{"id":1024,"date":"2017-09-12T11:32:54","date_gmt":"2017-09-12T10:32:54","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.savoytimber.com\/help-and-advice\/?p=1024"},"modified":"2020-11-05T10:24:46","modified_gmt":"2020-11-05T10:24:46","slug":"turn-decking-area-into-ideal-outdoor-workspace","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/savoytimber.com\/help-and-advice\/turn-decking-area-into-ideal-outdoor-workspace\/","title":{"rendered":"How To Turn Your Decking Area Into The Ideal Outdoor Workspace"},"content":{"rendered":"

When it comes to working, you can make the argument that we\u2019re already living in the future. Today, we can move our laptops around as easily as we can move our briefcases and paperwork, giving us the ability to work anywhere. So what better place to do it than outside on your decking? It doesn\u2019t have to be your day job \u2013 you might need to do some domestic admin, like filling out a tax form. Or maybe you need a quiet space to finish that novel you\u2019ve been working on. We\u2019re not ones to judge. Whatever the case, it\u2019s the perfect time of year to do your work al fresco. So how can you make sure your decking area is up to the task?<\/p>\n

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The Essentials Of Your Workspace Decking Area<\/h2>\n

\"how<\/p>\n

So, you\u2019ve got your decking area; a blank canvas for your new workspace. We\u2019ll be going over a couple of ways you can retrofit it for some productive alone time, but we\u2019ll start low-tech. Not everyone needs a laptop to get their work done \u2013 as we touched on above, it might just be a case of hand-filling a load of forms. In that case, all you\u2019ll really need is a small table and a comfortable chair. And when we say a chair, by the way, we don\u2019t mean a deckchair. They\u2019re perfect for (literally) sitting back and relaxing, but if you\u2019re going to be writing something you\u2019ll going to want to be sitting forward, and that can be a total nightmare on your back if you\u2019re using a deckchair. Instead, your work-chair ideally needs to be straight-backed and stable, and your table needs to be a good height so that you\u2019re not bending forward (read: not a coffee table). The average office chair can be a great compromise \u2013 that\u2019s what it\u2019s designed for, after all!<\/p>\n

OK, now you\u2019ve got your table and your chair \u2013 what\u2019s next?<\/p>\n

The Major Considerations Of Your Perfect Workspace<\/h3>\n

\"why<\/p>\n

Your health and safety needs to come first, with comfort a very close second, naturally. That means if you are using a laptop, using it on battery power is safest. If you do find some way to plug it into a mains power supply, you\u2019ll need to make sure that any wires running from the house to your decking area are secured and preferably tucked out of sight. Certainly you\u2019ll want to have them kept away from high-traffic areas like doors, to avoid family or pets tripping over them. Best case scenario, your laptop goes crashing to the floor. (Worst case, of course; your relative does.)<\/p>\n

A slightly less obvious thing you\u2019ll need to be aware of is the danger to your eyes. As anyone who\u2019s ever checked their phone in intense sunlight will know, it\u2019s notoriously difficult to see properly on the reflective screen. Turning up the brightness can help with that, but it does then mean that it\u2019s blazing away at your eyes all the time. We\u2019ll skip all the science involved, but trust us when we say that\u2019s as bad for your eyes as it sounds. For your workspace, then, you\u2019ll want both cover and shade; it protects your eyes from straining too hard to pick things out on the screen, and what\u2019s more it means if you get the occasional summer shower you don\u2019t have to abruptly pack up and sprint inside.<\/p>\n

We\u2019ve got just the thing for that here at Savoy Timber \u2013 a pergola is a great frame on which to hang a blanket or waterproof cover, protecting you from the worst of both the sun and rain. Not only does it serve a practical purpose, but it\u2019s a nice opportunity for a bit of personal styling, putting your own stamp upon your decking area.<\/p>\n

Decorating Your Decking Area<\/h3>\n

\"how<\/p>\n

Some would say this isn\u2019t relevant if you\u2019re just using your decking area as a workspace. At Savoy Timber, we say nuts to that \u2013 we think it\u2019s more relevant than ever. It\u2019s all about the feeling of it. Your decking is a naturally relaxing place to be; it\u2019s practically made for a sunny Friday afternoon. Having a happy, laid-back space makes you feel more at ease, which actually helps you to be more productive. We\u2019ve previously published an entire blog on the best ways to decorate your garden decking area<\/a>, but here are a couple of bonus ideas for you:<\/p>\n