Sol Echevarría explains to us what are the minimum elements that must be counted on and gives some advice regarding dimensions, decoration of the place, among other keys.
March 1st
This 2021 many Chileans will start the work or academic year remotely, online. The modality of teleworking or online classes will remain for a while and that is why it is necessary to have an adequate space at home to carry out these tasks in the best possible way.
What to consider for a telecommuting space? Sol Echevarría, who currently runs a company that provides design consultancies for corporate and private projects, gives us some advice.
Core items
The key is to have a desk, a chair and good lighting, what requirements must they meet? In the case of the first element, it must be between 70 and 75 cm. high, with a cover with a depth ideally over 55 cm. The latter will depend on whether only the notebook will be used or whether other elements such as additional screens, keyboards, etc. will be included. The important thing is that the forearm is supported on the table, and we can maintain the best ergonomic conditions.
For its part, the chair should be ideally adjustable so that the feet are not dangling. Finally, regarding light, the expert advises that the ideal is to try to receive natural light and that the curtains allow the passage of this energy. In case it comes from lamps, it is best to continue with warm lighting.
The importance of visual privacy
Having a room specially destined for an office or study room is for many the ideal. However, when you don’t have that space, you can find some solutions. Sol recommends having visual privacy, either through a screen, or a room divider that is located in the living room for example. This element helps to maintain concentration on the task we are doing without major visual distractions around when we share with more people in the same dynamic.
In the case of children, he advises that the space have few visual stimuli: “that it is not a space full of toys, that it be a place that reduces anxiety a little and they can concentrate. If I can create a corner where the toys are organized in containers and I put together chairs and tables for study, it makes the children focus more on the tasks they have to accomplish ”, she says.
Order decorates
For Sol the first rule is to order and not fill the space with papers and objects. Thus, it recommends having a piece of furniture or a space to store documents, books and notebooks. “The idea is not that you feel that when you start working, chaos begins in your life. It must follow the same spirit of relaxation that you ideally live in your home, with an orderly space, “he says.
What decorative objects can help make the place warmer and more comfortable? Plants can be an option, but it depends on each one. “They are living elements and you feel that your house has life, but it is a matter of personal taste”, he highlights. Echevarría also recommends that in case there are no children or danger of an accident, an element widely used by Nordic culture could be incorporated with the Hygge concept: candles, which relax and stimulate concentration, in addition to favoring Balance. “It is a small decorative detail that makes you can concentrate even more, especially that now the winter season is coming,” he mentions.
Let the place talk about you
The expert emphasizes that the workplace is a perfect space to decorate with your own art, framed children’s art, with family photos and with things that generate happiness. “The objective is to make your environment motivate you, that when you are tired working you look at all this and recharge yourself with energy. I recommend that people surround themselves with energetic and positive messages ”, he emphasizes and adds:“ the spaces have to be more than one, that the place talks about you ”.
Double function of spaces
It is likely that many will have to locate their workspace in the living room, dining room or bedroom. Despite this, Sol explains that one solution is to think of spaces with a double function. “What I have seen in current spaces is that the living room ceases to have so much prominence and you can transform it into a kind of living room, where children could study a little more calmly, when you do not have so much space in your house”, he concludes.
