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Writer's pictureThe CandorVision Blog

How to Set Up a Home Office You Love: 12 Tips

Working from home has several benefits, not the least of which is avoiding the 30-second commute. And while many people mistakenly believe that working from home entails working from the couch, the backyard, or even your bed, you could discover that working at a "true" workstation at home is where you're most effective. The kind that has a chair and a desk.

You have a lot of flexibility and choice with how your home office is set up. Do you desire a chair in those colours? Try it out! You desire striped walls. We welcome you! Nevertheless, we have some advice that will help you design a space that supports your success working from home, regardless of how you choose to style, furnish, or set up your home office.


Find the Best Location


Some people may find it simple to select a location for their home office. They have a vacant room that they utilize exclusively as an office. However, many people use an empty bedroom or even the basement as their "office." That kind of unoccupied space is not present in every home, though. When there isn't much room, your "working space" needs to be imaginative.


If you don't mind tidying up your workspace before every meal, you could always utilize a portion of the kitchen table as your workspace. However, you might not enjoy cleaning up your workspace after each meal. In that scenario, you might have to consider making innovative use of the space you do have. Examine vacant areas in bigger rooms, sizable (but bare) closets, or even the space beneath the stairs! With a little imagination, a lot of areas can be transformed into offices.


Add Privacy


If you're lucky enough to have a room designated just for your workplace, it probably features solid doors that close and floor-to-ceiling walls. That makes it simple to find privacy and quietness. You can find it challenging to distinguish between work and home if your office is, for example, in a corner of your bedroom.


Consider including a separation in your personal office design. Traditional partitions that rest on the floor are available. Or you may put a curtain on a pole or hang it from the ceiling. Curtains are a simple and typically affordable way to "close the door" to your office. Additionally, you can select a mild curtain that complements the rest of the design by using one. Or pick something outlandish and funky to style up your "door."


Consider Who Else Uses the Space


When setting up your home workplace, take into account other users and choose the area and furniture suitably. Will your partner work remotely as well as, will the kids using the office for homework? Think about setting up a partner desk so that two individuals can work simultaneously at the same desk.


Would there be client visits? While it is possible to meet them in the living room, it is not always the best option. Make sure to include areas for tables and chairs for customers as well.


Invest in Yourself


In many aspects, investing in a home office arrangement is an investment in yourself. You want to establish a work atmosphere that is both comfortable and conducive to productivity. But as with many purchases, you get what you pay for. Additionally, even while it could be alluring to get the "affordable" office furniture, keep in mind what that affordability buys you.


Prioritize Comfort


When working from home, it can be tempting to simply pull up a chair from the dining room. But spending a lot of time at a desk without adequate back support is a certain way to develop postural issues. The right support is provided by ergonomic office chairs when you're sitting for long periods of time. An investment in a supported chair is an investment in yourself, similar to the rest of your home office furnishings.

We suggest remote employees seek for the following characteristics in an ergonomic chair:

  • Height adjustability

  • 360-degree swivel base

  • Backrest and armrest adjustments

  • Modifiable seat depth

  • Integrated lumbar support


Support Your Neck and Eyes


Don't forget to care after your eyes and neck as well. Make sure your monitor is positioned in the "ideal" location. You'll need to try different positions because everyone's sweet spot is different. To help you do it right, consider some of these suggestions:

  • Your spine should remain neutral at all times.

  • The top of the monitor should be at eye level or just below it.

  • Put the screen at least 20 inches away from your eyes, and if it's a big one, farther.

  • To maintain your neck in the right position while staring at the centre of the screen, your eyes should be slightly down. To make sure you're looking down at the display at an angle, tilt the screen 10 to 20 degrees backward. If you use bifocals, tilt the screen back around 30 to 45 degrees to make sure you aren't leaning your head to concentrate.

Almost all monitors can be adjusted. To obtain the proper adjustment, though, sometimes it isn't enough, so you might need to invest money on a screen riser. Or, if you're in a bind, few books or a box will suffice.


Get the Right Desk


When you work from home, you will spend a great deal of time at your desk. You should therefore spend wisely on a workstation that matches your needs in terms of area, workflow, and budget. You would also like a desk that keeps you relaxed throughout the day so that you can be more productive.


Aches and pains and even long-term health problems can result from either sitting or standing all day. Instead of a conventional "fixed" desk, think about obtaining a standing desk, however these might be challenging to operate at first. By raising your desktop to standing height with the stroke of a button, an ergonomic height-adjustable desk allows you to sit when you want to and stand up when you need to.


