Whether you run a business from home, have the flexibility of working from home, or perhaps your ‘nine to five’ overflows into evenings and weekends, a dedicated space or room is all-important for maintaining the boundaries between work and home life.
Telecommuting and remote working were a growing trend before they became a necessity. As more people work from home today, we want to give you a well thought out guide to set up your home office.
With the right layout, furniture and equipment, you can build your perfect home office – and boost your productivity levels. As you add the elements that support your work best, your workflow patterns quickly become more efficient.
As you set up your new space, be it permanent or temporary, make sure you do so in a way that maximizes your productivity and your comfort. To achieve this goal, however, it is often necessary to overhaul the entire home office design from top to bottom.
Not sure what to buy? These 12 essentials will ensure you’ve created the ideal home office.
Desks
While some remote workers prefer to bounce around during the day, those looking to invest in a desk for a dedicated workspace should consider a few elements.
When shopping for a desk, first try to ascertain what is a comfortable working height for you. You may also want to look for desks with lockable drawers so you can keep your accessories safe and at hand.
It’s also wise to plan your desk purchase around your equipment list, rather than the other way around. If you plan to use one or more desktop monitors, measure the physical dimensions and ensure that your desk has room to hold them. Factor in other items such as external speakers, scanners, printers, microphone mounts, webcams, external webcam lighting, etc.
Generally, a larger desk is preferred, as it reduces crowding. A clean, uncrowded desk is a happier place to work from.
Here are some of our recommendations:
Tribesigns Modern L-Shaped Desk Corner
Tribesigns Modern Computer Desk, 63 inch Large Office Desk
Sauder Harbor View Computer Desk with Hutch
Walker Edison Furniture Company Modern Corner L Shaped Glass
Trestle White Computer-Desk with 2 Removable Storage Shelves
Should your budget allow, an adjustable desk is a great, ergonomic option. This allows you to easily move your desk higher in order to stand while working, and then adjust it back down to sit for a time. For those who prefer to move around their home while working, a lap desk may be the best option.
Bonus read: 5 Best Ways To Make Your Workspace Less Stressful
Chair
It doesn’t matter if you’re at your desk at work or your desk at home, a comfortable chair with quality ergonomics is essential. Don’t underestimate the power of a good chair. The right support, while working, can help you prevent postural problems, like back pain, later on.
While online shopping is great for many items, a quality chair is something you should test out in person. For your computer chair, it’s worth investing in quality to protect your back and prevent long term injury. Our preference goes to high-end office chairs that will keep you comfortable for hours while sitting at your desk.
Here are some of our recommendations:
AmazonBasics Mid-Back Desk Office Chair with Armrests
Flash Furniture Mid-Back Orange Quilted Vinyl Swivel Task Office Chair with Arm
Bonzy Home Reclining Office Chair
AmazonBasics High-Back Executive Swivel Office Desk Chair
For those who already have a home office chair, consider adding a lumbar support cushion to improve posture and help prevent back pain from prolonged sitting.
Computer/ Laptop
The computer or laptop will be the center of your universe.
A solid computer can be crucial for any high-end work, especially with creative professionals and, in most cases, you can upgrade your workstation with a powerful graphics card, and add your own monitors to customize your rig.
If you’re looking for something more aesthetically pleasing that you can move from room to room, you can always look to laptops from well-known manufacturers like Dell, Apple, and Lenovo.
Here are some of our recommendations:
Dell XPS 15 laptop 15.6″, 4K UHD InfinityEdge Touch, 9th Gen
Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon (6th Gen)
Computer Accessories
The decision to fully stock a home office requires a lot of planning, but the basic tech should give you a good start. Make sure you start with the necessities and stay safe out there.
Computer peripherals and accessories can help you maintain high levels of productivity, protect your equipment and work without distraction. They are available in a wide range of styles so you will always find an option that works for you.
For instance, adding a new keyboard or mouse to your existing equipment can help you work in greater comfort, particularly if your principal computer is a desktop. Also, if your work means you regularly use chat programs such as Skype or Zoom, you may find that adding a headset, microphone, webcam or speakers will improve your overall experience. If your line of work involves dealing with a higher volume of heavier files such as videos then you may wish to invest in a portable hard drive.
Lastly, one of the most enjoyable productivity boosters can be background music — it is both aesthetic and therapeutic. Fortunately, high-quality speaker systems are very affordable and can play directly from your computer or phone. Sure, there’s a chance that you’ll use your sound system as a distraction, but evidence suggests that the right music at the right volume can make you more productive. This can also help you feel less lonely working from home.
