#therdaway: wfh desk set-up
- EDITION #2 -
I would have never predicted the craziness that 2020 has brought upon us yet here we are… 7 months in and no end in sight. For many of you reading this right now, working from home is the new normal. Yes, it has its perks, but no one planned to be working from their bed, sharing a cluttered office with a family member, or having a stack of laundry as their background for zoom meetings.
I do want to stress the fact that it is important that we stay safe, healthy, and take the precautions necessary to get through this together. If we’re going to be working from home for the foreseeable future it’s important to have a workspace that is enjoyable. With that being said, I want to give you the inside scoop on curating your perfect desk set-up in three easy steps!
#1: HOME BASE
Sometimes choosing the right desk can be a painful process because there are so many options; your desk can be a new mid-century modern purchase from West Elm, a vintage hand-me-down, or even a simple Ikea tabletop. Regardless of budget, I am here to tell you that with a simple slap of paint and some aesthetically pleasing decor, you can make any desk your home base as long as it cultivates productivity.
Ergonomics has become the biggest fad of the century, and if you asked me how important it was, I would say it is crucial! I always recommend your workspace be a minimum of 50” x 24” so that you have a large enough workspace to spread out, but also to decorate. In terms of desk height, it can range from 24” to 30” on average. A rule of thumb is to add one-inch of desk with every three addition to employee height - i.e. someone who is 5’2”, go with a height of 24”, while someone who is 6’, go with a height of 27”.
If you can’t find the perfect size, there are other factors like adjustable chairs, laptop risers, etc. that play a role as well. If you want a breakdown of the perfect size for you, feel free to comment down below or contact me and I will be happy to help!
#2: LIGHTING
I believe lighting is one of the important factors in interior design because it can change a look of a room instantaneously. A good light source will take you far in achieving productivity and preventing eye strain from constant exposure to blue light from your screens.
I suggest making daylight your best friend. From experience, I have realized that when it comes to an office space or educational environment it is hands down, my go-to. It is important that you have multiple sources on and around your desk, whether it be from a window, desk lamp, pendant, and/or task light.
#3: THE ART OF DECOR
Now to the fun part! Your workspace should evoke inspiration and ultimately make you want to sit down, be creative and efficient.
Who said stationery can’t be both aesthetically pleasing and practical? Organize your workspace in your own way by getting your hands on some chic stationery and playing around with different styles and elements. I chose to incorporate a sleek concrete bowl as my catchall tray and a petite vintage sage vase as a pencil holder — always put a little bit of you in the decor.
When it comes to having a healthy workplace, you always need a piece of stimulating art. This can be in the form of a canvas or gallery wall, a mini sculpture, photography, or even an inspirational quote. At the end of the day when you sit down at your desk, you want to make sure you are setting yourself up for success and getting those creative juices flowing.
Tip: Layer your art. Print out photos in B&W of people in your life you look up to and place them on your desk. Hang an art piece or your favorite quote on the wall in front of you. If you choose to do a gallery wall, minimize any distractions by only including a select few of your favorite art pieces. Want to go an extra step? Include stimulating colors like blue and green or even add florals & desk plants (my current obsession - dried eucalyptus)! Last but not least, a candle or incense! The perfect scent can help you work more efficiently and add a warm glow to your workspace.
I am confident that you will be able to curate the perfect work from home desk set-up following my three easy steps. If you would like specific recommendations go ahead and comment down below or contact us! If you spruced up your WFH space after reading this, we want to see your desk set up! Please share on Instagram and tag @therdastudio and use the hashtag #theRDAway.
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Stay Creative,
P.S. (The Design Diaries will be my place where I unwind every week to talk to you guys about what is going on in my life plus anything you guys want to personally hear about... so please leave in the comments below if there is a special topic you want me to touch base on, as well as, feedback so I can curate my posts based on what you want to read!)
It’s spooky season…