Tips for designing and furnishing the perfect home office

In order for your home office to become a truly pleasant and usable work space, it is important that it is carefully designed and furnished. The keywords in this context are ergonomics, light, silence and maximum comfort. Everything must be designed to perfection so that you can concentrate on your tasks without any worries.
Here are some tips for translating all this into the ideal home office in the case of a case.

1. Choose the right location in your home
   The first step towards creating the perfect home office is to identify the most suitable area for the purpose. If the volume of the house and the owners’ needs allow it, you can decide to dedicate an entire room to the study during the design or renovation phase (read also: 10 ideas for renovating a modern home) . If this is not possible, even a corner of the living room, hallway or groove can become an effective space if well organised.
   In these cases, regardless of the amount of space available, it would be ideal to choose areas near a window so you can take advantage of natural light. It is also important to be as far away as possible from sources of disturbance, such as the TV, the kitchen or any children’s play areas. Finally, if available, it is a good idea to make use of niches, obtained for example from walls or libraries, so that you can isolate yourself visually from the rest of the house.
2. Delimit the space with partition walls
   Sometimes, there is no extra room available in the house for a home office; however, there are spaces where a separate study could be created, for example, in case of large recesses created by the arrangement of the walls, or large rooms that could be divided. In these cases, you can create a well-defined study area using partition walls.
   Partition walls are ideal because, even without the need for building work, they can visually and acoustically separate the space, creating the right concentration needed when studying or working.
   METRA Building partition walls are made of aluminium and glass: modular and reconfigurable, they are also perfect for small spaces. The glass can be chosen transparent or opaque: in the first case, it allows light from external rooms to pass through, while in the second case, it guarantees maximum privacy. Finally, aluminium is a lightweight and flexible yet resistant material that can adapt to different styles and add aesthetic value to the home. It is also extremely easy and practical to clean and requires no maintenance.
3. Enhancing natural light
   Light is one of the most important things when designing a home study. Whether you’re working on a computer or doing detailed manual work, having a good light source is essential for ensuring good visibility, reducing eye strain and, indirectly, improving posture.
   If possible, the best lighting source is undoubtedly sunlight; for this reason, it is really important to position your desk near a window. If you are designing your home or planning to replace your windows and doors, a smart move is to choose aluminium windows and doors: thanks to its mechanical strength, this material is perfect for supporting large glass surfaces with very thin profiles in the frame.
   This will result in greater natural light transmission.
4. Manage lighting intelligently
   If there is not enough light coming in from external, or during the darkest hours of the day (especially in winter) artificial lighting is just as important. However, in order for it to be a real ally when working from home, it must be carefully chosen.
   On your desk or nearby, it is advisable to choose a table or floor lamp with warm, powerful light that can be easily adjusted in direction and intensity.
   When designing or renovating, it is also essential to pay some attention to shading systems, such as shutters and blinds or even technical threads or sunblades. It is advisable to choose blackout systems that can be adjusted and regulated so that you can always modulate the amount of natural light entering the room according to the time of day and your needs.
5. Ensure adequate thermal insulation and soundproofing
   To promote concentration and productivity without stress, it is essential that your home study is an extremely comfortable space in which to work.
   In addition to the right light modulation, the comfort of your home office is mainly ensured by two factors: silence and an ideal temperature.
   In this case, windows come into play again, as they must be high-performance to ensure adequate thermal insulation and soundproofing. When studying or working at home, the last thing you want is to be disturbed by noise or draughts from external.
   There are various ways to address this issue, such as inserting insulating materials into partition walls, installing sound-absorbing panels, or even simply using carpets and curtains. When it comes to replacing windows and doors, the advice is undoubtedly to install thermal break aluminium frames.
   In fact, the thermal break (the insertion of highly insulating noble gases inside the window frame) ensures that the ideal microclimate is always maintained in the study. This is because the window completely insulates the house from the external, preventing loss of heat and, consequently, improving efficient energy use. The result will be a study that is always warm in winter and cool in summer.
   High-quality aluminium windows also guarantee impeccable soundproofing, displaying external noise even when your home office overlooks city centres or busy roads. To maximise both thermal insulation and soundproofing, it is important to choose glass that is suitable for the context, but also to rely on professionals who can guarantee proper installation (installation of windows and doors) to prevent the formation of condensation and mould over time. METRA Building, for example, guarantees the best installation of windows and doors by relying on PosaClima, the most effective and appreciated installation technique in Italy.
6. Invest in quality ergonomic furniture
   Another important point to consider when setting up a home study is undoubtedly the furniture, which must be both functional and aesthetically pleasing. The main purpose of study furniture is to help maintain physical and, consequently, mental order.
   The first pitch to make is to choose, if desired, the type of architectural style you want to draw inspiration from when furnishing your home study. You can follow the same line as the rest of the house, or change the style completely to create a contrast with the rest of the home. To help you choose, it may be useful to read more about modern style, minimalist style, classic-modern style, industrial style, Nordic style or Japandi style.

