Home Office With A Difference

The 21^st century has heralded the emergence of a new kind of worker: the knowledge worker. As the name suggests this worker employs creativity and thought in doing his job more than brawn. In this new sphere of work output is valued over man-hours put in at work. Perhaps one of the most significant shifts that knowledge work has introduced is the form of the working space. New tools of production have accorded this worker the flexibility of working from hitherto “non-work” environments.

Consequently, more and more people are finding their homes an adequate working space. With this the concept of home office has been born.To some the thought of working at home sounds like nirvana. To others it’s the epitome of chaos. The reality is that working from home can be quite freeing and may stimulate creativity. However, the right environment has to be created to enable privacy and productivity. In essence what you want to create is a working space that offers a good measure of both worlds. Let’s explore some tips that will help you achieve this.

It’s about work

The primary objective of work is to accomplish certain tasks that will contribute one way or another to financial gain. The work space (home office or otherwise) has to be conducive for the realization of these objective. It is imperative to proceed as follows:

 

• Define your space: make use of whatever space you have, whether it’s a stair landing, a small closet, a spare room, or an unused corner of the living room. For greatest efficiency, find a space that can be dedicated to a home office area.
• Lighting: Keep lighting adequate. Neither too much nor too litle. Position your desk so you can face the door of your home office and benefit from natural sunlight during the day.
• Privacy: Place a sign on your door to warn against intrusion and interuption
• Furniture: These should be both comfortable and pratical for work. A desk with drawers and high chair are a must have.
• Storage: Install shelves on the walls to maximise storage space.
• Tools of trade:  Factor in your computers, printers, phones,  pin-up boards etc in your office plan

  Loosen up, relax and enjoy

Part of the appeal of working from home, is the freedom to create and personalise your working space. Traditional offices are designed to help one handle working tasks and are therefore very functional. A home office on the other hand provides the opportunity to express yourself and create warmth that will enhance your working experience. Some of the ways of personalising may include:

• Colour: paint the walls a neutral colour, if possible. If more colour si desired, acessories and window traetment can add also splashes of colour.
• Family portrait: nothing is more personal than the smilly faces of family in your office.
• Floor rag: add beauty and add warmth to your working space. Pick a rag in a colour that’s in harmony with the rest of the space
• Media: Magazines and music can be vital when the ocassional break is needed in between work
• Couch: If you have extra space, you can also incorporate a sofa or extra chairs for visitors.

 

If your job affords you the opportunity to work from home, take the chance to mix business with pleasure. Don’t be bland; enhance your working experince by giving your home office a personal décor touch.

 

Posted by Pambo Maridadi @ Crown Paints Kenya Ltd  Email: info@crownpaints.co.ke