Featured Image: Morson Group, Manchester
What is ergonomic office design?
When it comes to office design, ergonomics is an important factor to consider. An ergonomic office design means creating a workspace that allows people to work comfortably and efficiently. This is essential for preventing health problems related to poor posture, eye strain, and other issues. By making simple, thoughtful choices in your office design, you can create a workspace that enhances productivity. Read on to learn more about ergonomic office design.
How to create an ergonomic office design
Ergonomic seating
Workers spend most of their day sat in chairs, so it’s important to have a good quality, ergonomic chair. The wrong chair can cause back and neck pain, which can lead to more serious, long-term health issues further down the line. Workers need a comfortable chair that supports the spine and provides sufficient lumbar support. This means the chair caters to the natural curve of your spine, so it doesn’t feel as if you’re sitting up against a wall.
Some other features to consider with an office chair is the height and depth of the seat. Workers’ feet should be able to reach the floor, with their legs roughly parallel to the floor. Plus, a chair should be deep enough for employees to sit comfortably. Backrest tilt is another useful feature in an office chair – chairs that can recline and tilt put less pressure on the back.
Choose height-adjustable desks
As well as the perfect office chair, desks should ideally be height adjustable so that the screens can line up well with workers’ eyelines. If you work from home, then it may be easier to find a desk that is the perfect height for you personally. However, if a workspace utilises hot desking or people are often changing desks, then height-adjustable desks are the perfect solution for an ergonomic office design. Your legs should fit comfortably under the desk with plenty of space, allowing you to move your legs around without hitting the underside of the desk.
Incorporate a breakout area
An ergonomic office design extends beyond choosing the right furniture – a calm office breakout area can help to look after employees’ stress levels and wellbeing. A breakout area encourages employees to move about, meaning they’re not sat in the same position all day. These can be great for encouraging collaboration and can give workers a brief change of scenery during the workday.
Have the right office accessories
If workers are using a computer or laptop all day, then they need the right accessories to ensure maximum comfort. For example, an ergonomic keyboard and mouse can help to keep employees’ hands and arms in their natural position, limiting the chance of injury and discomfort. If you use a laptop to work from, it’s often more ergonomically friendly to have another, separate keyboard. This means that you can angle your screen at the ideal perspective whilst still having a keyboard nearby.
Control the office environment
Whether you’re working from home or in the office, factors such as temperature, air quality, and light all make a difference in creating an ergonomic office design. Temperature control such as fans, air conditioning or heaters can be used to keep the ideal temperature whilst you or your employees are busy working away. What’s more, good air quality is important for keeping yourself and your employees healthy. An air purifier or a good ventilation system can help to improve the air quality, which will benefit productivity within the office.
Lighting also makes a huge difference in the ergonomics of your office space. If the lights are too dark, bright, or artificial, then employees may suffer from eye strain and headaches. Natural light is always the best for an ergonomic office design, but you can also read our five tips for better office lighting for more advice.
How can ergonomic design improve your home office?
While it’s common for businesses to prioritise ergonomics in their commercial interior design, remote workers should also be aware of how ergonomic office design can benefit them. It can be difficult to stay focused when working from home, so an ergonomic home office design will help to boost your productivity. Poor posture or eye strain can affect how productive we are when working, so if you work out of your home, then it’s equally important to create an ergonomic office design. Although it can be tempting to work from your sofa or bed, follow some of our tips to create a comfortable, ergonomic home office design.
If you still want to learn more about ergonomics, you can read our simple guide to workplace ergonomics. Get in touch with our team for expert advice on creating an ergonomic office design, whether you’re looking for office refurbishment or a new office relocation.