Working from home can be great, but it’s not always easy to set up a dedicated workspace.
That’s where we come in – with this guide, you can turn any room in your house into a productive office.
We’ll show you how to choose the perfect spot, set up your desk and equipment, and stay connected to colleagues and clients.
Before we start thinking about furniture, it’s important to look at the actual space you’ve got and what you’re wanting to achieve from it.
If your space is an entire room, then you’ve got the makings of a home office of your dreams, but sometimes we understand that you’ll be working in a much smaller space in your home.
Pre-planning to get it right. Ask yourself –
- What sort of atmosphere do I need in my space? Should it be quiet, with no distractions, or do I need music and energy to keep me focussed?
- Do I have a good view of the outside world? Is it calming or do I need to create an atmosphere internally because I don’t have sufficient outside views?
- How are you going to use the space? Will your work involve sitting at a desk for most of the day or do you need to move between various pieces of equipment during your working hours?
- How much available floor space do you have? If you have to cram a lot of office equipment into your space, then you need to plan carefully.
- Consider what other people see when you’re on a video call with colleagues or clients. If your space is cluttered, tired and in need of an upgrade, do you really want to show this to the rest of the world? Remember the old adage – first impressions are lasting impressions, so it’s good to try to portray professionalism at your home office as much as you would in your business office.
Essential pieces of furniture/equipment
More often than not, the following are fundamental items that you’ll need to equip your home office –
- A practical and sturdy desk. Consider the length you’ll need to ideally keep all of your office equipment on. This would include desktop computers, double monitors, charging points, printers etc. And of course, sufficient left over space for you to work too! You may want to consider housing a set of drawers under your desk, if space allows, to keep all of your stationary in one place that’s easily retrievable and doesn’t take up any more floor space.
- A comfortable and practical chair. Office chairs come in various formats, but the most important factor is that they’re comfortable, otherwise being at your desk throughout the day will certainly impede on your input.
If you do a lot of studying or reading throughout your day, then it may be a good idea to try to fit a comfortable arm chair into your home office. Relaxation is key and if practical, an armchair could be invaluable if you’ve got a lot of reading to do.
- A good light source. Really important if you’ve got minimal light coming through the windows and if you’re going to be working into the darker evening hours. Desk lamps are a brilliant way to light up your desk space when you’re hitting the keypad late at night!
- Practical and well thought out storage. The use of chests of drawers, cupboards and shelving units are perfect for keeping all of your stationary, books and other paraphernalia hidden away. If your office space is small, then consider building wall units to maximise the available space and keep it from feeling cramped.
- Your office space is YOUR space, and it should be a place that inspires you to be both productive and focused. A few personal items such as pictures, wall art or trinkets can help to motivate you and bring some sense of calm to your working day!
Summary
Many people still work from home, whether it be full time or hybrid, and this trend appears to be set to continue. By making your home office space personal, practical and comfortable, you’ll be able to focus, increase your productivity, enjoy your work and take time out when required. You can show your colleagues and clients that you’re maintaining your professional status throughout and that you’ve got your work/life balance covered!
With a little bit of thought and pre-planning, you’ll be well on your way to designing a practical, pleasant and productive environment, right there at the heart of your home.
By arranging your office space well, your company, your family and you will have the best win-win-win EVER!
