It began with a trickle of collective consciousness during COVID-19 lockdowns as many decided that this working-from-home gig wasn’t too bad at all. From getting more of a sleep-in of a morning to saving on travel time and spending more time with the family, there was a lot to like about leaving the office behind. No longer needing to commute to city workplaces, thousands upon thousands of city dwellers began creating a whole new lifestyle, living the dream.

Research by The University of Sydney Business School shows commuting activity will continue to decline by an estimated 25 to 30 per cent and before too long, almost one third of all workers will work from home. It mirrors what’s happening in other countries like the USA, with Global Workplace Analytics predicting the same 25 to 30 per cent of the workforce will be home-based by the end of 2021.

Imagine being able to jump in the pool and have a swim with the kids in your lunchbreak, or sit on your leafy deck sipping a cuppa at morning tea. No in-house office politics to contend with or listening to idle gossip by the water cooler. And when the day’s done, no commute, so you can spend time relaxing in your outdoor entertaining area or sip a cool drink while you tend the garden or play with the kids. 

Balancing work and play

Having the right home office setup is key to your success, and it all starts with a little planning. While the idea of staying in your jammies, sipping your morning coffee and flicking through social media with one eye on your laptop might work for some, it probably won’t be all that effective and you might find yourself working even longer hours to get the job done.

Getting organised and creating an at-home workspace allows you to be more productive, whether that’s a shared space, a dedicated home office or just a tiny nook you can call your own. 

Organisational psychologist Dr Joanne Abbey, founder of the Centre for Corporate Wellbeing, says there’s no right or wrong way to set up an office — it depends on what works for you. “I work from home and have a large loungeroom with a desk in the corner and windows behind. It’s comfortable, spacious and I feel connected to where I live. It doesn’t compromise my professionalism at work — I think it enhances it,” she says.

Preparing yourself for a work day with your usual morning rituals and routines, such as getting dressed for work, helps with motivation and productivity. Dr Abbey says adopting a workplace mindset is key. “It’s not a morning TV and coffee fest, a talkfest with friends or thinking I can cruise through it because I’m at home,” she says.

On the flipside, when working from home you might be tempted to power through your work day to finish sooner. But according to Dr Abbey, making sure you take breaks is important. “It gives your brain time to down tools and to reflect a little bit on the work you have accomplished. Moving your body and fuelling your body is important too,” she says.

The social aspect is significant for some, but it’s an individual choice, she adds. “People need to be reflective of where they are at in their head and heart; some people need to be around others, while others don’t.”

Creating your work from home space

Whether you’ve had to start from scratch or your very occasional work-from-home office has become your primary workspace, there are many conventional and not-so-conventional types of home offices. Maybe you have a tiny nook at the end of a hallway with a cosy chair and petite desk, a cool office built into a space under the stairs, an ultra-chic attic office or a pretty desk under a bedroom window — there are many options.

No matter what sort of home office you choose, there are many things to consider and lighting is an important one. Jess Hunter from Jess Hunter Interior Design says natural lighting is always the best type of light, but when it isn’t available, adjustable artificial light can work well.

“There are some great LED desk lamps available that allow you to change the type of light. For example, you can go from ‘natural’ to ‘cool’ to ‘warm’ with a tap of your finger,” she says. 

Unlike a workplace office where you’re limited by what you can do, one advantage of a home office is that you can decorate it any way you like. Jess says it all begins with your desk and chair. “It may be a trestle-style table, a modern metal frame or a solid-timber traditional-style desk — there are so many options available,” she says. She adds that when choosing your chair, make sure you consider ergonomics.

“Once you’ve got that sorted you can layer your personality and style,” she says. Begin with functional pieces like stationery storage solutions, desk lighting and pen holders. “Make your workspace your own by adding artwork, a rug, an occasional chair and a pot plant to bring life and energy into the space,” she adds.

With more and more people gravitating to home offices for work, Jess says there have been some innovative changes in function and design. “A common trend for home office design is custom joinery to create a functional space that connects with the rest of the house,” she says, “whether the office is a nook in an open-plan living space or in its own separate room. Another new request is to create a beautiful backdrop for Zoom meetings. We consider what the wall or space behind the computer looks like; it may be a piece of art or beautifully styled shelving.”

If your home office is part of another room, like a bedroom, you need to take a little extra care to ensure it will work. How do you create a cosy space that is also a restful one? Jess says work and sleep should be separate to allow you to switch off, but if space doesn’t allow that, you can work around it. She recommends using a piece of furniture or joinery that can be closed off when the working day is over. “For example, have a drawer or a cupboard that allows you to pack the equipment away at the end of the day — out of sight, out of mind,”
she shares.

Jess adds that soft furnishings and simple styling pieces will help make the workspace feel like it is not out of place in a bedroom. “For example, an upholstered desk chair or a cushion, a nice desk lamp or vase will make the space more fitting. Even a little artwork on the desk will make it feel more like it belongs,” she says.

Eco-friendly home office

Working from home reduces carbon emissions generated by cars and transport, it cuts back on air conditioning and other utility costs for large office buildings, and of course there are less lunch take-away meal and coffee containers. The list goes on. Your home-based office can play a very proactive role in creating a cleaner, greener planet — another working-from-home bonus.

When you can, use natural lighting if you need more light. Reconfigure the room if possible so you can move your desk under a window. Throw open the window to catch cooling breezes rather than rely on air conditioning, and dress in layers at home to keep comfortable. If your toes get cold you can put on some socks — provided you don’t pop your feet up on a desk during a Zoom meeting, your boss will never know! Turn off your computer and printer when you aren’t using them — at the wall — to save on energy costs. 

Choose green cleaning products to do your bit to save the planet. Finetune your ‘reuse, recycle and reduce’ way of thinking. Opt for sustainable office supplies, flip and reuse office paper for draft copies of documents, and only print emails you need to keep. Buy only what you need and repurpose items you already have to refurbish your new office. If you need more office supplies, like a new desk, visit a few charity shops, buy preloved and get creative.

Finally, try to source your office supplies from other companies that share your eco-friendly ethos.

Articles featured in Grand Designs Australia Magazine Issue 10.2