According to Buffer’s 2023 State of Remote Work Report, a staggering 98% of surveyed employees expressed the desire to work remotely.1 With more people working remotely, having a dedicated, efficient, and comfortable workspace or home office setup is key. It helps you stay focused and comfortable, leading to a better work-life balance.
If you work from home, this guide is for you. We’ll show you how to set up your home office for success. You’ll learn about the best location, ergonomic furniture, and lighting sources. We aim to help you create a space that’s both efficient and free from distractions.
Find the Ideal Location
When setting up your home office, the location is of prime importance. These days, home offices are a big deal in many U.S. homes. Turning it into an office or study area is a great idea if you have a spare room or unused space. Home office design should focus on privacy, storage, and good lighting. But, not everyone has a spare room, so you’ll need to think outside the box and improvise.
Look for spots like part of the kitchen table, unused corners, or even under the stairs. When space is tight, being creative is essential. According to the principles of Feng shui, placing your desk with your back to a wall and a view of the door, but not directly in line with results in an abundance of visual space and makes you calmer and more at ease.2
| Factors to Consider | Importance |
|---|---|
| Privacy | High |
| Storage | High |
| Cord Management | High |
| Lighting | High |
| Desk Placement | Moderate |
| Seating Areas | Moderate |
Prioritize Privacy and Quiet
Your home office should be dedicated and in a distraction-free environment. If your workspace is in a shared space, like a corner of the bedroom, or a hallway, adding privacy dividers of any sort can help. This establishes a clear separation between work and personal life.
Next, try to minimize any distractions that you can. For example, placing your desk facing a wall or away from busy areas can help you focus better. Also, invest in ergonomic furniture, such as an ergonomic office chair, for long sitting hours. Look for one with height adjustability, a 360-degree swivel base, and lumbar support.
To enhance concentration in your home office, an essential element is that of being noise-free. Noise-canceling headphones can ideally tick this box if you are liable to disturbances in the house.
Your home office should be a place where you can focus and be productive. By prioritizing privacy and quiet, you can create a focused and distraction-free space that supports your work as well as your well-being.
Accommodate Multiple Users
Sometimes, the home office setup is used for multiple reasons and by different users. The organization of an office at home could, in addition to being a workplace, serve as the kid’s study or your partner’s art workshop. In setting up your setup, therefore, you should always consider the utility for multiple users. Whether it involves the use of multiple desks or a host of furniture, a good setup incorporates the requirements of all users. It serves its purpose for everyone by providing a focused, distraction-free environment where productivity and creativity can thrive.
Similarly, in case the home office is organized as a meeting hub for all remote meetings, you should consider setting up enough seating, table space, and the proper electronics like a good webcam, headphones, mic, etc. A large L-shaped desk can be a smart choice as it offers separate work areas and space for a sofa bed or other furniture for multiple users.
Think of the following considerations when making such a decision
| Feature | Percentage |
|---|---|
| Side-by-side desk arrangements | 90% |
| Open plan setups | 60% |
| Minimalist design elements | 40% |
| Natural light sources | 20% |
| Custom furniture | 80% |
| Standing desks | 30% |
| Storage solutions | 50% |
| Workspace personalization and customization | 70% |
| Back-to-back arrangements | 10% |
| Compact or tight spaces | 25% |
Invest in Quality Furniture
Setting up your home office right means choosing furniture that lasts and supports your health and productivity. 3 The right mindset is to think of furniture as an investment to increase not only your productivity but also, to safeguard your physical well-being. So, always try to purchase ergonomic furniture that is both trendy and comfortable.
To read our definitive ergonomics guide on office chairs, click the link. If you are looking to buy one, check our handy buying guide for ergonomic office chairs.
Ergonomic Chair Features
Look for an ergonomic chair with ergonomic features such as height adjustability, swivel adjustment, head support, breathable materials, and adjustable backrest and armrests among other factors. These features ensure your body maintains its natural posture, thereby, avoiding back, neck, and shoulder strain.
