Working from home is one of the only good things to come out of the COVID-19 pandemic. Sitting at your desk with a pot of your favorite coffee brewing in the kitchen, your beloved pet sitting by your side—what’s not to love?
Even though studies have shown that working from home increases productivity, there are still some ways to maximize comfort and efficiency in your workspace.
Whether you’re pondering how to set up a home office from scratch or just looking for some modern home office ideas, we have your office essentials list to create a haven of productivity, a.k.a. the perfect workspace.
First Things First: Where is Your Office?
The foundation of your perfect office is an even more perfect location.
Now, if you don’t want your family members popping their heads in (any more than they already do), you want to pick a low-traffic area of the house. The benefits are twofold: you’ll minimize the friendly faces distracting you, and you’ll save them from having to keep it down while you work.
In an ideal world, you’ll be looking for an enclosed area that can be purely used for work. Although there is nothing wrong with a bedroom/office combo, separating them will give you the privacy to function during work hours, and prevent you from being tempted by the bed when you’re itching for a midday nap.
However, if you’re strapped for space — fear not! Our home office tips will apply to you, too!
The Optimized Desk Setup for Productivity
If you’re sitting on the computer all day, you’ll want to make sure your desk is set up to maintain comfort and prevent muscle strains.
To do this, ensure that your space is conducive to home office ergonomics. You can do this in several ways, so choose whichever works for you!
Ergonomic desk and chair
We can all agree that the desk and chair setup is the most important part of a home office. You don’t want to be uncomfortable, and you definitely don’t want to be in pain. That being said, ergonomic features in an office can be an acquired taste—particularly if you're aiming for a minimalist aesthetic. But trust us, your body will thank you in the long run! Here are some important considerations when it comes to your desk and chair:
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Monitor setup: To prevent neck strain, you want your monitor at eye level. A similar idea applies if you use a laptop. Invest in a monitor or laptop stand to make sure you’re not hunching over. Using an external keyboard and mouse (both preferably ergonomic) will help keep your neck happy and healthy.
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Sit-and-stand desk: For those with sore knees at the end of the work day, a sit-and-stand desk is a total game changer. This type of desk is designed for you to sit and stand at various workday hours, preventing the strain of prolonged sitting and standing.
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Ergonomic chairs: Dining chairs belong in the dining room, not the home office! Choose a chair that’s made to be comfortable on even the longest work days (you should be able to rest your feet flat on the floor with your knees bent at a 90-degree angle). It’s not everyone’s cup of tea, but a kneeling chair is designed with ergonomics in mind—they’re made to promote better posture and alleviate pressure on your lower back.
Ergonomic Accessories:
An ergonomic support pad, mouse, and keyboard will help prevent repeated movement strain by forcing your body to sit in more natural positions. Here are some accessories that will help keep your body feeling good as you work:
Hand and wrist support: Office workers are more likely to develop carpal tunnel than other professions, so proper hand/wrist support is essential. A wrist rest is fairly inexpensive, so there’s no reason everyone shouldn’t have it!
Keyboards: Ergonomic keyboards are designed to promote a more natural hand and wrist position, reducing strain. Your keyboard should be positioned so your elbows rest comfortably at your sides while typing. Try to avoid having your wrists bent at an awkward angle.
Mouse: An ergonomic mouse often has an angled shape and reduces strain on your hand and wrist by guiding your hand into a more natural position. They can reduce discomfort and prevent repetitive strain injuries.
Remember, not all of these additions aren’t a necessity (as they can be costly additions to the space), but if you have the resources to spare, your body will thank you!
Better Performance with Better Tech
Although decorating might seem more fun than the ergonomic setup, we need to touch on using the right technology to (hopefully) increase your performance!
High-speed internet is a home office must-have for video calls, online collaboration, and any job that requires you to work with a computer.
This leads to the next handy piece of tech: a printer and scanner combo. It might not be essential in every line of work, but for some, this is a requirement.
Organizing for a Quiet Mind
A clutter-free workspace is a happy workspace—you need enough storage to keep your office free of clutter. This doesn’t mean a comically large filing cabinet, but it does mean that you might need to pull out the tools and install some wall-mounted shelving units.
You’ll also find that having tools like desk organizers will prevent pens and other knick-knacks from finding their way onto your desk.
One last piece of advice (that is more aimed at our tech-lovers): cable management. Cable management is a game changer—end of story. Run straight to Amazon.
Illumination to Spark Big Ideas
One of the positives of working from home is not having to spend all day in a harshly-lit office. Double down on good vibes in your home office with good lighting, which will also be helpful if you have a dark space or a penchant for late-night work.
Say goodbye to artificial overhead lighting with natural and ambient lighting at home. Situating your desk near a window will give you multiple benefits: you’ll have natural lighting and a tree or two to gaze at longingly when the workday is moving a bit slower than you’d like. Complement this positioning with a nice desk lamp, and you’ll never see overhead lighting the same. A well-chosen desk lamp with adjustable brightness and color temperature settings can combat drowsiness, boost energy, and minimize eye strain.
Non-Essential Essentials
With your desk organized and a lovely lamp illuminating big thoughts, it’s time to tackle some non-essential office essentials. While a good mouse and keyboard are home office must-haves, some features will maximize your comfort more than your productivity.
Some of our favorite non-essentials (that will become essential in the long run) are:
- Blue light glasses: The utility behind these is still debated, but day in and day out in front of a computer? The screen strain becomes real. These blue-lighting blocking glasses will make you feel less drained at the end of your computer-working escapades.
- Standing mat: This is only a bonus if you took our advice and opted for a sit-stand desk. Adding a cushioned mat to stand on can reduce fatigue and make you feel more comfortable when standing stagnant.
Decorating with Zero Inhibition
Taking a step back from working in a cubicle allows you to personalize your work environment. Now, you can take the creative liberties you always wanted when working in the office! From decor to colors, we’ve got you covered.
Decor
Have you always wanted to hang framed photos of your cat? Or posters of your favorite celebrity? Luckily for you, personalization is a must-have in a home office. This lets you get creative with the space, only taking precautions with decorating where your head might pop in the frame for a zoom. Try bringing in the following: *
- Plants: Greenery will help you connect the indoors with the outdoors, which is great if you want to add some life to the room.
- Comforting accessories: If stress hits you hard, having something to comfort you might be the difference between a good and bad work day. If you have room to spare, bring in a cozy throw blanket, decorative pillows, and a rug.
- Art and photos: Even if you might be seeing the faces of loved ones more often working from home, this doesn’t mean they don’t deserve a picture on your desk! Pieces of art and photographs can create a positive and uplifting feeling in your office.
Color
With the excitement of decorating your office to your taste, we want to tell you a little secret: anything in your office can contribute to your mood and productivity.
Lo and behold, we want you to pick the right colors for your space! If you want to revamp the entire room, painting in soothing tones of blue, green, or an everyday neutral will calm your environment. Avoiding bright or distracting colors will be vital to avoiding visual fatigue.
If you’re not too fond of the paintbrush, try bringing in color through decor. It’ll make your office pleasing to look at, and get your brain more in-the-zone for work.
Wrapping Up the Journey
With a bit of planning and creativity, you can transform any corner of your home into a productive and inspiring workspace. Remember, the perfect home office reflects your unique style and needs. Whether you're a minimalist or a maximalist, a home office setup is out there waiting for you. So, roll up your sleeves, declutter your space, and let your imagination run wild. Your dream home office is just a few steps away. Happy decorating (and working)!
