Are you looking to spruce up your condo office design? Adding practical furniture and office items that will not only add to the aesthetics of your workspace but to your welfare as well is the way to go. More than just having fun with your new condo design, you will end up improving your well-being with the following quick-and-easy purchases.
1. Office chair
A great office chair is a must if you want to be able to put your best foot forward. You have to be very picky with this one, as you will be spending a lot time on it. More so because your posture and sitting position can affect your health. Make sure you find one that is conducive to sitting up straight, and has a good back support. You would want to avoid the health risks of poor posture, among which are aches and pains, which can affect your productivity. Office chairs are readily available online and in brick-and-mortar shops. If you could find an office chair that is as aesthetically appealing as it is functional and comfortable, make that purchase right away!
2. Desk
Don’t just go for any desk, pick a power desk. Make sure the desk is conducive for long hours of work without straining your body. The most important thing to consider when picking a desk is its fit. It should match your sitting style, your height, and your hands. Your desk should suit the proper placement of your monitor, keyboard, and mouse. It should allow you to keep your eyes in line with a point on your screen that is 2 to 3 inches below the top of its frame, rest your hands flat and straight while maneuvering the keyboard and mouse, and keep your elbows bent at or near 90 degrees with your upper arms resting near your body instead of having to reach forward. If you can find a desk that meets these requirements, it would not matter if it came from IKEA or from someone else’s garage. Just go grab it. Because yes, you do need it for more productivity.
3. Standing desk
You may already have heard about recent studies claiming that “sitting is the new smoking.” Dr. James Levine, inventor of the treadmill desk and director of the Mayo Clinic-Arizona State University Obesity Solutions Initiative, asserted that “sitting is more dangerous than smoking, kills more people than HIV, and is more treacherous than parachuting.” He adds: “We are sitting ourselves to death.” Because of this, many opt to keep a standing desk so they can alternate between sitting and standing. You may also go for a work surface and monitor stand that allows you to elevate your workstation on the same desk you regularly use. You will find plenty of options online.
4. LED bulb
Good lighting is essential to making your long hours of work less strenuous. A 60-watt LED bulb is ideal for your overhead fixture, as it spreads light in all directions evenly. Most LED bulbs are designed to provide feelings of warmth and relaxation to your home through their “warm white” effect produced by a color temperature of 2,700 degrees Kelvin. You would need a more task-oriented option for your home office, particularly a bulb that produces 5,000 degrees Kelvin.
5. Desk lamp
Overhead lighting is usually inadequate for work. Additional lighting is often needed for the darker hours of the day. Desk lamps offer a great solution, as adding a secondary light that balances the overhead lighting does a great job of reducing the lighting contrast that can cause headache. Moreover, lamps offer great design possibilities. A plus for your workspace aesthetics.
6. White board
A white board is great for writing down your goals, whether personal, professional or both. It pays to have your targets highly visible. It will help get you get going during long hours of work. You are also more likely to meet your goals this way. Jotting everything down can also help turn half-baked ideas into fully developed ones as you get to build on them as time passes.
7. Art
This may seem like a splurge, but you will find that visual items do have their practical value. The way you feel when you are at your home office affects your level of performance. It’s best to make this work for you. You can add an art piece on your wall that helps you feel wonderful, peaceful, and creative. While real art can be expensive, you can find cheaper versions online or at home improvement shops.
8. Creative storage
Filing cabinets are not the most aesthetically pleasing pieces of furniture. You can find creative alternatives for your storage needs though, such as children’s library-style display shelves and magazine type racks. You may invest in book cases that are artful enough they’d make a great backdrop for your conference calls. Wall hooks also allow you store condo office items or supplies in a creative way.
9. Vision board
As cheesy as it may sound, you will find that vision boards do work. You can create a collage of photos and inspirational quotes featuring practically everyone that inspires you, from your grandmother to Maya Angelou. The motivational imageries will serve as constant reminders to give your best in everything you do. Imagery that reminds you of the obstacles other people had to overcome to make it in life will also help you become more appreciative of the comforts you enjoy in your own home office.
10. Home office plants
You won’t realize how much you need this until you actually experience it for yourself. Add greenery into your office space and see the difference. You get to bring a piece of the outdoors into your home. According to a study published in the journal HortTechnology, houseplants can improve people’s self-reported health and quality of life.
Remember to go ergonomic
When putting together your home office, make sure you are able to put ergonomics—the science that deals with arranging and designing things so that they are safely and easily used by people—to good use. Shop only for ergonomic office supplies. The condo office items you choose can make a huge difference in your level of productivity. Chairs, desks, lighting, and other condo office staples must contribute to your safety, health, and welfare.
Make the most out of your work-from-home experience. Read further on how condo living can help you achieve work-life balance.
