It’s now increasingly common to work from home, and this can have many benefits including a better work-life balance, no tiring and costly commute, and greater productivity. However, it’s important to make sure that you have a pleasant and comfortable place to work. This can be a challenge if you do not have a spare room to use as an office.
However, if you have an orangery or are considering having one built, then installing a home office is a potential solution. Orangeries are light-filled spaces that can reduce eye strain and boost mood, and you can enjoy inspiring views over your garden as you work. It will also be spacious and quiet, allowing you to work away from your main living space.
Here are some ideas to help you set up a stylish home office, or a studio for art or other hobbies.
Sort the practicalities first
Before anything else, make sure you have the basics in place, such as adequate WiFi coverage and enough power sockets to set up your computer and other electronics. If the orangery is a long way from your router, invest in a WifFi booster to ensure that you have a fast and reliable connection.
Boosters are sometimes available free of charge from your broadband provider, so check with them before you make a purchase. You may need to consider upgrading your current deal if you still find your internet speed is too slow.
Get the lighting right
One of the main advantages of using your orangery as a home office or an art studio is the abundance of natural light. This is better than artificial light for our mental and physical health, reducing eye strain, topping up vitamin D levels, and aligning with our circadian rhythms, which can promote better sleep and overall well being.
Position your desk to take advantage of the views and natural light, but note the position of the sun and ensure that it does not glare directly onto your screen. It’s advisable to invest in light-control blinds so that you minimise the glare on very sunny days. This will also help to keep the space cooler in hot weather.
For the darker winter evenings, invest in a desk or floor lamp, or install ceiling mounted pendant lights if you prefer. Ideally, the lights should be dimmable so that you can avoid glare, or increase the intensity if you need to read printed materials or work on art or crafts.
Invest in ergonomic furniture
One of the potential hazards of working from home is developing musculoskeletal pain from uncomfortable or poorly adjusted furniture. Be proactive about your own health and safety at work by ensuring that your chair supports your lower spine properly, and is adjusted to the correct height.
Your desk should be spacious enough to support your monitor and keyboard, plus all of the documents and other tools you need to do your job.
Consider storage needs
It may be that the vast majority of your work is carried out in the digital workspace, and your storage needs are relatively minimal. However, a set of under desk drawers may be useful for a few items of stationery or work-related documents.
If you intend to use the space as an art and craft studio, then you may wish to install paper drawers, or cabinets or shelving to keep your supplies well-organised and easy to access when you need them.
If you intend to use the space as both a home office and an art studio, then the layout will need some extra thought. You may wish to create different zones with room dividers or by using furniture placement to act as a natural dividing line between work and hobbies.
Consider heating and cooling systems
Ideally, your orangery will have underfloor heating and ceiling fans installed to ensure a comfortable temperature for year-round working. However, you can also use portable heating and ventilation options.
Personalise your space
Finally, it’s important to add some finishing touches to create a pleasant and welcoming environment. Bring in a few easy to care for plants such as succulents and ferns, and choose a calming colour scheme in warm neutrals or blues and greens. However, if you prefer a more energising environment, bolder vibrant colours might be your best option.