7 Tips to Create a More Ergonomic Home Office
April 8, 2021Dedicating a room in your custom home design for a home office is a popular option for people who often work from home or run their own business from home. Creating a great home office starts with the design of the room itself. From there, what you add to your home office can make a big difference in the look and feel of the room and also your overall health. Here are some tips to create a more ergonomic home office:
1. Get the Right Desk for Your Needs
There are a lot of options when it comes to desks. Although the sheer volume of options can be overwhelming at times, it does mean that you should be able to find exactly what you need.
Whether it’s a sitting desk, standing desk, adjustable desk, convertible desk, etc., make sure you get the right desk for your needs. It should be the right height for you to reduce the strain on your head, neck, wrists, elbows, and more.
2. Invest in a High-Quality Chair
One of the biggest tips for creating a more ergonomic home office is to invest in a high-quality chair. Even if you have a standing desk, you will likely still need or want to sit down at some point to do things.
This makes a good chair an essential part of any home office and a detail that should not be ignored. In fact, ignoring details like this and others is one of the mistakes to avoid when designing a home office.
In addition to a high-quality chair, you can also get a seat cushion, lumbar support cushion, and armrest supports for added comfort and support if you tend to spend a lot of time sitting in your desk chair.
3. Add a Standing Pad if You Have a Standing Desk
If you have opted for a standing desk, a convertible desk, or an adjustable desk, it’s generally a good idea to also invest in a good standing pad. This helps reduce pressure on your feet and joints, which can make longer stretches of work while standing more comfortable while also improving your focus.
Another one of the tips for creating a more ergonomic home office is to opt for a treadmill desk. They may take up more room than some other desk options, but they also offer a convenient way to combine movement and work.
Not only can this help you add more movement to your day, but it can also help improve your focus and productivity. You may even find that it boosts your creativity too! Treadmill desks are available in complete, premanufactured stations or as smaller options that you can add to a treadmill you already have.
5. Use Monitor Risers if Needed
Bending our necks and slouching over to work with computer screens can be a pain in the neck and back, literally. This type of strain builds up over time and can increase the risk of injury and also negatively affect your health in other ways.
Depending on the type of desk you have and your height, you may not have an issue. But, if you find yourself bending or slouching as you work, one of the causes could be that your monitors are sitting too far below your natural eye level when you are sitting or standing at a desk.
If this is the case, you can use monitor risers. These will elevate your monitors to eye level so you no longer need to slouch or angle your neck awkwardly to see what you’re doing. They are available in standard heights or as adjustable units.
6. Include Wrist Rests for Keyboard and Mouse Use
If you are a heavy computer user, you’re using your keyboard and mouse a lot. This can put unnecessary strain on your wrists, especially if your desk or chair height is off. If that is the case, the first step is getting your desk and chair to the right height for you.
Beyond that, wrist rests for your keyboard and for your mouse can be a big help. These further reduce strain and can help keep you more comfortable when you are at your computer for long periods of time.
7. Make Sure You Have Good Lighting
Good lighting is important for any room. When it comes to tips for creating a more ergonomic home office, it’s an essential one. Staring at screens all day causes serious strain on your eyes. This is why it’s important to look away from screens periodically and focus on things further away for a few seconds.
Another important part of reducing eye strain and damage to your vision over time is making sure that you have good lighting while you are working. You should be able to see what you are doing without squinting, and that applies to both too much lighting and not enough. Thankfully, there are plenty of home office lighting ideas to help you get the light you need for different tasks and working at different times.
These are just a few tips to create a more ergonomic home office. A good room design and making sure you are more comfortable while working is part of the process to design a more productive home office.
A home office is just one room in a home. But, if your current house is not working for you, no matter how much you redecorate or remodel, then it may be time to consider a custom home that is built to your needs and style.
Contact Custom Home Group at 717-284-4090 to start making your dream home a reality!