When you’re working at home and you have a family member who enjoys playing games, then your office space likely needs to perform double-duty. If before your office might have been a simple ‘do my homework‘ space, now it gets more complicated. It’ll be great if the office layout is attractive to the gamer, but it also must be functional for your work-related tasks too.
Here are 6 ways to create a multipurpose office space to support your work requirements and keep the gamer in the household happy too.
1. Create a Flexible Workplace Setup
Many gamers are millennials, or at least on the younger side of forty. As such, they tend to prefer a flexible setup rather than a fixed, immobile one. Therefore, the priority isn’t necessarily about everything looking like it’s been interior designed. Being adaptable to changing needs is useful for them because they’ll want to add or replace technology periodically.
Stick to a laptop, not a desktop that makes relocation more difficult. Decide how many screens are optimal for your work and their gaming setup. Avoid an overly complex multi-monitor layout. Two or three displays are useful, but the Law of Diminishing Returns applies beyond that point, even when the gamer lusts after more.
2. Pay Attention to the Noise Factor
Whether you’re getting client work done or they’ve hopped on the PC to play an online casino game or the latest PC game on Steam, it’s important to enjoy a quieter environment. To do so, look for practical ways to reduce noise.
For instance, if there are only curtains covering a converted bedroom’s window, then consider adding blinds to control the sound and light. Additional window coverings assist in reducing external noise to make it more conducive to work while allowing the gamer to get lost in their gaming world.
Also, while you can add noise deadening foam insulation tiles to the walls or a rubber mat on the floor, it may be worth investing in a pair of noise-cancelling headphones. These can block out unwanted sounds while working. Also, the gamer won’t disturb anyone else when playing late into the evening. What Hi-Fi has a good roundup of the latest headphones to choose from.
3. Ensure the Setup is Ideal for Gaming Too
Whilst you might want to get work done, be adaptable to the needs of your gamer too.
A larger display is useful during work time, but it’s also beneficial when playing an online casino game such as poker or blackjack, which you can find at https://www.mansioncasino.com/uk/blackjack/perfect/. Your gamer will surely find it more immersive when using a larger monitor to play roulette or the slots. A curved HD monitor instead of several smaller ones may be desirable depending on the games that they prefer to play. Talk with your gamer family member to see what they prefer, whether it’s a setup for online slots or a rig for World of Warcraft.
4. Invest in Ergonomics & Comfort
When working longer hours, don’t sacrifice ergonomics or your overall comfort to include gaming style cues.
For instance, some gaming chairs look nifty but aren’t necessarily all that comfortable. Either get a cushioned office chair with some style accents or pick a pure gaming chair that’s not overly showy.
Look at the reviews and what commenters say about the lumbar and neck support for an office or gaming chair before putting money down. Also, consider how the chair will look to business clients? If it screams “gamer” then it might make you feel uncomfortable about it. Find an appropriate balance.
5. Relaxation Space
With a multi-purpose office, it’s a good idea to have some space there to kick back and relax. It’s particularly useful when one of you is just finishing up and so the other can wait there for a few minutes.
Add a sofa, beanbag cushion, or something else to sit on. If you like to read on your Kindle, ensure there’s sufficient light to make this more pleasant.
Also, do you want to skip unnecessary trips to the kitchen? Think about getting a mini fridge to keep drinks and food chilled. Assign a separate shelf for each of you, so you’ll know which food is yours or theirs.
Furthermore, include some greenery to bring some life to the space. Some low-maintenance plants that don’t require as much natural light work well. Your gamer won’t mind as they’ll probably have the lights dimmed when playing anyway.
6. Inspirational Framed Artwork, Photography or Posters
Avoid leaving the office walls unadorned. Pick out something inspirational that puts you in a positive mindset. It’s different for each person. Get together to choose what you’d like on the walls. Anything gamer related, you may wish to keep it on the side walls or behind the PC, so it isn’t visible on a business-related Zoom meeting.
Find the right balance between a focused office space and one that will suit the gamer. Do consider what people on a webcam or in-person visitors will see. Also, avoid overly black and red gaming colour aesthetics because it’ll be too dark. Find compromises to set the right tone in all situations.
