Design Your Dream Home Office

THE FIRST LENS: MODERN AND PRACTICAL

Crafting your Dream Office in Alignment with your Mental Well-being

Designing your dream office can feel overwhelming. 

Figuring out the space and choosing the right pieces to invest in is challenging. 

Add to that the task of deciding on an aesthetic, especially with so many trends constantly changing, and you may find yourself lying on the floor in defeat. 

Amid this complexity, it’s essential to remember two simple truths: your office should be an environment where you enjoy spending time; and it should foster productivity.

Kaylee from Dream Office Builders provides a practical 5-step guide to building your dream home office: 

1. Assess your needs and available space
2. Set a budget 
3. Plan the layout and then:
1. Choose the right furniture and equipment
2. Create a productive and comfortable workspace
3. Incorporate storage
4. Add personal touches and decor to make it your own
5. Maintain and optimise your home office for long-term success

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The Importance of Neatness in an Office Space:

There’s plenty of research showing that your immediate surroundings have a significant influence on your psychological well-being.

A cluttered, disorganised office space can perpetuate stress and anxiety, hindering clear and creative thinking while fostering a sense of being out of control, thus reducing overall productivity. 

Conversely, a tidy, systematically arranged office instils calm, control and predictability, creating the mental space for focused thinking, minimising distractions and fostering productivity. 

Initiating the process with small steps, such as decluttering, makes organising your office space less daunting. This approach to office organisation is a form of self-care, reflecting a commitment to nurturing mental well-being (3).

Furthermore, adding different elements to your office space, such as plants or pops of colour, can enhance productivity. 

‘By organising office essentials, prioritising tasks and creating streamlined workflows, we practise similar control and organisation of our mental processes’

Integrate Plants in Your Space:

A paper published in 2013 (4) looked into the emotional and psycho-physiological responses to plant colour stimuli. 

The results showed that ‘dark green plants can be used to make a place more relaxing and calming’ and that green-yellow and bright green plants can make a space more pleasant, exciting and bright as well as enhance ‘a sense of strength’. (5). Lastly, red plants can be used in a space where high concentration is required, notably a home office. 

Choosing the Right Colours:

Colour profoundly influences our emotions, moods and behaviour, making it a crucial consideration when designing your ideal office space. 

Neuroarchitecture research has shown that specific colours can stimulate distinct areas of the brain, evoking varied responses. ‘The colours that surround us impact the way we work, think and act.’ (6)

Therefore, in an office setting where focus and productivity are paramount, selecting hues that enhance concentration is vital. 

Neutral tones like shades of grey, beige or taupe are particularly suitable as they provide a serene and unobtrusive backdrop. 

Additionally, they foster a sense of harmony and coherence throughout the office, promoting visual continuity and organisational clarity.

For more information about colour psychology and which colours are best suited to your way of working, check out this article.

LENS TWO: Enhancing Well-being with WELL Design Principles 

‘Well design principles’ are a set of guidelines aimed at creating spaces that promote well-being, productivity and comfort. 

These principles involve considering seven key concepts: air, water, nourishment, light, fitness, comfort and mind.

They have been turned into what is known as The WELL Building Standard, which is ‘predominantly used to assess workplaces and commercial buildings’. (7) But an increasing number of architects and interior designs are now integrating WELL principles in home environments, particularly office spaces.

Studies have revealed that we spend about 90% of our time indoors, adding up to a staggering 53 years, with only a decade of our lives spent outside. 

The WELL Standard was created in 2014 to put our health at the forefront of design, taking a scientific approach to creating spaces that make us feel, sleep and perform better. (8) 

It is essentially a roadmap for creating spaces. These principles are ‘grounded in a body of medical research focused on the connection between the built environment and our health’ . (9)

WELL considers more than 100 building features to determine the effect a space will have on its users. All the features fall under one of the seven concept categories mentioned above: 

• Air: This category focuses on enhancing air quality by eliminating pollutants and ensuring cleaner airflow in a space
• Water: Here, the focus is on assessing the quality and accessibility of water, including the effectiveness of filtration and treatment systems
• Nourishment: This category evaluates the promotion of healthy eating habits, nutritional knowledge and positive food behaviours within the building environment
• Light: Lighting considerations aim to align with the body’s natural circadian rhythm, using windows and lighting systems to regulate mood, performance and energy levels
• Fitness: Fitness evaluates how spaces encourage physical activity and motivate occupants to integrate exercise into their daily routines
• Comfort: This assesses the design of spaces to maximise comfort and productivity, taking into consideration factors such as sound levels, temperature control, and more
• Mind: This concept focuses on how interior design and technology can support mental well-being, promoting positive mental health outcomes for building users.

When applied to crafting your dream home office, these principles focus on integrating elements that support mental and physical health, encourage creativity and enhance overall satisfaction with the workspace. 

Incorporating ample natural light, ventilation, natural textures, easy access to healthy nutrition and water, optional walking pads, ergonomic, comfortable furniture and adjustable lighting options can contribute to a healthier and more comfortable work environment. 

Additionally, integrating biophilic design elements such as indoor plants and natural materials can help reduce stress, increase focus and foster a connection with nature. 

Organisational strategies, like decluttering and implementing efficient storage solutions, promote productivity and reduce distractions. 

Ultimately, adhering to the WELL design principles ensures that your home office becomes a sanctuary where you can thrive professionally and personally.

If you’d like to explore all 100 WELL principles in depth you can view their most recent handbook HERE.

