How to Set up a Home office?
Working from home offers many advantages, including the flexibility of setting your schedule, saving time and money by eliminating your daily commute. But being successful in a home office requires creating a space that promotes efficiency in a non-traditional work environment. You’ll want to define a professional work area that separates your business from your personal life whether you’re self-employed or working remotely. Check out our top 6 tips on how you can set up a home office easily and improve efficiency:
USE PINTEREST RESPONSIBLY
Browse for inspiration, but remember those offices in design magazines may not be set up to accommodate a 50-hour workweek. Upholstered dining room chairs look amazing, but they won’t support your back. Tiny vintage desks won’t accommodate your project files, and while some people like bright colors, you might get annoyed looking at a whole wall of fire engine red paint right above your computer, even if that makes your office look awesome in a photograph.
A good home office needs to be functional first and beautiful second.
FOLLOW ERGONOMIC RULES
The top of your computer screen should be at eye level or a little below. As you scan down the screen, your eyelids will naturally close a bit and moisten, which reduces eye fatigue. Position your keyboard so your forearms are parallel to the floor. And adjust your chair so your feet rest firmly on something–the floor, or a footrest if you’re short. Splurge on a chair that makes you want to put in the hours. “It sounds obvious, but you should love the chair you’re sitting on. Otherwise, you will never sit at your desk.
We even have a Home Office Comfort tab where you can find many product to protect your health.
THINK ABOUT THE LIGHT
Move your desk close to the windows, but place it parallel to the panes. This ideal set-up gives you the benefits of natural light, and a good reason to turn away from your computer every few minutes to take in the scene.
Even with great natural light, you’ll still need additional lighting for darker hours of the day. Most overhead house lighting is inadequate for work.
GET CREATIVE WITH STORAGE
Filing cabinets aren’t the most attractive pieces of furniture, but you do need a place to put papers you use frequently.
If you’re the sort of person who needs to see something to remember it exists, try wall storage: magazine-type racks, or children’s library-style display shelves.
If you need bookcases, get nice ones–big enough that you don’t need to overstuff, and artful enough that they’ll look great as the backdrop in your video conferences. And if you’re using the guest bedroom? It probably has a closet. Trick out that closet with a shelving system, so you minimize the need for storage in the main office area.
See discounted filling cabinet
HIDE THINGS YOU DON’T WANT TO LOOK AT
Modern offices have lots of cords. Run a power strip behind your desk and plug everything into that. As for office equipment? Most people hate how printers look. So that can go in the closet. Just don’t try to skip owning a printer with copying and scanning capability. Having to run to a Printing Office for basic functions can take a big chunk out of your day.
See discounted printing options
DECORATE
Your desk is for active work, but you probably need a place to think or read, too. A great home office has a nice comfy chair for curling up–potentially with an ottoman for your feet–plus a table for your coffee and a great lamp. Add a luxurious throw and a colorful pillow and you’ll want to take thinking breaks.
Plants make people happier. It’s like bringing what’s outside your window into your space. Plus, since most plants can go a day or two without water, you won’t have to go into your office on weekends.
Keep all your office supplies–pens, scissors, stapler, stamps–handy. Consider a small fridge or coffee maker if you like to enjoy a few beverages during the day. But don’t keep your lunch in the office fridge. You do need breaks, after all, and even if you’ve got an awesome home office, you don’t need to spend your life there.
We hope you can set up a home office now and start enjoying the benefits of it.
