Working from home is now more popular than it’s ever been following the COVID-19 lockdowns of 2020 and 2021. If you’ve made working from home a permanent part of your life, then you’re going to want to create the perfect working from home space. Keep reading to find out how…
1. Create a dedicated space for working
Arguably the most important thing you can do to improve your working from home experience is to create a dedicated space for working.
After all, if you’re trying to work sitting at the kitchen table or in the living room, you’ll not only be surrounded by distractions, but it’s unlikely you’ll have a set up (e.g. desk, chair and computer etc) that’s ideal for working for long periods of time.
By creating a dedicated space for working, you can hone your setup so that it’s perfect for long periods of intense, focused work. Plus, by being physically separated from the rest of your home, you’ll be less likely to encounter distractions.
Whilst it may be tempting to turn one of your spare rooms (if you have any!) into a dedicated working space, we’d recommend against it. Not only does it mean you lose a room that could be used for other purposes, but you’re still not really properly separated from the rest of your home and all those distractions.
So, what makes the perfect space for home working? A garden room.
A garden room offers a physically discrete space to work, where you can focus entirely on work. Plus, at the end of the day you can close the door, walk up the garden path and leave work behind for the day. That’s not something you can really do with a spare room!
2. Enliven your home office (literally!)
There’s no getting away from the fact that work can be stressful - even in a luxuriously appointed garden room.
However, you can make your WFH space more relaxing by enlivening it with plenty of plants.
Numerous studies have shown that houseplants can have a calming effect, aiding your mood, productivity and concentration. Plants also help to clean the air in your office space, absorbing CO2 and producing oxygen.
Plus, the need to water and trim your houseplants can be a good excuse to take a break from your work during the day!
3. Add storage space
Whether it’s shelving, book cases, storage boxes or filing cabinets, adding storage to your WFH office is a great idea.
Why?
Because, who wants to have to traipse around their house trying to find that book or document that they need?! By ensuring that you have all of your files and reference materials right at hand in your home office, you’re going to have a much more enjoyable working experience.
Another benefit of adding storage space is that you can banish clutter from your desk. It’s all too easy to let papers, files and other items build up on your desk, impeding your ability to work. With storage space, that problem becomes a thing of the past.
Plus, storage solutions like shelves and bookcases don’t have to be boring. There are plenty of designer options that’ll really enhance your home office without breaking the bank. What’s more, a full book case does make an impressive backdrop when you’re on video calls…
4. Illuminate it!
If you decide to build a garden room to act as your home office, then you’ll find it’s already well lit with natural light (especially if you choose a vista or panoramic model with large amounts of glazing).
Even so, it can be worth adding additional lighting and illumination to your home office space; especially for those winter days when light levels are low.
In addition to the lighting that’s in your garden room, think about adding a desk lamp (or a swing arm lamp), a floor lamp and perhaps even some LED light strips to add an extra modern, funky feel to your working environment.
Many modern lamps are also able to mimic natural light which can boost your mood and enhance your productivity.
5. Use colour
When you’re creating a dedicated WFH space - such as a garden office - the effective use of colour is your ally!
What do we mean?
Well, for example, you can paint the inside of your office white which will make it feel larger, lighter and more airy - all characteristics that are great for a room in which you’ll be spending the majority of your day.
If white is not your thing, then there are other colours which are proven to be perfect for home office spaces:
> Greens - greens create a calming, stress alleviating atmosphere and are also good at creating a neutral background for the display of art, maps and charts.
> Black and white - a monochrome paint scheme for your home office will look smart and professional, whilst adding an element of depth that a white paint scheme alone lacks.
> Blues - blues are associated with tranquillity, however if your home office isn’t going to be receiving a huge amount of natural light, you may want to opt for a warmer colour.
> Pastel yellows - pastel yellows induce a creative atmosphere whilst also making working spaces feel warm and welcoming.
Consider a feature wall
If you want to experiment and go with a slightly ‘louder’ colour, but don’t want to be overwhelmed by it, then create a feature wall instead.
This involves one wall in your office being painted in a vibrant colour or papered with decorative wallpaper, whilst the remaining walls are painted in a more restrained colour.
6. Create a focal point
As anyone who works on a computer all day will tell you, your eyes can quickly become strained and tired.
That’s why it’s a good idea to create a focal point within your WFH office.
