great workaround in that situation.
Positioning a laptop according to optimal ergonomic standards can be difficult. But with the purchase of some accessories, such as a laptop stand or an external monitor, a keyboard and a mouse, you can convert your laptop into a more comfortable work-from-home station.
For a sit-to-stand desk workaround, try moving your computer or laptop to a bar-height kitchen counter.
If your chair is just a little too tall for you, leaving your feet dangling above the floor, you can use a foot rest like this one from Etsy (above, left). It's $32 and available in multiple fabrics.
Not enough lumbar support in your chair? You may be able to solve the problem with The Original McKenzie® Lumbar Roll™ ($19) (above, right). A built-in strap secures the lumbar roll to the back of your chair.
With this monitor and keyboard stand, you can add a standing option to a standard desk. The Humanscale Eco Standing Desk Converter from Crate & Barrel is $399.
Schedule A Zoom Call!
Use Your Home Time to Style & Update
Shelter-in-place means many of us are spending more time at home--and possibly re-evaluating the space we live in. Now could be the time to tackle projects you've put off, or to simply freshen up the house for spring.
Yamini Designs is offering a 15-minute complementary Zoom call to consult on whatever it is you need at this time.
On your Zoom call, Yamini will tour your space virtually via Facetime, providing ideas as she tours your home. Other virtual services customized to your needs include:
styling tips using things you already have in your home
creating a conceptual mood board
paint color consultations (paint samples can be delivered to your home!)
general design advice based on individual needs and circumstances
advice on converting a current space into WFH
editing and staging tips for future resale.
Contact Yamini Designs to schedule your free Zoom call!