Personally, I spend a lot of time in my home office. It was the most recently finished room in our house and I’m in love with it’s hardwood floors and light blue walls. I will admit it has a toy area for my kids, but overall it’s my space for creativity and uninterrupted, focused work time. WIth all the time I spend in the office, I want to make sure that it’s a healthy environment. I want it to be a space that helps me achieve the goals I set and that makes me more productive. That’s why I enlisted the help of Kim Bost from High Vibe Home to help give me some ideas, which I will share later in this post.
So how can you be sure your home office is a healthy environment to work in and play in? Here’s a few of the areas I checked out:
ELECTROMAGNETIC FIELDS (EMFs)
One way to do this is to keep cords and electrical outlets cleaned up. THe more wires and cords that are running over and near your feet, the more EMFs your body is coming in contact with. Keep them neat and organized, and if you can, keep them behind your desk or a cabinet.
It’s also a good practice not to have a laptop sitting directly on you. Try using a keyboard and mouse you can plug into your computer and set everything on a desk. Setting an electronic device on your body near your vital organs can cause stress to your body and harm your well being.
Using corded options rather than bluetooth and WIFI is another great habit to get into. Although it can be a difficult adjustment at first, in the long run it will be better for your body and keep your home office healthy.
INDOOR AIR QUALITY
The first thing to consider if you’re assessing a basement home office is that Radon, a naturally occurring but carcinogenic gas, pools in basements. Radon is heavier than air and depending on how tightly your home is sealed and the geographic location of your home, you may want to consider a home Radon test to verify this is not an issue. The more time someone spends in an area with high Radon levels, the higher their risk of lung cancer is. Radon is the number one cause of lung cancer in nonsmokers and there has certainly been a rise in that statistic in the recent years. You can purchase a Radon Test Kit on Amazon and get started right away. If you do find Radon, be sure to follow the steps in our 10 Step Radon Walk-Through Guide to ensure it is properly mitigated.
MOISTURE
If you’re looking for a quick fix, you can make sure you don’t have too many indoor plants in your office. The moisture from the plants and from watering them can increase the humidity very quickly. You’ll also want to make sure the room is properly ventilated either with windows or the proper air returns and vents. Keep them open to allow maximum air flow throughout the room. And lastly, you can always invest in a dehumidifier, which isn’t a bad idea for any lower level of a home or particularly humid room. This is the one we typically recommend to our homeowners.
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TOXINSThe materials and furniture in your office make a difference in your air quality as well. Just like any area of your life, you want your office to be as natural as possible. This means your furniture and any other item in your office. What I mean exactly is you should avoid pressed wood furniture and pressed wood for materials like trim and the flooring. The reason you want to avoid these materials is because of the chemical are that are used in creating them. Pressed wood like Medium Density Fiberboard (MDF), particleboard and plywood use an insanely strong adhesive to hold the small pieces of wood together. Often times these glues have formaldehyde in them. We know that formaldehyde releases a toxic gas that is a carcinogenic to our bodies. In fact, the higher the humidity in the home or room, the more toxic gas is emitted.
Natural furniture and materials in your office is the way to go. |
PAINT
You want a paint that is ZERO VOC to ensure that the least amount of toxins will be released into the air of your home office. Low VOC on a paint label means it meets the EPA’s standards, but zero VOC is ideal.
Opting for a natural paint like this one will always be your best bet. There are more and more options coming onto the market all the time in this area, meaning there will be more color and finish choices as well. Another great option we’ve seen is Miss Mustard Seed’s Milk Paint that you can mix yourself.
KEEP MOVING
But there are many options to keep your home office as a healthy living space for you and your family. First, you can invest in a standing desk. This is a great way to ensure you won’t be sitting for long periods of times. Many standing desks are adjustable and you can lower them to sit when you need it. This is one of our favorites. You can also purchase a chair frame to fit an exercise ball which will help engage your muscles while you are sitting.
Some other ideas that won’t cost a thing to change would be to set an alarm either on your phone, or a manual timer that will remind you to get up and move around every so often. We’ve also seen homeowner put the files or things they need most often on the other side of their office so they are forced to get up and get them frequently, allowing their bodies’ to move.
DIFFUSER BLENDS FOR PRODUCTIVITY
- Make sure you have a view you like! That may be a window looking out on nature, or a beautiful piece of art. Looking at a blank wall can stifle you. Looking at something like a construction site, or a busy view can be stressful and distracting. A pleasant view can keep you inspired, creative and productive!
- Get rid of clutter. Only keep the items necessary to what you are working on out on your work space. Create a good system for filing or storing things you aren’t currently using. Too much physical and visual clutter can cause confusion and make you less productive and scattered.
- Have a comfortable chair, and a desk or work table at the at the correct height for what you are doing.
- Make sure you have appropriate and pleasant lighting for what you will be doing.
- Put your desk in the “power position,” or consider the benefits of the concept! This suggestion reflects the Feng shui principle of “protecting your back” and being able to have a clear view of anyone coming into the room. Position your desk where you have your back to a wall, and can avoid distractions.
- Choose a wall color you like, but know what emotions different colors can evoke in you!
- In general, blues and greens are more calming and soothing. Lavenders and purples can boost creativity. Reds, oranges and yellows tend to be more agitating, and may be less desirable for a work space. Whites, greys and tans lean toward drab, but can be made up for with art for your wall that incorporates colors you love.
- Add a plant or two. Nature reduces stress and raises the oxygen in the room!
- Make the space your own. Be sure you feel comfortable and happy there, and that it reflects your personal tastes. Display meaningful photographs or quotes that bring you focus and inspiration, but not too many that it becomes a distraction.
- Make your office a space where you like to spend time!
As always, great post! Your blog is one of the few that I frequently visit, and I trust you as a reliable resource. I have a question on this one though – I clicked on your standing desk recommendation and noticed that it’s made of MDF – is this a safe product? If so, what makes this MDF safer over other options made of the same material?
Thank you!
Thank you, Emily! I always love seeing your comments and questions on here! THANK YOU for bringing this one to my attention. I write my posts pretty far in advance and Wayfair is notorious for changing product descriptions and information. I went through and updated the images and links to ONLY GreenGuard certified desks (plus added some new ones!). I try to avoid MDF unless it’s third party certified or it’s made with a formaldehyde free adhesive.