Here are some of our suggestions:
Philips SPT6214 Wired Keyboard and Mouse Combo with Stand
Leitner OfficeAlly LH270 Wireless Telephone Headset with Noise Cancelling Microphone
Anker Soundcore 2 Portable Bluetooth Speaker with 12W Stereo Sound
WD 5TB My Passport for Mac Portable External Hard Drive
Apart from the hardware essentials, you will also need to have your software and productivity tools in place. To help you even further, check out 24 Productivity Tools For Office Managers
All-In-One Printer
Every home office needs a printer and a scanner. It’s tough to do business without either. You need to get one that works, and one that isn’t so slow you start calling it names.
The best all-in-one printers will be ideal for your home office. An all-in-one printer does an excellent job of all the tasks it’s built for, be it printing off documents, photocopying files or scanning images to edit on a PC.
All in all, these devices are able to handle the jobs that used to require three or more separate units, and modern all-in-one printers can handle each job as well as or better than a standalone device would.
Here are some of our recommendations:
Canon PIXMA TR8520 Wireless All In One Printer
Epson Workforce Pro WF-4630 Wireless
HP ENVY 5055 Wireless All-in-One Photo Printer, HP Instant Ink
Lighting
Set up your home office with plenty of light for work; you’ll do your best work if some of that includes natural light. Windows and exposure to daylight can impact office workers’ physical and mental well-being.
Working in a space with natural light can reduce headaches and eyestrain, allowing you to be more productive on a day-to-day basis and healthier in the long-term. Apart from that, your desk will also need to be lit. So invest in proper lighting to supplement whatever ceiling lights or windows you have.
If you can, limit the amount of blue light near your computer — you get enough of it from your screens. Instead, light your desk with warm bulbs that won’t add to your daily exposure.
Depending on your workspace setup, you might also need a desk lamp to be able to work through the night. If that’s the case, check the latest generation of LED lamps that are gentle on your eyes. Otherwise, a headache from eye strain can put a serious damper on your work day.
Here are some of our recommendations:
TaoTronics LED Desk Lamp, Eye-caring Table Lamps, Dimmable Office Lamp with USB Charging Port ($45.99)
LED Desk Lamp Light with 4 USB Charging Port and 2 AC Power Outlet ($35.99)
Swing Arm Lamp, LED Desk Lamp with Clamp, 9W Eye-Care Dimmable Light ($55.99)
Storage and Filing Cabinet
Working from home doesn’t necessarily mean that you’re entirely digital. You’ll likely have a mixture of paper and digital documents that you will need to keep track of. If you need to keep important documents in your home office, it’s worth buying a simple and functional file cabinet. More importantly, you will need to keep these documents secure.
If you think you’ll have a lot of paper documents, invest in a sturdy filing cabinet that locks. If you just need to put a few important documents away, get a lockbox. Many people like to add office cabinets in modern or vintage style to their home office designs, and create simple and neat interiors that allow more flexibility.
A multi-functional storage that offers space saving interior design ideas while offering creative decorating solutions is also considered an essential.
Here are some of our recommendations:
Winsome Halifax Storage/Organization
BirdRock Home Bamboo Rolling File Storage Organizer Box with Lid
Sandusky Lee Black Steel SnapIt Storage Cabinet, 4 Adjustable Shelves
VASAGLE Industrial Ladder Shelf, 4-Tier Bookshelf
Bush Furniture Refinery Lateral File Cabinet
Basic Office Supplies
No matter what type of business you plan on starting or the nature of your work, you’ll need some basic office supplies to support your operations. The exact items you invest in will depend on your own needs and processes. However, there are some items that can be helpful for businesses in a huge array of industries.
We’re not going to list the most basic ones such as pen, paper, and folders. Rather, we’ll focus more on other office essentials you might consider purchasing to get your own venture off the ground. Plus, the aesthetics of these physical office supplies will make your home office feel less like home and more like an office.
Here are some of our recommendations:
Easel Whiteboard, Magnetic White Board
Fred ROLLER NOTES Sticky Note Roll
Moi Doi Wall Decor, Hexagon Cork Board
Samsill 70829 Professional Padfolio Bundle, Includes Removable Clipboard.
Desk Organizers
Organization is the key to getting your work done. When you maintain an organized desk, you are creating the best environment for accomplishing day-to-day tasks.
Therefore, without some way to keep all of your knick-knacks in order, your home office can get cluttered very quickly. A simple desktop organizer is a superb way to counter that. Pen holders, a phone mount, a post-it tray — these organizers are essentials for your home office.
