The satellite office: an extension of your home.

The meteoric rise of satellite and home offices has proven to have many benefits … no commuting, less overheads, access to worldwide talent, and ultimately more active, productive and happier employees. The nature of work has undergone profound changes through digital networking — transforming the home into a fully equipped workplace.

Workplace trends

Workplaces have also seen a dramatic rise in “resimercial” (residential and commercial) concept design. When well executed, this creates a more relaxed environment that promotes collaboration, productivity, and employee well-being. It is a fine line because If the workplace feels exactly like the home, users miss out on crucial environmental cues that help them to disconnect outside of business hours. Coalesse Director of Global Design John Hamilton highlighted the need for spaces that are comfortable and soft, yet designed specifically for work.

Functional form

Seating, a leading chair manufacturer and supplier — has made significant improvements in adjustability and comfort for users. They have researched the biomechanics of seating; and extensively studied the needs of the human body when it comes to working. Task chairs reflect this research and are making great strides to combat the damage of prolonged sitting. 

The goal is make work more comfortable for your body and to support the parts that take strain — allowing you to focus less on discomfort, and more on the tasks at hand. Clyde Collins, Seating MD, says the home office should be a place organised for productivity, while still conferring the comforts of home. The desk and visitor chairs you choose should obviously be ergonomically comfortable and functional, but the emphasis is that they fit in visually with the contemporary aesthetics of your home décor.

A connection to your brand

He recommended Seating’s versatile Cruize family of 6 products, which retail between 2,5-5k and can be epoxy-coated in a range of 15 colour/finishes, from rose gold to powder blue and lemon yellow. Similarly, the Reload netting or Lotus ranges offer both operator and visitor models – for combining desk and meeting tasks. Collaborative/meeting spaces can be softened with the introduction of occasional upholstered chairs on castors or sleigh frames. The Lotus, Aloe, Poetry or Bilboa are good examples of these multipurpose products.

Although at times it can feel isolating, working from home allows you to draw inspiration from the natural light and objects around you. Use plants, books, magazines and cushions, as well as interesting vintage/contemporary furniture and art, to create a space that melds both worlds.

All workspaces need to be efficient first in order to be effective, whether from natural light or fast Wi-Fi. Your home office is an extension of your home, but also a connection to yourself, your brand and productivity. It should afford focus rather than distraction, and be a place you want to spend lots of time in. It is entirely possible to meld domestic intimacy with office vernacular in a way that will improve the human experience and enhance the work you do there.

Image credits: Seating, Cerantola and OMP