by Skylar Ross
The year 2020 saw the home office transform from a type of “bonus” room in some homes to an absolute essential space in modern residences. Therefore, designing home offices that are conducive to productivity is a focal point in many contemporary renovation projects. As balancing the functional requirements of an office space with society’s increasing demands for sustainable practices can sometimes be a challenging task, consider some of the following eco-friendly home office design trends that will help improve professional productivity while working remotely.
Creative Flooring
Modern office design is all about creating an environment that inspires positivity and fosters creativity. As such, when designing your home office for 2021, choose the colors and patterns that get you in the mood to come to work.
A great way to capitalize on this trend is by using innovative FLOR carpet tiles to give your office character. By using patterned carpet tiles in conjunction with adhesive FLOR dots to hold the tiles in place, there is no end to the creative ways you can line your office floor.
Made from ECONYL® regenerated nylon that is fabricated from waste products and not raw oil, FLOR carpet tiles can make a significant impact on your work ambiance while making no impact on the environment.
Dynamic Office Chairs
As an ergonomically-designed chair is vital in being able to put in an outstanding day’s work, an increasingly popular product in home offices is the Noho move chair. Fabricated to ensure maximum flexibility, strength, and durability, the Noho move chair fundamentally improves the well-being of office workers by supporting them in the many dynamic postures in which they will find themselves throughout the workday.
Made from the same ECONYL® regenerated nylon as FLOR carpet tiles, the Noho move chair was recently an honoree finalist for the BOY Awards by Interior design, in the environmental impact category.
Pocket Doors
Pocket doors are a great idea for home offices because space is often at a premium. Basic hinge doors that swing into the office take up valuable square footage that could be used for guest chairs or a filing cabinet.
While any type of pocket door that slides into the wall is a solid idea for a home office, vinyl sliding glass doors have the added benefit of allowing you to see what is going on in other areas of the home–an important consideration for working parents. The glass face also allows light to flow into the office from other areas of the home, helping to reduce the need for electric light during the workday.
Prominent Windows
Sticking with the theme of light flow, it is important that the home office have a prominent window. Not only does sunlight help you save on electricity, but there are studies that show professionals perform better in spaces lit by natural as opposed to artificial light.
When installing a prominent office window, look into white shiplap wall ideas to maximize efficiency. Not only will the white better reflect light to create a bright environment, but the textured shiplap can make the office feel more spacious, as well.
Sound Insulation
Insulation is one of the key features of creating a sustainable home, as it limits the amount of resources you will need to use to make up for eventual inadequacies. In addition to the air and moisture insulation that is present in all areas of the house, sound insulation is a vital component of the home office, as it is important to keep the bustle of daily home life from interfering with important Zoom meetings. Rather than investing in expensive soundproofing measures, some innovative acoustic ceiling tiles can be installed, thoroughly sound-insulating the home office for a fraction of the resources of a full-scale office makeover.
Conclusion
The rapid shift to remote work has made the home office an essential element of modern homes. However, not all home offices are designed to ensure optimal productivity. By considering the innovative design trends listed above, you can create a highly productive work environment in a sustainable manner.
Skylar Ross is a contributor to the Innovative Materials blog. He is a content writer for the construction and home improvement industries with an interest in landscaping, outdoor remodeling, and interior design. Skylar is focused on educating homeowners, contractors, and architects on innovative materials and methods of construction that increase property value, improve sustainability, and create a warm and welcoming ambiance.