This focal point can be anything from a painting through to a sculpture or series of ornaments.
However, the key to creating a focal point that works is to set it at a distance from where you work e.g. the back wall of your garden office.
This is because the best way to rest your eyes is to focus them on something that’s a different distance from what you were just doing e.g. you can swivel around in your office chair, away from your monitor, and rest your eyes on a painting on the other side of the room.
7. Add a place to relax
Working at the same spot all day can sometimes stifle creativity and productivity.
So, why not create a distinct space away from your desk where you can relax in your garden office?
This could be a collection of large bean bags or a beautiful armchair. The point is, it’s great to have a space in your office where you can switch up your mode of working and induce new ideas and viewpoints.
8. Stay ventilated
Whilst high-quality garden offices are already well ventilated, it can be handy to have some additional fans on hand - particularly when we have extreme summer temperatures such as those we’ve recently experienced here in the UK.
9. Accommodate your pets
Do you have a furry friend that likes to spend time with you whilst you’re working? Then don’t forget to include a pet bed for them within your garden office. After all, they may not feel like working all day and may want to get some well deserved rest instead!
Plus, having your pets around whilst you’re working can (usually) help to alleviate stress…
10. Add a noticeboard
Do you need to keep track of multiple tasks and jobs throughout the course of the day/week/month? Then add a noticeboard to your home office. Add a wall planner for an extra element of personal organisation.
11. Think about the flooring
If you’re taking the opportunity to build a dedicated garden office, then it’s a good opportunity to select the perfect type of flooring.
For example, if you think you’re going to be spending all day sitting on an office chair with castor wheels, then it’s probably best to go for a hardwood or laminate flooring so that you can easily scoot about your office.
On the other hand, if you’re going to spend a lot of time standing up or relaxing in an armchair or working from a sofa or daybed, then a carpeted floor may be more comfortable and fit in with the vibe you’re trying to achieve.
Want to create a garden office? You’re not alone!
After two plus years of working from home, you may be sick and tired of working in the spare room or at the kitchen table.
If so, then don’t worry. You’re not alone.
Many people have made the leap to dedicated garden offices with the help of Rubicon Garden Rooms.
Meet Stuart
Stuart Haynes is a systems accountant for a global banking firm. When he decided to work from home on a more permanent basis, he worked with Rubicon to create the ideal garden office for his home in Flintshire, North Wales.
The resulting five metre by four metre insulated garden office is the perfect place for Stuart to work all day, plus thanks to its highly efficient and economical design, has an average annual energy bill of only £100 (2013 prices).
Given the current energy crisis, this makes a garden office a far more attractive proposition than working in a spare room in your home!
Meet Adrian
When Adrian decided that he wanted an economical and low-cost base to work from, one of Rubicon’s garden rooms turned out to be the perfect solution.
Adrian echoes Stuart’s comments about the quality of Rubicon’s construction methods and how they result in garden offices that are very cheap to keep heated, “due to the quality of insulation I’ve not needed to have any heating on. It’s fantastic. It’s maintenance free, the interior is completely plastered and you get to decide on the furnishings''.
What to look for in a garden office
If you’re going to be buying a garden office to act as your working from home space, then there are a number of things you should be looking for. These are:
> Your chosen garden office builder should be able to offer you a completely bespoke solution.
> A turnkey solution. Many garden office builders will ask you to get someone else to build the foundations. Rubicon does everything from start to finish when building your garden room.
> 20-year guarantee. Unlike many competitor models, Rubicon’s garden rooms are built to last.
> Maintenance free. With our optional composite cladding, Rubicon’s garden offices are completely maintenance free!
> Eco-friendly. Rubicon uses recycled and sustainably sourced materials throughout our garden offices to ensure they are as eco-friendly and sustainable as possible.
> Flexible pricing. Whilst Rubicon publishes our prices, these are just a guide and can be adjusted based on what you want from your garden office.
Discover More - Canopy Panoramic Garden Office
At Rubicon Garden Rooms we feel confident in saying that no other garden office designer and manufacturer can match our unique selling points.
If you want to create the perfect working from home space, then there’s only one real option - a garden office from Rubicon Garden Rooms!
For a free, friendly consultation contact Rubicon today and we’ll be happy to discuss your garden office project
For more garden room information, inspiration and advice, read the Rubicon blog…