How to Future Proof Your Home Office

 

Now more than ever, home designers are trying to make decisions that last - improving energy efficiency and creating future proof living spaces. B&M have a few tips to help you pursue a smart home office design, including ways to:

• Make your office more eco friendly
• Invest in sustainable furniture 
• Repurpose old furniture
• Look into smart lighting
• Invest in plants 

More and more of us are looking at ways of improving the longevity of our home design, pursuing energy efficiency in a bid to help tackle global warming and avoiding investing in furnishings and technology that will date.

While it’s comparatively straightforward to make lasting, eco friendly changes to our living spaces, it’s easy to overlook smaller, more “niche” areas such as the office. However, there’s a lot that can be done here too!

In this article, B&M offer handy hints on how to future proof your home office.

Make your Office more Eco Friendly

Smart home office design should always involve the consideration of its environmental impact.

The good news is that “green” office equipment and materials have never been more on-trend, from pens made from recycled plastics to paper containing eco friendly pulp from sustainably managed forests.

B&M Top Tip: Print out as little as possible! Try and give yourself a weekly limit - if documents can be stored or signed virtually, stick to this approach. Keep pens and papers secure to avoid having to buy more or reprint.

Invest in Sustainable Furniture

Try to check where your office furniture comes from before you make a purchase. If it’s made from wood, aim for suppliers who use sustainable sources. Avoid plastics wherever possible - unless they are recycled - as it can be difficult to dispose of them.

B&M Top Tip: To avoid worries about the eventual disposal of your office furniture, keep things as compact as possible and stick to just a few items, such as a desk that doubles as storage.

Repurpose Old Furniture

Investing in new furniture and exciting home technology is fun - but it isn’t always necessary! Consider what you already have, or what you can get second hand before buying new.

B&M Top Tip: You can always add a lick of paint or tighten a few screws to give pieces a fresh feel. Once you’ve refurbished items, you may find yourself using them for years to come. Here are a few tips to get you started.

Look into Smart Lighting

Modern home designers love sophisticated eco friendly lighting solutions. Look into energy saving bulbs and movement or sound-controlled lights to save energy.

B&M Top Tip: Alternatively, use the light from another space! Instead of creating an office in a separate room, employ an open plan design by setting up a compact desk in an existing living space. This uses no extra energy at all.

Invest in Plants

When it comes to decor, you need look no further than a few gorgeous houseplants. They look beautiful, offer a sense of achievement and help to combat CO2 levels. Plus, they never go out of fashion.

 

B&M Top Tip: Learn how to care for your plants here.

So, to future proof your home office, just invest in sustainable and eco friendly items, reuse and upcycle, be smart with lighting and distribute plants liberally!

B&M Top Tip: Check out B&M’s superb selection of office furniture here.

Are you proud of your sustainable home office setup? Share your ideas with the B&M Community via Twitter, Facebook or Instagram?