17 Jan Remote Office Makeover
In March 2020, like many of you, I returned home from my day job with the news that home would be my new remote office. We didn’t know how long we’d be away from the office but we certainly never guessed that three years later … we’d still be here.
During that time, we proved that remote work is not only possible, but for many teams, more productive. We found improved work-life balance, stronger inclusivity, enhanced opportunities, less of a commute, collaboration that spanned beyond physical location, cost savings, and so much more.
Fortunately, I already had a dedicated home o!ce given the work I do outside my 9 to 5 so the transition wasn’t di!cult. However, I know many others had to resort to kitchen tables and make shift work locations to make this transition work. Having a dedicated space helped me concentrate, feel inspired, stay organized, and increase my productivity with few distractions. But two years into working remote, I began hating the four walls I stared at on a daily basis. Spending easily 10 hours a day in my office, between my day job and outside projects, the space began to feel uninspiring.
However, that wasn’t my only challenge.
Having a functional space also lends itself to a healthy work set-up. While I tried to incorporate some ergonomics into my home o!ce – an ergonomic chair for my back (combatting my scoliosis) and a stand for my tablet to elevate my neck – these changes were not enough when it came to getting diagnosed with carpal tunnel.
Carpal tunnel syndrome is a common condition that causes numbness, tingling, and pain in the hand and forearm. The condition occurs when one of the major nerves to the hand — the median nerve — is squeezed or compressed as it travels through the wrist. In most patients, carpal tunnel syndrome gets worse over time. If untreated for too long, it can lead to permanent dysfunction of the hand, including loss of sensation in the fingers and weakness.
In May 2022, this very numbness, tingling and pain emerged and made working from home a little more uncomfortable. I upgraded to an ergonomic mouse to try to find some relief but one of the biggest culprits in the matter was actually my desk. The height of my desk was not ideal to my height so the elevation of my arm to the desk was off, adding to my pain. While I tried to adjust my chair, the space under the desk would then hit against my knees.
While giving my home office a makeover had been on my mind for quite some time, what really motivated me to finally get it done was the shift it needed to be a more ergonomic space.
Ergonomics is important because when you’re doing a job and your body is stressed by an awkward posture, extreme temperature, or repeated movement your musculoskeletal system is affected. Your body may begin to have symptoms such as fatigue, discomfort, and pain.
And so, I set off to envision the space that aesthetically would re-inspire me and ergonomically would create relief for my hands and back. I knew the most importance purchase for my new space would need to be a new desk, one where I could adjust the height. The rest of my to do list was really lipstick on a pig – the cosmetic changes like the paint, flooring, backdrop and decor.
I started the hunt for my new desk on Twitter, where my community began to share their recommendations. Quality, cost and shipping were all important factors. Time and time again, people recommended EffyDesk – a Canadian ergonomic office brand – as a great option. I began researching their website more closely and ended up choosing the business desk with the acacia tabletop, size 59” x 29”, with the black frame and adjustable gas spring dual monitor desk mounts in black. I wanted durability so finding a solid wood top was also important to me but so too was supporting a Canadian brand. It was a win-win.
Meanwhile, my husband and I began to pick out paint, coordinate the hardwood installation, and refinish my old bookcases to match our new colour palette. Fortunately, my husband is handy and we were able to do a lot of the work ourselves.
Here’s how the Renovation went:
We started by ripping out the carpet and replacing it with hardwood. We then painted the main walls and added a wood panel backdrop that we painted in a bold accent colour. Behind the scenes, I painted my old Ikea billy bookcases, and decided to unite all three with a wood top. We then installed some additional shelves onto our backdrop, and then began to move things into the o!ce. We added a rug centre to the room for added warmth, where we set up on my new EffyDesk. I also added a reading nook with a small chair and side table in the corner of the room for the days I wanted a break from my screens. It was then all about the finishing touches like curtains, art, florals and bringing in all the other little details that helped personalize the space.
The Finished Product
The finished project has resulted in a new space that ergonomically is helping to address physical strains but also a space that is now inviting for both productivity and creativity. While now many think my o!ce is a saved Google background when participating in meetings, I always enjoy pleasantly surprising them that in fact it’s my home office.
And though many of us are now transitioning to hybrid work, with both days in-office and remote, it makes a world of difference knowing I have a space that meets my needs on days I’m working at home.
A few of my favourite details
Paint Colours
Walls – Snowbound
Backdrop – Irone ore
Pre-made panels – Lowes Bookshelves – Limousine leather
Furniture
Desk and monitor arms – EffyDesk Bookshelves (repurposed) – Ikea Floating shelves – Lowes
Accent chair – Home Sense
Side table – Bed Bath and Beyond
Decor
Rug – Ruggable
Frames and curtains – Home Sense Art – Olive and Oak
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