Co-opting the guest room into an office

Are you at a point in your life when you really need a home office in? Well if you have taken a critical look at your guest room and have decided that it could easily be co-opted into a great home office, here are 7 steps you need to make it fully functional.

Office furniture

1. Floor plan: Take a look at your space and decide the best place for your furniture. The placement of your desk is the most critical element in your office, because this is where you will be sitting every day. If you can position your desk so you look out onto the garden, this is usually the perfect spot. It is important to have the right size furniture.
   
2. Desk: The size of your furniture or working space is another critical element in your office. If the desk is too small it will start to annoy you. So think about how you will need to work in the space and the size of the desk that you need to make your working day more comfortable.
   
3. Chair: Some people can sit in any type of chair all day long and they are fine. Others need good back support, so if you have to spend some serious money here, then it will be worth it in the end. Most people want a chair with the ability to alter its height, but do you need an office chair with lots of lumbar support and the ability to change the height and angle of the backrest as well? 
4. Shelves: Open shelving in your home office is great for keeping everything tidy, but also for having essential items on view. With wide deep shelving you can store your printer and fax out of the way, giving you lots more space on your desk.
   
5. Cupboards: Furniture for storage is important.If you have a lot of files, books or other office essentials, a large storage cupboard is the perfect furniture solution to hide everything away from view. If you think about it, a custom designed Perth home office doesn’t have to be a collection of mismatched furniture – you can have a very stylish office that is fully functional, but also looks great as well. So don’t be afraid of wanting cupboards in your home office, because with a Flexi office it will all flow seamlessly.
   
6. Flooring: Your chair is going to be on casters, so you should consider replacing carpets with tiles or laminate flooring, as this will make it much easier to move around on your chair.
   
7. Lighting: Don’t forget that the overhead lighting is fine, but you might want task lighting as well, particularly if you are sitting in your shadow.

For help creating your perfect Perth home office, contact us on 08 9301 4200 or complete our online enquiry form and we will arrange a time for a home visit.

Office injury

It is estimated that workplace injuries in Australia cost more than $60 billion per year. Many people assume that injuries only occur to those whose jobs involve manual labour, however there is a wide variety of injuries that can occur to office workers, many of which can be avoided by having a correctly set up workstation. So for those of you in Perth who run an office and cannot afford to lose any time to injury, here are some tips on how to set up an ergonomically correct office in Perth.

1. Invest in a decent chair.

When purchasing an office chair in Perth, there are a few things to take into consideration:

• Does it conform to Australian Standard AS/NZS 4438 (Height-adjustable swivel chairs)?
• Is it height adjustable?
• Does the backrest adjust separately to provide lumbar support?
• Does it have a “waterfall” front?
• Is the seat of the chair short enough to allow full back support, without the front edge pushing on the backs of your legs?

2. Ensure there is adequate lighting.

Eye strain is a common complaint amongst office workers and one of the joys of having an office, is that you can make all the necessary changes to the lighting you like. The desk area should be well lit, with minimal shadows but the light source should be out of your line of sight. If you can’t amend the overhead lights, invest in some good quality desk lamps, with light shades that cover the bulb.

If you have good natural light flow in your study utilise this but invest in some quality curtains to avoid glare and reflections when needed.

3. Adjust your monitor height.

Desks are generally a standard height, so your monitor may not be at the correct height for you. Invest in a monitor riser or arm to adjust the height of your monitor to be at eye level. Having your monitor or screen at the correct level can decrease the chance of eye and neck strain.

4. Get the correct layout for your desk space.

When setting up your office desk, think of your work area in zones. Zone 1 is closest to where you’ll be sitting, Zone 2 is at arms reach and Zone 3 is beyond this. All the items you use frequently belong in Zone 1. This includes your mouse, keypad, pens etc. Zone 2 is for items that are used on a semi-regular basis, such as your telephone, stapler and hole punch. Zone 3 is for items that you don’t use often. This may be your printer, laminator or fax machine.

By separating your office into Zones, you can avoid any excessive stretching and assist in maintaining correct posture whilst you work.

5. Take regular breaks.

Every hour or so, take a short 2 minute break and walk away from your desk. Stretch your legs, roll your neck and relax your eyes. Not only will your muscles love you for it, you’ll also feel more refreshed and increase your productivity.

To get your dream home office Perth style talk to us!