13 Easy Tips For Setting Up the Perfect Home Office
Working from home offers numerous advantages, perhaps the best being the non-existent commute. And while you may be tempted to plop down on the couch or work from your bed, you’ll find your productivity increases when you have a dedicated home office.
Whether you are just starting to work from home, or want to improve the home office you already have, here are 13 easy ways to create a home office you’ll love.
1. Choose the Best Location
If you already have a spare room, a study, or an empty bedroom that you can transform into an office, finding your space is easy. For others, it may take a little creativity.
Check out any unused corners in larger rooms of your home, an oversized wardrobe, or an empty wall. If you find yourself extremely limited on space, consider setting up an office on your kitchen table or a coffee or end table that you can easily pack up before each meal.
2. Amp Up the Comfort Factor
Whether you are working full or part-time, you want your home office to be comfortable and inviting.
Try to resist the temptation to grab a chair from your dining room table and invest in an ergonomic office chair instead. Sitting in a subpar office chair for hours at a time puts you at risk of posture issues and discomfort.
When choosing a home office chair, try to look for the following features:
- 360 degree swivel base
- Adjustable height settings
- Adjustable armrest and backrest
- Built-in lumbar support
- Adjustable seat depth
3. Make It Private
Ideally, you will have a dedicated room for your home office complete with floor to ceiling walls and a solid door to create privacy and block out distracting sounds. However, most people will probably find themselves needing to find some creative privacy solutions.
One option for increasing privacy in your home office is adding a privacy divider. Along with traditional dividers that are set up on the floor, curtains can provide a cost-effective, lightweight method of closing your office “door”.
To block out sound, try noise-canceling headphones, play light background music, or try running a white noise machine.
4. Plan Ahead for Common Spaces
As you set up your home office, consider if anyone else in your family will be sharing the space. Will your partner also be working from home? Do your kids use the space for homework or playing?
If so, make clear indicators of when the room can be used for play and when it is dedicated for work time. If your partner works from home, consider setting up a partner desk where two people can work at once.
Set clear boundaries to ensure you’re getting enough time (and space) to work adequately.
5. Invest Where Needed
Investing in a professional home office setup is an investment in yourself and your work. As with many purchases, you get what you pay for.
If you try to save some money on office furniture, be wary of what these bargain prices may get you. The cheapest office chair or a bargain desk may save you money upfront, but you may end up replacing these items far sooner than quality alternatives.
6. Add Some Greenery
Decorating your home office with plants creates a sense of inviting warmth and a calming atmosphere. Along with a burst of colour and a touch of nature, indoor plants also offer a variety of host of benefits.
7. Choose a Cosy Rug
Grounding your home office area with cosy rug can automatically add visual interest, texture, sound-absorption, and comfort. From neutral tones to bold geometric patterns, rugs can complement any decour you choose.
8. Make It Personal
Setting up your own home office gives you the complete creative freedom to design how you want it to look, making it a great chance to display your unique personality and interests. The web is packed with countless ideas for how to set up a beautiful home office that will have you wanting to work all the time!
Add your favourite design elements to make your space personal.
9. Find the Light
When possible, choose a space for your home office that offers some natural light. Working next to a window offers a variety of benefits, including helping to keep you alert and reducing stress levels. N
Natural light can also reduce eye strain caused by poor lighting and it helps spaces feel bigger, making a window a huge bonus if your space is limited.
When natural light is not a possibility, an adjustable lamp that allows you to direct light exactly where you need it can be a convenient, functional solution.
10. Support Your Eyes and Neck
How you position your computer monitor can have a significant impact on your eyes and neck. To find the ideal placement for staying comfortable, try these tips:
- Keep the top of the screen at or below eye level
- Make sure the screen position allows you to look at in while maintaining a neutral spine
- Position the monitor at least 50 cm from your eyes (further if your monitor is quite large)
- Place your computer so your eyes look slightly down when gazing at the middle of the screen (this helps ensure proper neck alignment)
- Tilt the monitor back approximately 10 to 20 degrees
- If you wear bifocals, try tipping the screen back to 30 to 45 degrees
If adjusting your monitor is not enough, a screen riser can help you get the perfect screen position. For a quick fix, an old box or a stack of books may do the trick.
11. Get the Right Desk
Working at home requires hours and hours at your desk, making it key to invest in a desk that suits your workspace, needs, and comfort preferences. When choosing a desk, it may be worth considering a stand-up desk.
Sitting all day can lead to poor posture, weakened leg muscles, hip joint problems, varicose veins, stiff shoulders, and more. Although it may take some time to adjust to, a stand-up desk can be an automatic way to avoid the problems that come with sitting all day.
Investing in a good desk can dramatically improve your posture and reduce back pain.
Along with fighting off aches and pains, standing desks may even help you lose weight without trying. One study discovered that standing for six hours a day rather than sitting for the same amount of time resulted in an over 2.5 kg weight loss in one year.
12. Create Dedicated Storage Space
A laptop and a desk are usually the most common items people think of when considering home office essentials. However, there is a good chance you will have files and supplies to maintain.
Proper storage for papers, stationery, supplies, and files is important for staying organised and prepared. If you have adequate space, a large filing cabinet or a desk with drawers can certainly make a great option.
Alternatively, a simple cubby system with bins can also provide the necessary organisation without taking up much space. Plastic storage tubs make a convenient option if you need to pick up your office at the end of every day.
When it comes to storage, don’t forget to look up. Floating shelves, cabinets that go all the way to the ceiling, a hanging pinboard, a hutch, or a tall bookcase can provide additional storage without taking up needed floor space.
13. Don’t Let Wires Get Out of Control
Between chargers, mobile devices, laptops, and printers, your home office is likely to be cluttered with cords.
Whether you use a twist tie or invest in a more elegant cord management system, controlling the cords in your home office can go a long way in making the space feel more professional and organised.
Need Help Creating a Home Office You Love?
Setting up a designated home office can increase your productivity and hopefully help your workdays go a little smoother.
If you are looking for further inspiration, feel free to check out our collection of design and decor blog posts or contact us with any questions. We would be glad to help direct you to further resources, help you determine the right flooring for your home office, or talk design with you.
