As the modern workplace evolves, an increasing number of employees work from home at least once a week. This adds to the existing number of freelancers who already use their home as their workplace.

Government Data:

The latest ONS statistics from 2014 indicate that nearly 14% of the UK workforce falls into the "home worker" category. More than 4.2 million people have already  turned their home into an office and the figures are likely to grow quickly as more leading companies adopt this model, including Apple and Disney.

Surveys show that employees see a boost in productivity when they work from home thanks to time saved by avoiding the commute, decreased noise and distractions and optimal hour distribution.

The Set-Up:

The minimum requirements to work from home are a laptop and good internet connection. The shift from office-based to home-based is still new and ongoing, meaning that workers can find themselves unprepared when it comes to ensuring optimal working conditions. Some people work at their kitchen table, sofa and coffee table or breakfast bar. Sometimes the space, the seat or the table height is not adequate. Regardless of your available space and budget, there are some minimum conditions to observe when optimising your work environment:

Light: To prevent eye straining and fatigue ensure there is enough light in the room you choose to work from. Prefer sitting with a window next or behind you, alternatively, ensure there is enough artificial lighting. Prefer anti-glare monitors or screen filters. The recommended light intensity for a well lit office space is between 500-1000 lux.

Temperature: The ideal room temperature is between 16°C and 23°C. What temperature feels comfortable varies between men and women, however this range should suit both sexes.

Table height: The average table height in the UK is 71-76 cm and the average breakfast bar height is 89-93 cm. These measurements don't offer enough range to cater for the wide range in human height. Moreover, everyone's body proportions are different as some people may be have longer torsos or legs. The general rule is that the table top should be at the same level as your elbows and the chair armrests (if any.)

Seat: The seat you choose to seat on should be as high as to position your hips slightly above your knees; it should also allow enough space behind your knees to allow optimal blood flow in the legs.

Accessories: The accessories you choose to have on the table, such as a mouse, telephone, printer, should all be arranged according to the easy reach zone.

What's Next?

Each small adjustment can make a big difference in your long term wellbeing. Start by observing your home working environment: is there enough light? Perhaps the table or desk can be moved to a brighter area of the room. Are you slouching over your really low kitchen table? Or are your feet dangling because you're sitting at the breakfast bar? You could ask someone to take a photo of you while you're sat at your home office: this might reveal aspects of your posture or set-up that would otherwise go unnoticed to you.

If you don't have the amount of space or budget required to create a complete office set-up in your home, there are still some useful accessories that can help you improve your experience when you work from home and prevent future issues.

Our Recommendations

	Laptop stand: A laptop stand is an easy and economical solution to help bring the monitor height to eye level, preventing neck strain. Simply connect a mini keyboard and vertical mouse to turn your laptop into an ergonomic ally.
	Adjustable desk extension: If your table is too low or if you fancy trying the sit-stand experience, an L-e-vate or Varidesk might be just perfect for you. Adjust them in seconds, minimise them to a compact size and enjoy their versatility.
	Perching stool: If you agree with the Latin wisdom that “non amat veritas angulos; in medio stat” then you will agree that between sitting and standing perching must be the best. The Muvman offers a huge range of height adjustment and it collapses to a very compact size so that you can store it away when you don’t need it.
	Herman Miller Sayl: The Sayl chair is a good entry-level chair. Combining a whole range of adjustments with pleasing aesthetics, the Sayl is everyone’s favourite.

Conclusion:

In short, it's worth observing your current set-up if you work from home. Ask yourself if you feel good at the end of the day, or if you feel stiff and achy. There are hundreds of options and solutions on the market to suit any kind of space or budget.

Don't forget, if you need any help, we offer a free consultation and set-up in our showroom in Central London. Call us, email or use the chat box to discuss any products, deliveries and prices. Full contact details here.

Read More:
http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/20160105210705/http://www.ons.gov.uk/ons/rel/lmac/characteristics-of-home-workers/2014/sty-home-workers.html

https://www.inc.com/justin-bariso/ready-to-work-from-home-apple-and-disney-are-hirin.html

https://yougov.co.uk/news/2015/10/20/30-uk-office-workers-are-more-productive-when-work/