Some things that you should consider when buying an ergonomic office chair include
| Feature | Benefit |
|---|---|
| Height Adjustability | Allows you to find the perfect seat height for your desk, supporting proper posture and reducing strain on your back and legs |
| 360-Degree Swivel | Provides easy access to your work area and enables fluid movement, enhancing efficiency and comfort |
| Adjustable Backrest | Helps you maintain a neutral spine position, reducing pressure on your lower back and promoting better alignment |
| Adjustable Armrests | Supports your arms and shoulders, preventing fatigue and discomfort during prolonged computer use |
| Lumbar Support | Contours to the natural curve of your spine, providing additional support and reducing the risk of back pain |
Optimize Monitor Placement
Your home office setup is centered around your computer. And, a good display or monitor is among the remote work essentials. The right monitor helps get your work done all the while causing negligible strain to your eyes or neck. A few cardinals include adjusting the eye level, using blue-light filtering screens, using a better refresh rate and resolution, and viewing the display from the appropriate distance given its size. 4
For those who work in content creation or are avid multitaskers, a good dual monitor setup can help maximize productivity. Keep in mind that with dual displays, it is crucial to adjust them in a manner that reduces strain when switching from one to the other by placing them at a similar height.
The technology type and whether the monitors have a matte or anti-glare display is especially crucial for those working in abundant light environments.
Optimizing your monitor placement helps create a comfortable, and effective ergonomic workspace.
To read our extensive guide on monitor ergonomics, click the link. If you are looking to buy a monitor for your home office, read our practical buying guide on home office monitors.
Consider a Standing Desk
According to a survey, 64% of employees sit for more than nine hours per day! That’s an awful lot of sitting when you think about it. 5
But, using a standing desk can help you move more and stay healthy by reducing back, or shoulder pain. Plus, standing also burns a significant amount of calories that might help you get in shape too all the while preventing weight gain and decreasing the chance of heart disease.
A standing desk that can be set to multiple heights can help you switch from sitting to standing and vice versa with the touch of a button.
Read about the optimal standing desk setup in our blog by clicking the link. If you are looking to buy, consider going through our buying guide for standing desks.
home office Organization
No office setting can be complete without organization. This involves managing paperwork, files, folders, office supplies, or even digital storage devices. Using shelves, boxes, bookcases, wall shelves, or file cabinets to keep things tidy, safe, and stowed away can help you improve your home office organization.
Optimize Vertical Space
Here are some ideas for using vertical space in your home office:
- Install floating shelves on walls for storing books, plants, art items like figurines, or supplies.
- Make use of tall bookcases for files or other office items.
- Hang a pegboard or corkboard for easy access to items such as extra keyboards, controllers, headphones, etc.
- Make use of notice boards or whiteboards to keep track of timelines and brainstorm ideas.
Some storage solutions for your home office setup can be
| Storage Solution | Benefit |
|---|---|
| Floating Shelves | Maximizes vertical space, decor, storing books and office supplies, etc. |
| Tall Bookcase | Provides ample storage for books, files, binders, and other office essentials |
| Pegboard or Corkboard | Keeps frequently used items within easy reach such as keyboards or headphones |
| Adjustable Cabinet | Helps tidy the office desk by accommodating various office supplies and devices |
Incorporating the right organizational elements can help reduce clutter, induce neatness, and increase efficiency.
Manage Cords and Connectivity
Keeping your workspace tidy is key for staying productive, especially when working from home since there is no dedicated staff to do that for you. Good cord management and a strong WiFi connection can keep your office connected, decluttered, and well-organized.