   Some tips for the home office

   • choose a desk of the right height, which allows you to work at the computer without straining your forearms;
   • you can also opt for a height-adjustable desk, which can be useful for working standing up. The so-called standing desk offers an alternative to traditional sitting work: it improves posture, blood circulation, metabolism and concentration;
   • when working seated, the desk chair is one of the most important choices you will have to make. It should have a comfortable seat and a reinforced but flexible backrest. It should be ergonomic and adjustable so that it can be adjusted to suit your needs;
   • depending on the type of work you do and the number of materials and tools you have, it is essential to furnish your home office with various types of storage units. You can opt for wall-mounted or floor-standing storage units, shelves of different dimension, drawers…;
   • on the wall, a ‘notepad space’ can be useful, whether it is a whiteboard or a corkboard on which to pin various types of paper with pins. This space is useful for keeping any work notes in view without cluttering your desk with papers and notepads;
   • in general, your home study should be painted in neutral, relaxing colours that promote concentration. Light colours such as white, beige and dove grey are recommended in this case, but blue – if not too bright – can also have a calming effect. Finally, it is important to equip your home study with convenient electrical sockets so that you can load all your work devices in a convenient and practical way.
7. Customise your home office to suit your style
   While the previous point focused on furniture that is primarily functional for effective work, it is also important that your home study is a pleasant place to work, perhaps reflecting the personality and tastes of those who use it every day.
   While the main furniture (desk, chair, storage units) should be functional, you can indulge yourself with the aesthetics of the accessories. For example, you can hang photographs of loved ones or places you have visited around the world on the walls, as well as a motivational square spindle or an inspiring print.
   You can also install small libraries or shelves to display books, perhaps related to your profession, which are always a popular feature in home offices. You can then choose useful items, such as diaries, bedside lamps or pen holders, which also have an aesthetic function. Finally, it is advisable to add a finishing touch to the interior design of your home office with one or more green plants: they purify the air, promote concentration and improve mood.

Why choose METRA Building products for your home office

As we have seen in various dimensions of this article, the right windows contribute greatly to creating a practical, functional and effective home office. If you are looking for functionality combined with long-term well-being, METRA Building products are the best solution for creating the ideal study and work environment.
In particular:

• METRA Building thermal break aluminium window and door frames guarantee the highest efficiency in terms of both soundproofing and thermal insulation. They are attractive, durable (much more so than wooden or PVC frames) and extremely resistant to atmospheric agents and weather conditions. Finally, they provide extra security in the unfortunate case of an attempted break-in and, if chosen with a bottom hung opening, allow adequate ventilation of the study, resulting in a reduction in indoor pollution.
• METRA Building shading systems can be coordinated with windows and ensure complete control of light and the internal microclimate. The result is a home study that is always pleasant in terms of temperature and where the light can always be adjusted to suit your needs. METRA Building shading systems can also be combined with your home automation system for a truly practical and functional home.
• METRA Building partition walls are lightweight, modular and customisable in terms of finishing, glass and accessories.
• METRA Building internal doors are made of aluminium, easy to clean9 with refined appearance. Sliding internal doors10 are available, including pocket doors, for a more essential design and greater space savings.

All METRA Building products can be customised to suit your needs and fit perfectly into any room in the home, including the home office. In the case of windows and doors and shading systems, there is no risk of the colours and finishing chosen fading or deteriorating over time, as they are applied using highly reliable painting or oxidation processes.
Thanks to the products offered by METRA Building, your home office becomes not just a place to work but, above all, a pleasant environment to enjoy every day: efficient, bright, comfortable and aesthetically pleasing.