Make work from home less stressful

Invest in the right chair and install soundproofing material on the walls of your home office

Have you been working out of your living room sitting on a sofa or dining chair? Don’t continue with such an arrangement for too long as it could have an adverse impact on your spine. With work-from-home (WFH) likely to continue for several more months, it is time to create a proper workspace.

Many people have started investing in a workspace that is efficient and stylish. Says Shiraz Ibrahim, managing director (MD), Transteel Seating Technologies: “Our customers range from millennials who are just starting out in their careers, who spend about ~4,000 per purchase, to employees of Google who spend ~25,000 or more using their WFH allowance.”

Pepperfry, a furniture company, has witnessed a similar trend. Says Hussaine Kesury, chief category officer (CCO), Pepperfry: “The spends have moved up by 20-25 per cent towards better quality products.” Their average selling price for a study table has risen from ~8,500 to ~9,500-10,000, while for chairs it has moved up from ~6,500 to ~7,000-7,500.

Initially, people started using any random chair they had at home, but that proved painful. Says Rahul Bhatt, managing director (MD), Cherry Hill Interiors: “The ergonomics of the chair has to be correct. It must give you enough lumbar support and must have a hand rest and armrest, a sturdy back, and a castor to move around.”

What’s trending

Furniture retailers are inundated with queries for tables that have no sharp edges and come with storage space, writing surfaces, and a strong metal under-structure that can take heavy loads. As for chairs, people like ones with adjustable lumbar, headrest and arms, and a high-tensile mesh on the backrest.

Setting up a home office

The question often asked is where to set up the office space. The ideal situation is to have a separate room. “If not, then opt for a corner of the living room,” says

Sonal Tayal, head of design and sales operations, Livspace. She adds: “Having a workstation in the bedroom and being able to pull your laptop first thing when you wake up in the morning is not healthy. Your workspace should be outside your bedroom so that you have a chance to spend some time on yourself in the mornings.”

If you have a dedicated study room, then first declutter it and reorganise your existing furniture. Lighting plays a key role in determining the user’s level of energy and focus. Says Vishal Singh, MD, Vizion Lighting: “Invest in both task and ambient lighting. Play around with warm and cool lighting to figure out what works best for you.” Install a system that allows you to adjust the intensity of lights.

Mute the noise

A big challenge of WFH is insulating yourself from noise. Says Cherry Hill’s Bhatt: “Hard floors, walls, ceiling and glass windows are reflective surfaces that cause echoing. What you need in an office is soft surfaces. At least one wall should be made of acoustic-friendly material, the kind used to create home theatre walls.” Fabric blinds, thick curtains, acoustic felts installed on the walls and ceiling, and sound-absorbing mats and tiles can help. Says Alok Hada, director, Anusha Technovision: “Acoustic wall panels and noise insulators are available that absorb or diffuse sound.”

Enlist the best in technology

Currently people are mostly connecting with their colleagues, clients and team members via phone, video conferencing, messaging and social media. Until recently, people were buying projectors. But Bhatt says: “Nowadays, projectors have become old school. What you now have are interactive screens of 35-40 inches, with touchscreens, which are made by the likes of Samsung and Apple.”

Finally, that place called home is now doubling up as your office. Redesign it such that it inspires you to give your best.