Underdesk cable trays or cable clips can help you in creating your specific wire management system which is customized to your working environment and devices. After initially planning the wires and their layout, make use of cord covers, cable organizers, and velcro wraps to tie messy cords and cables. This will also make your office space look better while keeping it safe from tripping hazards.
| Cord Management Solutions | Benefits |
|---|---|
| Cord covers and cable organizers | Maintain a tidy, organized workspace and reduce tripping hazards |
| Velcro wraps and cable ties | Bundle excess cables for a clean and professional appearance |
| Under-desk cable management trays | Keep cables hidden and ensure no power cord is accidentally unplugged |
| Cord protectors | Prevent cable damage and minimize wire overheating or fire hazards |
Network And Security
When it comes to WiFi, make sure you have a solid connection and the hardware to support it. Check your Wifi router and the coverage it offers ensuring that it covers all your work devices. A dedicated WiFi for work is desirable as it will not only be more secure but also keep your office right in the coverage hotspot.
To read more comprehensively about home network security, check out our blog on the link.
To see what an essential home office cyber security checklist looks like, read our blog.
Optimize Lighting
Good lighting is a home office essential that cannot be overlooked. It provides light which helps you focus and enables you to work at home. Plus, it adds to the ambiance of your workspace and can help in creating a comforting atmosphere.
The lighting options you choose should invariably be energy efficient so that it not only helps you pay the bills but is also better for the environment. LED lights are well suited for this use because, in addition to being power efficient, they also cut down on waste. Light temperature adjustment can also enable you to switch from a professional focus mode to a comfortable and relaxing mode.
Another source of light that often gets overlooked, but is hardly replaceable, is natural light. Whatever area you choose to create your home office setup, try incorporating some form of natural light into it as it boosts your health and productivity.
Whether you use desk lamps, pendant lamps, or ceiling lights, always try to account for screen glare in your setup so that your video conferencing or work display is not impacted. Also, to avoid glare, place screens right, use matte covers, and adjust your lights when placement is not flexible.
if you need inspiration about home lighting, read our blog on 8 transformative home lighting ideas for your office at home.
Who Needs A Home Office Setup?
So, whether you are a freelancer, student, researcher, or a seasoned remote worker, an efficient home office setup is a must-have. This means having a dedicated workspace that helps you focus and increases your productivity all the while maintaining your health in a carefully thought-out and curated environment. We hope this article has explained some elements to you with tips that might help you in designing your home office setup.
Key Takeaways
- Choosing the right spot with privacy and distractions in mind
- Think about all possible users of the space to get the most out of it
- Use ergonomic furniture and reliable tech
- Effective lighting arrangements by incorporating natural or artificial lighting elements
- Think about connectivity and security including coverage areas, blind spots, and passwords
- Declutter your space by adding storage solutions and smart cable management
- Add personal touches to personalize your space and add comfort
References
- Buffer: All-you-need Social Media Toolkit for Small Businesses. “Buffer | State of Remote Work 2023,” n.d. https://buffer.com/state-of-remote-work/2023. ↩︎
- McGregor, Kate. “10 Best Feng Shui Office Ideas to Boost Productivity.” House Beautiful, September 23, 2023. https://www.housebeautiful.com/room-decorating/home-library-office/g45210442/feng-shui-office-ideas/. ↩︎
- Thompson, Julie. “4 Ways an Ergonomic Workstation Can Improve Your Productivity.” business.com, April 19, 2024. https://www.business.com/articles/5-ways-an-ergonomically-designed-workstation-can-improve-your-productivity/. ↩︎
- Davis, Chris. “Do You Know the Best Positioning for Your Computer Screen? – ViewSonic Library.” ViewSonic Library, August 9, 2024. https://www.viewsonic.com/library/business/best-computer-screen-positioning/. ↩︎
- Sarkar, Brinda. “Six in 10 Employees Sit for Almost Nine Hours at Work: Survey.” The Economic Times, February 22, 2022. https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/jobs/six-in-10-employees-sit-for-almost-nine-hours-at-work-survey/articleshow/89742664.cms?from=mdr. ↩︎
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