If you’re working from home, transforming your house into a functional workspace can be a challenge. It’s more than simple aesthetics — you need an environment where you feel at ease and productive. For women engineers, who naturally have a unique way of thinking that combines analytical and visual skills with a systems-level perspective, a harmonious workspace is even more important.
Creating such a workspace requires an understanding of how architectural features combine with human psychology. When you blend the two seamlessly, you can create an environment that encourages productivity and elevates your mental state.
The Science of Design
The way we design our homes and workspaces can influence behavior, mood, and emotions. Our connection to our environment plays a role in our interior design choices more than simple taste.
Every decision we make, whether it’s a paint color, a decorative finish, or accents like area rugs and vases, has the potential to unlock emotions and inspire thought. The subtlest of details can affect your mood, including the color family of paint you choose for a specific room.
The psychology of design isn’t a new concept. It’s been around for centuries, shaping everything from ancient dwellings to modern hospitals. For example, feng shui is an ancient Chinese philosophy that focuses on the arrangement of furniture and other elements to create a more balanced flow of energy (chi) and better well-being.
Another important aspect of creating a positive workspace at home is designing with intent. This concept considers the meaning of certain aesthetic choices based on how they resonate with you on a personal level.
The Connection Between Color and Mood
The colors we choose are partly self-expression, but they also impact mood. Colors have a psychological impact, which is why McDonald’s and other restaurants use shades of red and yellow, the “hungry” colors that stimulate the brain’s hunger response.
In your home, we tend to choose warm colors for high-energy spaces, such as the living areas or dining areas, and areas where friends and family come together. These colors are energizing and encourage conversation. Bedroom colors like soft blues and purples can be helpful in an office space to encourage calmness and focus — an important consideration for women in STEM.
How does color affect your office space? You need to be focused, but also relaxed, in a library or home office. A softer color palette is ideal, relying on blues and greens that can promote calmness while encouraging productivity.
Bringing Light and Energy Together
Light and shadow interplay in a space. Natural light is a source of vitamin D, which regulates sleep cycles and improves brain function. The quality of sleep you’re able to get in your home is related to the light you use, and the same is true of your workspace.
For example, warmer lighting that resembles the setting sun or soft candlelight is comforting and relaxing. Brighter lights, which are more common in industrial workspaces, sharpen focus, and keep you alert. This lighting is important if your home office setup requires a lot of technical equipment that casts its own light, such as dual monitors, or small component work like soldering.
Incorporating Functional Elements and Layout
The layout you choose for your home workspace affects how functional it is. Instead of designing haphazardly, it’s best to approach the task with a purpose in mind.
Ideally, you’ll have a balance of openness and quiet. A well-designed layout should make you comfortable and ensure that you’re free from distractions, including elements that may draw your eye. A space that isn’t designed well can feel claustrophobic and may lead to frustration.
Ideally, your technology should blend seamlessly into your aesthetics with intent and organization. Choose furniture that hides disorganized cords, cables, and power supplies. Consider desk options that have plenty of storage space that keeps your smaller technology tools accessible without looking cluttered.
The principles of feng shui are helpful for space layouts. You can use the guidelines to arrange your furniture or objects while ensuring the elements you bring into the space achieve both aesthetics and function.
Choosing Materials
The materials you choose for your home workspace can affect your thoughts and feelings. Sleek materials like marble, glass, or metal are reminiscent of a contemporary industrial workspace that’s familiar to the STEM fields. On the other hand, natural textures like stone or brick add warmth and character.
If you feel connected to nature, incorporating wood or plants can make the space more tranquil and keep you relaxed during your workday. Consider how you can bring together the sleek metallics of an industrial lab with the harmony of nature in your home office.
Design Your Ideal Home Workspace
A home workspace that resonates with you on a personal level and keeps you focused but relaxed can dramatically improve your well-being, especially for women in STEM fields. However, it may not happen overnight. Use these strategies to design your space and find the ideal balance of elements for creativity and productivity.
