Working from home was always been something people joked about once upon a time, but secretly wanted to do at some point if only to test it out, right? I think the appeal came from being able to not worry about being caught in traffic or the nuances of the office meetings. Nonetheless it seems that in our current environment we have been steered toward embracing what could be “our new normal?”

In a time where most, not all aspects of our daily working lives are run from some sort of electronic devices it’s important that we’re able to adapt to a change in scenery where its permissible. At NHBB not only do we assist in the building process but more and more we are consulting on how best to design homes with home offices in mind. As we all know designing homes is an exciting time and even more so when we can decide how we choose to live in one. With more and more people working from home both part time and full time it’s necessary nowadays to be able to quickly adapt from an office to a “home office” in the blink of an eye.

If you are fortunate to be in a position of building or renovating and planning a long term strategy of working from home NHBB with its vast knowledge and builders on its books can happily assist in the design aspect as well come up with some ingenious ideas to make change one to look forward to.

Most homes now have a way of accessing the home office vibe without compromising too much however if you’re thinking about designing one or re-allocating one of your existing rooms there a few things to consider. Firstly, can we use it as a multipurpose room for the kids but when Mum and Dad need to work from home can it be transformed quickly and efficiently. Master bedrooms are another feature these days that can be used as a temporary office if you have the space with a small desk and the essentials without disrupting the rest of the house when you put the kids to bed. Nooks are also a great way of using up space in a home when most rooms are occupied but can still provide a small area for one to work in (laptop/monitor & possible overhead storage)

For some the idea of working from home can be daunting, and one of those things can be the noise factor. This is super important if you are one of those people that needs to have peace and quiet when working or alternatively you are one of the “fortunate” ones that can work no matter what’s around you. Also something else to consider is whether or not you will be seeing clients at home, and if that’s the case you may want to be away from the main house or possible relocate to a room near the entry of the home so that privacy can still be maintained. In the event that you may see clients you may want to seek out council advice on parking and the like so that you may not inadvertently upset your neighbours!

Technology is a key factor. Smart wiring these days goes hand in hand with pretty much having an automated home, but deciding on how much or how little automation one should have is one of the many questions NHBB can assist with. As more and more people start up their own businesses or alternatively tap into their works network now more than ever, there seems to be a push to have more access to tech. Having access to builders/designers and suppliers we’re able to guide clients on how best to maximise design in their dedicated home office space.

Tips on how to achieve the balance of happy & productive work environment :

• Find a spot just for you …one that has the essentials for you to work in (desk/chair /work light) and enough power points for all those phones, ipads and laptops etc
• Outside option: if your fortunate enough to be able to work outside do it! A great alfresco can also be the option …fresh air and vitamin d all in one!
• Staying active: that’s right! This means its ok to walk around stretch your legs and have a break from the computer screen, this can also be helpful in assisting productivity and concentration (and if you happen to do a load of laundry in between that’s all good too!)
• In an uncertain time, which we now find ourselves in, it’s important we stay connected no matter how we do it; phone/email or social media handles and that we collectively embrace an open mind to  change and what they may entail.  

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