LENS THREE: Feng Shui and the Home Office

Feng shui is an ancient Chinese system of laws believed to govern spatial arrangement and orientation in relation to the flow of energy (chi) in the home.

‘In Feng shui, parts of your home represent areas of your life. Your office and desk, for example, are connected to your career.’ (10) 

Similar to the WELL design principles, feng shui divides the world into five elements — fire, water, earth, metal and wood — each invoking a unique mood. 

To achieve good feng shui, you must incorporate each element into your space in a balanced manner. Here are some tips:

1. Position Your Desk for Success: Ensure your desk is in the command position, allowing you to see the room’s door while sitting without being directly in line with it, fostering a sense of control.
2. Create a Good Flow: Pay attention to the flow in your office, ensuring there’s enough space around your desk and removing obstacles that may hinder movement.
3. Choose a Solid Desk: Opt for a solid and sturdy desk to bring stability to your career, avoiding glass surfaces that may cause ideas to dissipate.
4. Incorporate Feng Shui Colours: Select a main colour and two less dominant hues based on feng shui principles. For example, white (metal element) promotes mental clarity and productivity, while green (wood element) fosters growth and vitality.
5. Choose a Supportive Chair: Select a comfortable office chair with a high back for added support in your work life.

The Importance of Solid Wood in Feng Shui:

In the principles of feng shui, the material and quality of furniture play a critical role in harmonising energy within a space. 

Solid wood furniture, particularly in home office design, offers significant value by enhancing the flow of chi, or life force. According to feng shui, wood elements can promote growth, vitality and abundance, making them ideal for spaces where productivity and creativity are paramount. 

The natural characteristics of solid wood — such as its earthy tones and grain patterns — help in grounding the energy and promoting stability and calmness. Moreover, wood is believed to support health and personal growth, which are essential in a workspace. 

By incorporating solid wood furniture, such as desks and bookshelves, into a home office, one can align with the feng shui principles that emphasise natural materials to foster a balanced, positive and thriving environment. 

This approach not only optimises the ergonomic and aesthetic qualities of the office but also enhances mental clarity and fosters an atmosphere conducive to success.

Houtlander’s Home Office Range

In this era of disposable consumerism, the choice of furniture goes beyond mere aesthetics and includes function. It’s a statement of values — a commitment to quality, longevity and environmental responsibility. 

Unlike mass-produced furniture, our solid oak creations are built to last a lifetime and beyond. Each piece is a testament to the enduring beauty of natural materials, meticulously crafted to withstand the test of time. 

By investing in our furniture, you’re not just furnishing your office; you’re making a conscious choice to reduce waste and tread lightly on the planet. For more information on this, please read our blog on why to choose solid oak here.

As we navigate the ever-changing seasons of life, the office space should seamlessly adapt to our needs and desires. 

Our design philosophy embraces this fluidity, offering pieces that effortlessly transition from one season to the next. Each piece has a timeless elegance that fits any season, whether it’s the cosy warmth of winter or the refreshing coolness of summer. 

Of course, no office is complete without a careful consideration of aesthetics and functionality. Our range of furniture strikes the perfect balance between form and function, marrying timeless design with practicality and usability. Whether it’s our desk that doubles as a statement piece or our comfortable desk chair that supports your body through hours of intensive work, every piece is thoughtfully curated to enhance your productivity and elevate your workspace.

We understand that not everyone has the luxury of a dedicated room for their home office. Many individuals find themselves without a dedicated workspace but still wish to avoid office clutter in their living areas. With this in mind, we’ve recently introduced our Desk Wall Unit, crafted from our distinctive solid oak. This versatile unit can be seamlessly integrated into any room, functioning as both a practical workspace and a stylish decor piece. 

It features: 

• A spacious desk area
• A power outlet
• Adjustable and structured shelves 
• Our signature tambour door

CONCLUSION

As remote work becomes the new norm post-pandemic, our homes have transformed into multifunctional sanctuaries, with the office space holding particular significance. Crafting your dream home office involves thoughtful consideration of various factors, from design aesthetics to mental well-being. 

We realise that there is a lot of information to digest in this blog, so here’s a list of everything you should consider when designing your dream home office: 

• Reflect on how your home office space will impact your mental well-being.
• Utilise Kaylee’s 8-step guide from Dream Office Builders if you’re unsure where to start with your design.
• Arrange and declutter your office space systematically to create a serene and calm environment.
• Explore colour psychology before selecting the colour scheme for your home office, as colours can influence your behaviour, mood, thoughts and feelings.
• Ensure that your office design aligns with the principles of The WELL Building Standard to promote both mental and physical health.
• Consider rearranging your office space or applying feng shui principles to foster harmony, balance and a smooth energy flow.
• Prioritise investing in durable oak furniture that will stand the test of time, reduce waste and have minimal impact on the environment.
• Strive to make your home office a sanctuary where you feel calm, productive, secure and inspired. Remember, it’s a continual work in progress and it may take time to achieve this ideal ambience.

We’d like to note that the choice of furniture, such as our solid oak creations, goes beyond aesthetics, reflecting a commitment to quality and environmental responsibility. Whether it’s our desk wall unit or ergonomic desk chairs, each piece is designed to enhance productivity and elevate your workspace. 

As we navigate the changing seasons of life, let your home office be a space that seamlessly adapts to your needs and desires, providing a sanctuary where you can thrive both personally and professionally.