Working from home has many perks, like skipping the crazy traffic during your daily commute or enjoying the comfort of working in your pajamas. Instead of having a dedicated home office, many people make the mistake of working in front of the TV, in bed, or wherever they find a gap. Not only does this hamper your productivity, but it also blurs the line between work and home.
But you’ll find that if you set up a home office—a space designed solely for you to work—you’ll be a lot happier and more productive.
In this article, we’ll share some tips for setting up a home office that’s both functional and fun.
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Tips to Set up a Home Office
A home office should be a dedicated area in your home that is well-equipped for work. Apart from making sure you have the right equipment, like a desk and a comfy ergonomic chair, adding a few personal touches can do wonders in terms of making it a space you enjoy being in.
Here are a few tips to help you create the perfect home office:
Pick a Location
Ideally, you have a study or spare room that can be converted and utilized exclusively as a home office, but not everyone has the space to spare. If that’s the case, you’ll just have to work with what you’ve got.
You could always use a section of your kitchen counter as your desk, but you’ll need to pack up between meals, which can be a hassle. If you’d rather avoid cleaning up your workspace after each meal, you may need to consider innovative ways to make use of the space you do have.
Now’s the time to explore. Are there any vacant nooks in bigger rooms? Perhaps there’s space underneath your staircase or a spot at the patio table?
Let There Be Light
When setting up a home office, lighting is often overlooked, but it’s essential to think about.
Although poor lighting won’t kill you, it can make you strain your eyes. Eventually, headaches from eye strain may impact your ability to concentrate and work effectively. Choosing an area in your home that gets lots of natural light won’t just make you more productive; it may also improve your mood and contribute to better mental health.
For days when you need extra light, or when natural light isn’t an option, choose light bulbs with a warm tone, as they’re softer on the eyes than cool light bulbs.
Make It Private
Setting up a home office that’s private and noise-free is easy if you’ve got a room to yourself—all you need to do is close the door.
But when space is tight, privacy can be hard to come by. Switching off after work can be tricky when your workspace is in your bedroom, not to mention trying to meet deadlines while trying to escape your noisy kids.
A room divider can help make it private. Standing room dividers can be a stylish addition to your workspace, or you could hang a curtain as a simple and affordable alternative.
Consider Comfort
Why spend money on an office chair when you can just grab a chair from the dining room? But spending a lot of time at a desk without sufficient lumbar support is a surefire way to develop back pain or postural issues.
Investing in comfy, ergonomic furniture isn’t a luxury; it’s a must! Ergonomic furniture can improve your comfort and overall well-being and, as a result, increase your focus.
There are a few things you should look for when looking at office chairs. An ergonomic chair should have the following features:
- Height-adjustable seating
- Lumbar support
- 360-degree swivel base
- Adjustable backrest
- Adjustable armrest
- Adjustable seat depth
Lastly, don’t forget to adjust the height and angle of your screen. Your neck and eyes will thank you. Almost all displays can be adjusted. We recommend making sure the top of your screen is at eye level or just below it. Place your screen at least 50 cm away from your eyes.
But if you can’t seem to find a sweet spot, you may still need a screen riser to achieve the proper adjustment.
Add Color
The last thing to consider when setting up a home office is the color scheme you’ll use. As you may know, color can affect your mood, so choose carefully.
Choosing the correct color for your workspace may make the difference between being very productive and constantly wanting to sleep. In general, a home office should be decorated in soft, airy hues. And aim to use natural color palettes like blues, greens, off-whites, and other earth tones.
Conclusion: Setting up a Home Office
Setting up a home office can be challenging, especially if you’re working with a tight budget or if space is limited. But with a little bit of effort (and the tips in this article), you’ll have a home office haven in no time.
This article was brought to you by Kadima Digital. For more work-from-home and marketing tips, check out our blog.