SquareRooms Issue 181 Mid-Year 2020

2 3 PRODUCTIVITY Comfortability An ergonomic desk chair is a vital home office furniture piece because it provides lower back support and minimises upper spine strain. Chairs that are disproportionate to your body result in sore muscles, pushing you to take longer breaks than usual when you could be accomplishing more tasks. If you can help it, invest in a height-adjustable desk to avoid neck strain and the adverse effects of poor blood circulation. Or, get a laptop riser to elevate your machine’s screen to a comfortable level. Visibility To prevent eye strain, install quality lighting. While sunlight remains the best option, you’ll still need artificial illumination when you work during nighttime. Lamps that mimic natural light are essential; warm light promotes relaxation and comfort while cold (blue-white) light stimulates focus, making it more ideal for home offices. Remember, the goal is to illuminate the workspace with balanced lighting and eliminate undue glare and shadow casting. Pleasantness While your home office should be a space of focus and productivity, it doesn’t mean that it should be devoid of decor. Adding plants, for example, is an excellent way to improve the quality of your room’s air. Candles with sweet-smelling scents – such as citrus fruits – energise the senses, particularly early in the morning. Take your semi- makeover a step further by applying a fresh coat of paint on your home office’s walls with creativity-inducing hues like turquoise and peach. If bold or pastel colours aren’t your thing, stick to the fool-proof white to create a bright, airy atmosphere. PHOTO BY STIL ON UNSPLASH PHOTO BY AIMEN BEN AISSA ON UNSPLASH