This article is part of the series Beyond Hybrid:
99 Things You Need to Know Now
Your
Home
Office
Insights and ideas
63-73 for a new
era of work
Homes are now part of the
ecosystem of work: 75% of people
have a dedicated workspace at
home. People have learned how
important a high-functioning
home office is to their work
and wellbeing.
Whether you use it one day or all week, a home office has become an essential space for both professional and personal use. While more people say they prefer working from home than the office, that number has dropped by 9% since 2021. A lot of things can influence a person’s preference. But it’s clear the pandemic home office setup — with spare bar stools doubling as office chairs — wasn’t a long-term solution. People also learned some of the ‘fast-furniture’ options that looked great online didn’t feel great after working in them all day. It’s important to get the same level of comfort and support at home as you do in the office.
Globally people work
an average of 1.7 days
a week from home.
The frequency of working from home varies by age,
occupation, size of company and where you live.
To help you stay productive throughout the day, Steelcase Store designer, Allison Mucha, suggests focusing on your comfort and health first.
Allison Mucha
Interior Designer
Steelcase Designing a Home Office That Works
Choose the right chair.
People sit more at home
than in the office.
Look for a chair that lets
you dial in a precise fit by
adjusting the tension or
amount of resistance you
feel in your back as you
recline to your personal
preference. The chair
should still allow you to
stay connected to your
work with your arms
parallel to your desk and
your eyes level with your
screen as you recline.
The right chair can keep
you comfortable and
supported, allowing you
to focus longer.
Consider the essentials.
Many people wind up
with desks at home that
are too small or too big.
You need room on your
desk for at least your
laptop, keyboard, mouse
and phone. Height-
adjustable desks allow
for healthy movement
throughout the day — a
smart solution for lasting
comfort.
Don’t forget
performance tools.
You may not have thought
about it, but tools like
monitor arms can help you
achieve greater comfort by
putting your screen in the
right position to help
reduce eye and muscle
strain. Laptop risers keep
your device on a stable
surface and at the right
height whether you’re
seated or standing.
Identify the ideal space.
Start with a spot that is
quiet, without visual
distractions.
Working from home is
likely the place you’re
doing a lot of focus work,
so the place you choose
matters. Try to find a
place with natural light.
Connecting with nature
does wonders for your
mental health.
Find the best light for
getting work done and
appearing your best in
virtual meetings.
Look for highly-
adaptable task lighting
designed for video
meetings that sheds just
the right amount of light
on your face. A table
lamp can also provide
soft illumination for
virtual meetings.
Create a distraction-free
backdrop for virtual
meetings with a well-
curated background.
If your work zone is part
of a living space, consider
a screen or room divider
to create both physical
and mental separation
between work and home.
Much like “fast-fashion,” the phenomenon of “fast-furniture” is designed for shorter life cycles and is being thrown into landfills at an alarming rate. Consider your furniture choices at home, in addition to recycling and watching your energy use.
A Greener Home Office
to be sure they don’t negatively
impact human health.
Look for
certifications
that tell you
the material
makeup of the
furniture
These pieces not only use less materials and less resources to ship, but can have the added benefit of being lighter and easier to move within your home.
Choose pieces
intentionally
designed to
limit waste.
Higher quality furnishings have a more useful life, and are less likely to end up in a landfill.
Look for
furniture
made to last.
Think about
who else may be
using this space
during the
course of a day.
If you have pets or kids at home, consider how else the space can serve your home once the workday is done.
“As more of us continue to work from home, it’s important our workspaces are comfortable, enhance productivity and boost wellbeing.”
Allison Mucha
Interior Designer, Steelcase
70
Look for furniture made to last.
67
Don’t forget performance tools.
66
Consider the essentials. Many people wind up with desks at home that are too small or too big.
65
Choose the right chair. People sit more
at home than in the office.
68
Find the best light for getting work done and appearing your best in virtual meetings.
71
Choose pieces intentionally designed to limit waste.
64
Identify the ideal space. Start with a spot that is quiet, without visual distractions.
63
Globally people work an average of
1.7 days a week from home.
72
Look for certifications that tell you the material makeup of the furniture.
69
Create a distraction-free backdrop for virtual meetings with a well-curated background.
73
Think about who else may be using this space during the course of a day.
The Takeaway
11 insights and ideas for a new era of work
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