Remember, a messy workspace promotes distraction and has the potential to foster a negative state of mind, contributing to the feeling of being overwhelmed or in over your head.
Here are some of our recommendations:
Wooden Mail Organizer Desktop with Block Calendar
SimpleHouseware Mesh Desk Organizer with Sliding Drawer, Double Tray
Tech Tools Hand Pen Holder with Magnetic Back
Sheepi – Magnetic Paper Clip Holder Securely Hold
Bonus read: 5 Best Ways To Make Your Workspace Less Stressful
Cord Organizers and Power Strips
As much as you need to organize what’s above your desk, you also need to organize what’s under it. The resultant mess of cables is an eyesore, thus, the fewer cables you have to hide (or avoid tripping over), the better.
Perhaps the most important step is having a power strip which all your cables will converge to. If you find yourself constantly unplugging and plugging things into your power strip, it might be a good idea to get a cord organizer.
We also suggest labeling each cable so that you don’t have to trace them all back every time. Plus, crawling around under your desk rearranging the power strip is a pain in the knees enough without having to guess which power plug belongs to which gadget.
Here are some of our recommendations:
3 Outlet Desk Clamp Power Strip, Desk Mount USB Charging Power Station
BESTEK Power Strip Tower 8-Outlet and 6 Smart USB Charging Ports
Cable Clips, 3 Packs Cord Management Organizer
DMoose Cable Management Box Organizer for Cords
Plants, Scents, and Decorations
If you want the full atmosphere of a stimulating office, consider getting some houseplants, investing in art on your walls, and even using incense or essential oils to diffuse scents in your workplace. These stimuli can help you think more creatively and reduce stress.
Setting up a plant and a scented candle in your home office can brighten up the mood a little — it’s the kind of simple thing that will brighten up your day.
Here are some of our recommendations:
Opps Mini Artificial Plants Plastic Green Grass Cactus
HoMedics Silver Springs Indoor Relaxation Fountain
Arosky 6 x 4.2 Oz Pack of 6 Scented Candles Natural Soy Wax
VicTsing Upgraded Mini Oil Diffuser 130ml
Coffee Maker and Snack Box
Everyone needs to munch on a quick bite in order to perform better or do amazing things. To avoid incessant trips to the kitchen, get a snack box and a large water bottle always by your side.
And if coffee is critical to get your day started, you need your own coffee maker! If at all possible, it is a wise idea to have a mini fridge in your home office that would store your go-to refreshments and guilty pleasures.
Here are some of our recommendations:
Gourmet Basics by Mikasa 5217596 General Store 2 Tier Hanging Basket
Chef’s Path Airtight Food Storage Container Set
Ninja 12-Cup Programmable Coffee Maker with Classic and Rich Brews
Vremi Beverage Refrigerator and Cooler
And if you’re working more from home, you may notice you need to clean up your home a little more frequent than before. For others, you may need to repurpose a different part of your home such as a garage for your new desk. A great vacuum or shop vacuum will work wonders in keeping your space clean and orderly.
In case you’re still up in the air, there are more reasons to provide food and beverages in your home office than there are reasons against it. Read more at:
Best Coffee Styles For Ultimate Productivity At Work
11 Healthy Office Snacks To Supercharge Productivity
5 Office Coffee Machines Perfect For Your Office
7 Reasons You Need Food & Beverages In The Office
There You Have It!
During this hectic and very scary time, many of us have found ourselves suddenly working from home. And many of us are finding that working from home is a lot harder than it sounds.
Working from home always sounds like a great way to work, until you end up trying to stay productive typing on the couch or wasting most of the day on some distracting side project. But at-home productivity isn’t impossible — it simply takes a slight change of scenery. You want to outfit your workspace — wherever it may be — and invest in it the same way you would any other room.
After all, if you’re working full-time, you’ll be in that workspace for as many hours as you’ll be in bed. Now’s the time to get a space that can closely mirror your office environment. It needs to be a place that is conducive to productivity, yet also comfortable.
Since it’s your home after all, there’s no reason why your office can’t also reflect your unique personality and your fantastic decorative style.
IF YOU HAVE TO WORK FROM HOME, MAKE IT AS NICE AS YOU CAN!
Make sure to share this article with anyone you think could use it!
When you find yourself in need of wine, coffee, kombucha, tea, beer, or snacks for your office or event, shoot us a message!
This article was brought to you by Office Libations, your San Francisco Bay Area office coffee, keg delivery, and snack service. Delivering top local brands and kegs of cold brew coffee, kombucha, beer, and wine.