Nowadays, for individuals or businesses, the workplace is always considered an important space and worth investing in. However, not everyone knows how to create an optimal working environment to increase productivity. productivity, ensuring physical and mental health. Therefore, in this article, Epione will share its knowledge and experience to help you design a truly optimal working space. You can easily apply these tips when arranging your company office or home office.
Benefits of having a focused and convenient workspace
What do you get when you invest in designing a truly focused and convenient workspace? - This is probably the question of many individuals when starting to do something.
One specific study on the benefits of designing a focused and ergonomic workspace is “The Impact of Workplace Design on Employee Performance and Health” by authors Tania de Koning, Josette Homan van der Heide, and Henk WM Korteling, published in the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health in December 2020.
This study surveyed 198 employees at a company in the Netherlands and assessed the impact of workspace design on employee performance and health. The results showed that creating a focused and ergonomic workspace had the following benefits:
1. Increase productivity
Designing focused and ergonomic workspaces has a positive impact on employee productivity. People working in better designed environments can get more done in less time than those working in less optimized environments.
2. Reduce stress
Designing a focused and ergonomic workspace also helps reduce employee stress. People who work in better designed environments are less likely to experience stressors and may feel more comfortable while working.
In fact, if the workspace is optimized, you and your colleagues can easily exchange work and connect more at the office. From there, some of the stress or barriers at work will be broken down.
An optimal working area will help employees reduce work pressure and strengthen teamwork.
3. Increase concentration
Designing a focused and ergonomic workspace has also had a positive impact on employees’ ability to concentrate. People who work in better designed environments are able to focus on their work more effectively.
Because if the office furniture brings comfort, the office supplies are complete and convenient, employees can focus more on their work without being distracted by other factors.
4. Enhance creativity
Designing a focused and ergonomic workspace can also boost employee creativity. People who work in better designed environments are more likely to come up with new and innovative ideas.
In addition, based on experience in ergonomic products for working environments, Epione realizes that a good working space can bring positive values to both physical and mental health. For example: When having to work continuously under a computer screen, a Monitor Arm will help you easily adjust the screen distance appropriately. Thereby minimizing eye strain, hunching, neck strain... causing body aches. It is from these physical pains that you will quickly want to leave your desk. Most of the time, you will feel mentally tired every time you sit at your desk.
Therefore, designing a truly optimal working space that creates concentration for the brain and is convenient for work is extremely necessary.
3 basic notes when setting up a workspace
Depending on the needs, personal preferences or economic conditions, each individual or business will choose different ways to set up a workspace. However, the common point is that we all want to have a truly comfortable space, bringing high concentration when working. The 3 basic notes when designing a workspace below will hopefully help you "untangle" when constructing as well as arranging your workspace:
1. Choose tables and chairs
Choosing the right desk and chair is very important to ensure comfort and efficiency at work. Depending on the human body, each country in the world will have its own recommended standards for the sizes of desks and chairs.
Desks and chairs are the most basic pieces of furniture that need to be invested in.
Regarding desk height: In North America, the standard height for a desk is 29 inches (73.66 cm) but there is no standard for office chairs. In the UK, the recommended height for a desk is 28 - 30 inches (71.2 - 76.2 cm). However, the height of each person is different. If the desk height is not suitable, it will lead to discomfort for the neck, shoulders, back and other accompanying diseases. Therefore, the type of lifting desk is an optimal solution to this problem.
About the width of the table: Depending on the needs of use, the nature of the work or preferences, there are different sizes of table width. However, the common point is that there must be enough space to store things and be comfortable for the arms. Normally, the size of a desk is usually around 120x60cm. However, you can "increase or decrease" this size depending on your needs because there are currently many types of tables with different sizes.
** A small tip to help you optimize your desk: Use a Monitor Arm to make your computer more tidy and flexible; equip additional cabinets/shelves to store documents...