In addition to reducing aches and pains, standing desks may be healthier for you. Let's be honest, today's lifestyle is largely sedentary. Snacking throughout the day while working at a desk is not good for your health. There is some data to support the health benefits of standing workstations. According to one study, standing for six hours each day, as opposed to sitting at a desk for the identical amount of time each day, caused people to lose 2.5 kgs of body fat annually. Even while a standing desk is not the same as spending an hour at the gym, it might benefit your long-term health.


Stash It Away


We frequently visualize a laptop when we consider the tools we need for remote work—and not much else. You may, however, have at least a few papers, pencils, and other office supplies lying around, depending on your specific line of work. Yes, there are also some paper documents to keep up with.


Dedicated storage solutions are advantageous for more than simply your other household goods. They can be utilized to store documents, papers, stationery, and other things in your home office as well. Neither huge filing cabinets nor large desks or drawers are necessary. Small bins and a straightforward arrangement would work. If you have to clear your office for the day, plastic storage containers could also be useful. You'll feel better organized right away, even if you only organize a little portion of an existing shelf unit and use it to store work-related stuff.


Protect Sensitive or Important Documents


Shelves and drawrers, are not usualy the best options to meet all of your storage needs. You can't always leave critical documents laying around the office, especially if it's a common space. When there are things you don't want to risk losing, we urge individuals to "invest in locked file and storage cabinets."


Luckily, lockable cabinets do not necessarily imply "awful neutral coloured metal".  There are several safe, lockable drawers and cabinets that are also attractive and appealing.


Think Up and Down


Yes. A home office has some disadvantages. One issue is that home offices, especially when they are dedicated rooms, are typically small. Don't just think side to side when designing your home office. To maximize overall storage possibilities, think vertically as well. A cabinet, large bookshelves, or even floating shelves can provide you with more storage without taking up valuable floor area.


Tame the Wires


While Wi-Fi is ubiquitous, that doesn't mean you won't have a bunch of wires in your office. Even your smartphones require charging from time to time. You can always count on cables, cables, and more cables at your home office.


Consider purchasing a cord management solution. This might be as basic as a twist tie or a little more sophisticated, but whatever you get, make sure you use it. Also, while setting up your workplace in a dedicated yet public space, consider where the outlets are. You might not have many options and end up running power outlets and extension cords over the floor. If that's the case, ensure that you find a safe way to accomplish it (like with cable covers).


Also, when you're putting up the wires, consider the Wi-Fi. There could be days when you prefer to work remotely rather than in the office. If you plan to work on the sofa or even outside on some days, check your wifi to ensure that the connection not only reaches, but is also fast. To work on the balcony and stay connected, you may have to invest in a Wi-Fi extension or possibly a Wi-Fi mesh system.


Light It Up


Lighting is sometimes neglected while establishing a home office.  Since the work is mostly done on computers, then what is the major deal with lights?


More than enough. While bad lighting in your workplace won’t lead to blindness, this would stress your eyes. Eye strain can induce headaches over time, leaving you a less effective employee.


Establish your home workspace in an area with plenty of natural light. It can make you feel better and may even increase your productivity. Using natural sunlight to brighten your home office is more environmentally friendly if nothing else.


Whenever natural light is unavailable, or you simply require extra lighting, invest in the appropriate lighting. While overhead lighting may appear to be the best option, it might cause reflections on your screen or workstation, making it difficult to view. Having said that, a task lamp can occasionally assist you focus the light exactly where you desire it. Search for a lamp with a solid covering that can be directed straight at your workstation when needed.


However, indirect illumination may be a better option for you. In indirect lighting, lamp covers or diffusers soften the light, reducing reflections and easing the strain on the eyes. Just ensure the light isn't too diffused, or you can lose sight of what you're doing.


Setting Up The Perfect Home Office


A home office could be whatever or where ever you want it to be. The possibilities are just limited by your imagination and available space, whether they are stretched throughout the basement or in a snug corner.


 

Disclaimer


This information is for educational purposes only and is not intended to replace the advice of your doctor. CandorVision disclaims any liability for the decisions you make based on this information.


The information contained on this website does not establish, nor does it imply, doctor-patient relationship. CandorVision does not offer this information for diagnostic purposes. A diagnosis must not be assumed based on the information provided.


 

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