Work from Home or WFH is the new normal for most of us. Perhaps, we may never revert to our traditional way of work in the office. WFH can be stylishly adapted for your own comfort. No more monotonous boring office set-ups. Instead, customise it according to your own taste with your own touches, colours, tech gadgets, electronics, and sizing with the help of designers.
Home Sweet Home WFH
Remodelling Considerations For A GCB – Part 1
September 1, 2021Talk to your designer. Tell him or her what you need, what you like, your preferred colours, your workspace challenges etc. He or she may have just the solution for you.
Picture: Kuhlmann International
Get advice on ergonomic friendly work space. That’s important for your physical wellbeing. Choosing the right chair with the right lumbar support, backrest/armrest height, seat depth and head rest support is important. You may even want to consider an adjustable desk to alternate between long period of sitting with standing. Decide on the most space efficient storage to keep things organised and decluttered.
Lighting is critical for your workspace. Make use of natural sunlight in day time. Most people these days work on a global scale which means there could be meetings with associates or clients late at night. Good study lighting is essential for these odd hours. Consult your designer for the most appropriate solution.
Research has shown that adding plants to your office will help to reduce stress and sickness, boost productivity and creativity, and clean the air. And if there are children or external noise present, plants can help to diminish the noise level. It has been said that viewing greenery every 45 minutes is for the good of your eye health.
If you are fortunate to live in a large home with a balcony, garden or swimming pool, you may even want to consider creating multiple work stations for a change of scene and inspiration. A living area can also incorporate the great outdoors with large openable windows, integrating landscaping holistically into the interior of the home.
Picture: Simon Chiang
Pound the keyboards on an adjustable standing desk while soaking in vitamin D from the gentle morning. The common areas of the home are just as important to a healthy WFH environment as the actual work desk. For example, the area outside the bedrooms can be conceived as a library area for the parents and children, while an extra bedroom could become the home gym.
Picture: Kuhlmann International
Your child’s welfare is just as vital during these WFH times. Most are adapting to home based learning. It’s just as crucial to invest in a comfortable and conducive study-at-home environment for them with the same thoughtfulness that goes into planning yours. Keep your sanity by creating different corners of the home for your kids and yourself. Be mindful of good lighting, noise level, ventilation/room temperature, safety, storage space for educational materials, general comfort and distraction-free objects. Do pay attention to proper desks and chairs for good posturing.
Picture: Simon Chiang
A well-planned working space will definitely boost productivity. Consult with Kuhlmann to create the most comfortable, efficient and user friendly space optimizing natural light for your own home office. From the study to communal family spaces, do tap on our ideas to make this the most liveable and functional WFH environment. Transform your private space into your own plush working haven.
Simon Chiang, Creative Director, Kuhlmann International shares some tips on planning for a comfortable WFH experience.
1. Why is lighting so important to interior design?
Lighting is an integral component in interior design used to highlight the special features of the home. Personally, natural daylight and shadows are my guides in how one navigates through their home. When artificial lighting is used, they should be planned to work harmoniously in tandem with natural light. This also applies to the exterior and façade of a building.
When it comes to the exterior design of a house, I usually employ “daylight” to liven up a facade. At night, the same façade takes on a subtle glow or mood with the clever use of lighting.
Picture: Kuhlmann International
Picture: Simon Chiang – Recent House completed under Archetype Studio
2. How do you ensure your mental and physical wellbeing?
With our lifestyle being changed drastically as a result of the pandemic and most of us are working from home, it’s all the more important to maintain our physical and mental wellbeing. Living so near to Fort Canning, I am lucky to be able to go on my walks there and explore the lush greenery in the park. At home, I practice yoga daily and during my break, I play with Major, my Italian greyhound which keeps me grounded. I also recommend incorporating lots of florals and plants into the home. My wife and I enjoy going to Tiong Bahru Market to get fresh flowers and plants for the home every now and then.
I like to take short breaks from my computer every hour for the sake of my eye and mental health. I go to my balcony, do some deep breathing and stretching exercises; and gaze at objects of nature in the distance. It helps to calm me down.
3. How do you plan for suitable WFH space for yourself and home based learning for children in the same household?
It’s essential to define physical boundaries for yourself and your children who are doing home based learning to keep your sanity. Keep separate spaces for your kids. They must learn to respect your work space and not to intrude especially during your Zoom meetings. Ensure that their study spaces are properly equipped for them to maintain focus. As children are easily distracted, do make sure these spaces are soundproof with a pleasant temperature and void of playtime or entertainment devices.
Picture: Simon Chiang
Picture: Simon Chiang
4. For those living in small apartments, how do you design for workspace optimization?
My wife and I are currently living in a small 800sq ft apartment with great views for inspiration. Though our total space is small, we have carved out our individual work zones and fill it with our favourite personal items like artwork, decoration and mini indoor plants. Small spaces do not mean no space. There are clever ways to work around your zone with optimal use of shelves, drawers and lighting.
Picture: Simon Chiang
Do allow plenty of natural light into your home as it will help you transition from day to night and remind us that work from home is not meant to be 24-hours.
Picture: Simon Chiang
