Workspace Oasis in Open Living

Who else is working from home these days, either part- or full-time? Following the COVID-19 pandemic, numerous offices and companies have shifted to hybrid work schedules on a permanent basis, allowing their employees to work from home on designated days of the work week. In addition, the freelance and remote work options are increasing, and more folks are shifting to these modalities for increased flexibility and location freedom. While there are numerous benefits and perks for working from home, there are also a handful of challenges. In particular, some of the most common challenges include distractions from other household members, pets, or children, or other general distractions such as household chores, cooking, and cleaning. These distractions can be amplified if your home workspace is located in a multipurpose room such as an open living area.

As someone who works from home, I know firsthand the challenges of creating a functional and focused workspace in a multipurpose living area. My own home office is situated in a cozy but open-concept space that also connects with the kitchen, the entrance to the outdoor deck, an open exercise/yoga area, and a sitting area near a wood stove fireplace. While I love the versatility of this space, it can be difficult to mentally separate my workspace from the other activities that take place here. I’ve found that even when I’m sitting at my desk, my mind can wander to the kitchen where I need to prep dinner, or to the deck where I want to enjoy a break with a cup of tea. It’s a common problem for those of us who work from home, but it’s not impossible to solve. In this blog post, we’ll explore some simple design features that can help you create mental separation in your home office, even when it’s part of a multipurpose living space. By incorporating a few strategic elements, you can carve out a functional and focused work area that allows you to be productive and successful in your work, while still enjoying the benefits of an open and inviting living space.

The biggest hurdle for a workspace in most multipurpose rooms is the combination of visual and acoustic noise. Both forms of noise can be major distractions and impact your ability to focus and be productive. Having the flexibility to adapt your workspace with some type of physical divider that isolates your visual and acoustic environment will be the most effective strategy. My favorite option for this is the traditional shoji screen! The traditional shoji screen is a lightweight folding screen made of a wood frame and translucent rice paper. It can be easily transported and stored, so for a multipurpose space it is a great addition when you need temporary privacy in your work zone.

There are numerous variations of the traditional shoji, which you can find through different furniture stores and online. Some have intricate designs of painted screens and patterns, while some are more basic. I also love the idea of getting a basic shoji screen and then doing a little DIY adaptation to make it customized. You could paint a pattern onto the screen that accompanies your décor or highlights your brand identity, and it can work well as a background for video calls giving you visual privacy. You can also add acoustic panels that are like felt fabrics, which can be cut to size to fit the panellized units of the shoji screen. This will bring you better acoustics and sound isolation even while you are in a multipurpose space with other household members.

You can also create more visual and acoustic separation for your workspace with a combination of bookshelves and plants. If you have a low bookshelf or other horizontal storage cabinet, you can situate a series of vertical growth potted plants along the top shelf for more visual separation. Incorporating soft fabrics such as throw rugs throughout the multipurpose space will help dampen the overall acoustic noise and reverberations. Throw rugs will also create a nice spatial zoning indicator throughout a room with many functions. I have a larger throw rug in the open area near my workspace where I do exercise and yoga sessions with the addition of the yoga mat during those times of use. Of course placing an area rug underneath your workspace is also helpful for the acoustics and to visually designate a unique zone within the larger room. Try to be conscientious of a cohesive color and material palette between your larger home space and the workspace so that there is an overall legible design aesthetic.

Specialized lighting can also help create the right environment for your workspace in a larger room. Most likely you will want to integrate some task lighting at your work desk, which can be a desk lamp or a floor lamp that may have some movement for positioning options. Ideally you have some access to natural daylight at or near your desk as this will be the best for your health and well-being. Finding the right zone for your workspace within a larger multi-purpose room or living area can take some careful thought. Be sure to consider the quality of natural light for your workspace in addition to its potential for semi-privacy control. Furniture placement throughout the larger room will begin to dictate how the spaces are used as well as the circulation through the room. You want to find a spot for your desk that does not have a circulation path next to it if possible. Minimizing the circulation around your workspace can help to limit the distractions from other household members while you are working.

In conclusion, creating a functional and comfortable workspace within an open living room or multipurpose room requires careful consideration of visual and environmental distinction. By implementing a few small strategies, you can create a productive and inviting workspace that complements the rest of your living area. Remember to experiment and find what works best for your unique needs and work style. As someone who has successfully navigated this challenge, I can attest that it’s possible to create a harmonious and functional workspace that blends seamlessly with the rest of the home. I still have a few additions that I will be making to my home workspace in the open living room, including the shoji screen and some plants so stay tuned for my updates on those design elements! With a little creativity and planning, you can achieve a proper balance between work and personal life, even in a small but open living space. With the right approach, you can turn your multipurpose space into a beautiful haven that supports your productivity, focus, creativity, and overall well-being. Grab you free copy of the Healthy Home Workspace 5-step Guide, delivered right to your inbox, for additional insights and knowledge for healthy home and workspace design.

If you are interested in optimizing the design of your home workspace, reach out to AIDA, LLC today for a consultation. You can always find more information and healthy home resources at Aletheia Ida Design and Architecture, LLC (AIDA, LLC) at www.aletheiaida.com.