Regarding chair dimensions: Similarly, there is no set standard for the width of an office chair. You can refer to the recommended size in the UK, which is 18 inches (45.72 cm) high; in the US, the height of the chair is 16 - 20 inches (40.64 - 50.8 cm), the width is 19 - 21 inches (48.26 - 53.34 cm) and the depth is 15 - 19 inches (38.1 - 48.26 cm). In addition, if the chair has a backrest and headrest, it will help the user to maintain balance and sit more comfortably. And as mentioned, each person's physical condition is different, so the above dimensions are for reference only. Currently, there are many types of office chairs on the market with different structures, evaluation criteria, prices, etc.
In addition, you can equip your desk and chair with additional accessories to make them more comfortable. DeskPad, footrest, chair cushions, etc. are useful accessories that are receiving a lot of attention from office workers.
2. Workspace color
The color scheme of your workspace needs to be carefully considered as it can impact your experience at work. Here are some tips on how to optimize your workspace color scheme:
About color: When you want to create a spacious and airy feeling for the working space, colors such as white, light gray, light yellow, beige... are the top choices. If you want to create a cozy, professional and somewhat mysterious space, dark colors such as black, brown, dark blue... will be a choice worth considering.
Contrasting color combinations: When designing a workspace, you can combine contrasting colors to create highlights and make the space more lively. For example, combine white with black, or blue with yellow or black. You can flexibly combine based on your favorite colors, feng shui colors or brand colors.
The desk with black and blue tones is loved and chosen by many young people.
In short, when designing colors for your workspace, you need to “list out” your priorities. For example: Do you prioritize choosing colors based on feng shui or your preferences? Do you want to create a feeling of openness and spaciousness or a cozy, private feeling for your work area?
3. Arrange working direction
Regarding the issue of work direction, there will be many different opinions and debates. Some people will choose work direction based on spirituality and feng shui, but some people will prioritize choosing work direction based on science. Below are some suggestions from Epione to help you arrange work direction from the perspective of feng shui and science:
From a feng shui perspective, the direction of the desk to the East - West - South - North will depend on your destiny and age. However, there are some "general formulas" for you to easily apply such as: it should face the door, the back of the desk should have a support, avoid being near the toilet or unclean places...
In addition, you can use feng shui items such as agate or metal to create a barrier to absorb bad energy.
From a scientific perspective, the position of the working chair should be placed so that the user has a wide view. The distance between the desk and the chair should be kept between 60-75 cm to create comfort for the user. In addition, you should choose a desk and chair with a size and height suitable for the body to create a comfortable feeling when sitting at work. You should use lighting with appropriate brightness and direction to avoid eye strain and affect health.
Some tips to help you set up your workplace with limited space and budget
If you have limited space and budget but still want to set up your own convenient and highly focused working area, don't worry, Epione will "whisper" to you some great tips.
1. Find the right space
If you don’t have a dedicated office, you can find a small corner in your home or a multi-purpose room to put your desk in. If you don’t have enough space, you can consider using a basic desk, a folding desk, or a portable desk for more flexibility in storing away when not in use.
2. Choose the right furniture
You should choose furniture that is compact and suitable for your space. If you want to save money, you can look for cheap products but still good quality within the price range. However, if your budget is too limited, you can consider buying used furniture.
3. Use appropriate colors and lighting
Use light colors from the space to the accessories on the desk. A basic white or black desk is a suggestion worth considering. At the same time, natural light is needed to create a comfortable and refreshing feeling. You should also use suitable lighting to enhance the light and create concentration.
A well-lit room is fundamental to setting up an optimal workspace.
4. Arrange your desk properly
You should arrange your desk so that it is convenient and comfortable for working. You should also arrange your items and documents neatly to increase your working efficiency. You can equip an additional compact cabinet like the Epione KeeperBox to “extend” your storage space.
5. Create a little highlight for the space
Add small and lovely details to create a friendly and fun working space. You can add some green plants, pictures or decorations to make your space more lively and vibrant.
Green plants can help absorb radiation from computers, minimizing the harmful effects of this work tool on health. At the same time, it brings a pleasant feeling to the workplace.
In short, whether your budget is big or small, whether you work in the office or at home, a truly optimal workspace for concentration and convenience is essential. Hopefully, the knowledge and experience shared by Epione in this article will help you have more information and ideas to design a suitable workspace.
