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Want an ergonomic workstation that accommodates both thestanders and the sitters of the world? Try the Biomorph InteractiveDesk from Ground Support Equipment (U.S.) Ltd. in New YorkCity.
Two of the four models available, the Personal Desk and the ExoDesk (pictured below), have real home office appeal. These desksmodernize offices without compromising comfort or appearance. Evenbetter, the heights of both the monitor and keyboard levels areinstantly--and easily--adjustable. By providing overall comfort,Biomorph desks promise enhanced productivity for users.
Additional features include contoured lines and rounded corners,incorporated wire management, and uncomplicated integration ofcomputer hardware. For more information, call (212) 647-9595 orvisit http://www.biomorphdesk.com.Cost: starts at $695.
Color Me Creative
Feeling burned out and uncreative? Perhaps the culprit is oneyou least expect: the palette of colors surrounding your work area.Something as simple as the paint on your office walls can impactyour mood and senses--and your business.
"Unfortunately for almost everybody, we don't payattention to what color does for us," says Samuelle Easton, acolor psychologist in New York City. Easton points out thatalthough a single answer won't be right for all of us, certainproperties of color can be used as a guide.
"An appropriate color will make the environment much morecomfortable, ergonomically functional and productive," shesays. "If the colors are inappropriate, they can bedistracting and increase anxiety."
To discover the color that's best for you, consider yourlighting source and how it shifts throughout the day. For instance,you might not want to paint a dark color on the wall surrounding awindow, because the human eye has difficulty adjusting to extremecontrasts.
You don't have to be an artist to design a color-friendlyoffice. "I suggest people explore color and play withit," Easton says. "As long as you feel good, you'llbe productive and creative."
Made In The Shade
Although different colors convey different feelings to differentpeople, common perceptions include:
Red, orange, yellow: earthy, friendly, approachable,energetic
Blue-indigo: refined, authoritative, classic
Blue-green: more relaxing than the yellow-greens
Bright colors: enthusiastic, energetic
Muted colors: conservative, casual, demure
Light colors: friendly, casual, feminine
Dark colors: dramatic, masculine, authoritative
A Place Of Your Own
If an overloaded kitchen table constitutes your home office,it's probably time to start thinking about designating a formalarea in your home for your business. But because determining theprime location can be tough, we asked home office designer DanRidings, co-founder with Wendi Smith of Home Systems in Lafayette,California, for some suggestions.
"I think it's a very personal choice," Ridingssays. "You're talking about a person's home. It'sa home office, but first it's their home, and they want it tofeel right and look right."
With that in mind, consider your most probable options: a sparebedroom, a converted garage, the attic or perhaps even a portion ofa larger room. But before you narrow that list down further,consider the following, says Ridings:
- Do you see clients at home? If so, think about spaces withseparate entrances, such as the garage.
- How much money can you spend? For many, converting the attic orgarage into an office seems the ideal option, yet these spaces alsorequire larger budgets. If you consider theseareas,"You're going to spend some money on the remodeling,as well as the office equipment and lighting," Ridings says.Moving everything into a spare bedroom is a cheaper alternative yetstill affords a door for privacy.
- How much time do you spend in the office? If you're onlythere part-time, working in a far corner of the master bedroom orother area of the house will probably work for you. "If peopleare there from early morning until late at night," saysRidings, "they have to have a dedicated space that has someprivacy from the rest of the house."
- Are you easily distracted? Depending on your answer, eitherchoose a quiet spot in your home or a more open space. If you havethe house to yourself all day and like to work in privacy, considera self-contained workstation in the living room that folds upneatly when you're done.
Look, Ma! No Wires!
What do you get when you take a monitor, a hard drive, a modem,a printer, a telephone and a fax machine and put them all in oneoffice? A tangled mess of wires, of course.
To conceal the chaos, consider the Access 5000 Raceway from TheWiremold Company in West Hartford, Connecticut. It hides your wiresbeneath a snap-on cover that blends in to your existing decor.
The Raceway mounts to a variety of surfaces, including brick,concrete, drywall and plaster. If you want to make changes later,simply snap off the cover and rewire. And you can place yourequipment where you want--not just in front of predetermined walloutlets.
Sold nationwide through major electrical and communicationsdistributors, the Raceway starts at $5.50 per foot. Call(800) 621-0049 for more information.
The Home Stretch
Back pain, wrist discomfort, neck and shoulder problems--theseare just some of the physical stresses associated with poorlydesigned workstations. And since even mild cases can lead to severeafflictions, ensuring the proper setup is vital to the health ofboth you and your business. "Studies have shown people aremore productive when they have ergonomically appropriateoffices," says Tom Albin, manager of Ergonomics Services for3M Office Ergonomics in St. Paul, Minnesota.
It's usually inexpensive and easy to integrate ergonomicsinto the office. "People who work at home tend to work longhours," says Albin. It's vital, therefore, to find themost comfortable arrangement. Consider the following:
- Get up and stretch at least hourly, says Albin. Also, vary yourpositions--try reclining or standing in addition to sitting upstraight. When typing, sit with your shoulders relaxed and yourelbows hanging loose at your sides.
- Purchase the right chair. Features to look for include: afive-pronged stand, adjustable seat and height, lumbar support, andadjustable arm wrests.
- Make sure you have enough room to pull up to your desk and workcomfortably. "You can get into all kinds of trouble if youdon't have leg and knee clearance under the workstation,"warns Albin.
- Minimize eye strain by focusing on distant objects every fewminutes.
- When using the keyboard, align the tops of your knuckles withthe tops of your forearms. Improper positioning, such as bendingyour wrist while typing, can lead to carpal tunnel syndrome.
- Reduce glare. Lower the overhead lighting in your office whenusing the computer, and use a desk lamp if you need additionallight while reading.
- Adjust the monitor height so it's at or below eye level.View the screen at no closer than 20 inches.
Contact Sources
Home Systems, (510) 283-6638,homesystems@worldnet.att.net
The Wiremold Company, http://www.wiremold.com
