How to Set Up Your Own Home Office

Working from home has several advantages. You can choose to work from the bedroom, couch, the backyard, or any other place without limitations. While it’s tempting to work anywhere you please, having a designated work area at home could improve your focus and productivity. 

How do you set up a home office? Here are some tips. 

Identify the Best Location for the Office

Do you have an empty room at home? Why not dedicate it as your office space? It can be a spare bedroom or even the basement. 

If you don’t have any spare room, don’t fret. There are many ways you could squeeze an office space at home.

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The first creative option is to use your kitchen or dining table as your office space. Unfortunately, you will have to move your work material every time the kitchen or the dining table is in use during a meal. Therefore, a kitchen office may not be ideal if your work is relatively engaging. The best option is to consider spacious walk-in closets, unused corners, or the space underneath the stairs. With a little creativity, you can convert one of these spaces to a workspace.

Separate Your Home Office Space From Household Activities

If your office space is at a corner or a cleverly invented space, you may find it difficult to separate home activities and your work.

Consider adding a partition of some sort to separate the two environments. If the room has enough space, you can partition with the portable wooden dividers that small offices use. Alternatively, you can use curtains to keep yourself away from home activities while working. Curtains are cost-effective and lightweight. Choose a design that blends with your home décor to maintain the harmony of the room.

Purchase Appropriate Furniture for Your Office

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When shopping for home office furniture, invest in yourself. Choose furniture that will make you comfortable and help maximize your productivity. 

Ergonomic furniture supports your back, neck, arms, and feet to ensure you maintain a natural posture throughout your working hours. 

Here are some features of home office furniture that you may want to consider.

Ergonomic Office Desk

Although you don’t want to break the bank when setting up the home office, having the right desk is a must as you will be spending a lot of time with it. Find the balance between comfort, space, and budget. 

The ideal desk is height-adjustable. It provides enough space for your computer and other work essentials. Your desk should also have sufficient space for writing.

Ergonomic Chairs

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Like your desk, your office chair should be height adjustable. You should be able to adjust it according to the height of the desk or your body size. 

The ideal chair height should allow your elbows to rest flat on your table. Furthermore, your feet must be at a 90-degree angle with your body when sitting. 

The chair should also have adjustable armrests and backrests for additional support. An ideal office chair should also have built-in lumbar support to cushion your back from stress when working long hours.

Storage Cabinets

Even if your office is in your house, you need a separate cabinet for your sensitive, work-related documents. Many people have lost important work materials in the house, as they get mixed up with bills, letters, and other household-related documents. Invest in a cabinet or shelf to put away all your work items.

Set Up Proper Lighting For Your Office

Many people overlook lighting when setting up a home office. That is because most work is done on computers and the computer monitor has lighting. However, this is detrimental to your health. 

Poor lighting causes eye strain, which could lead to headaches. While it’s great to use natural light during the day, be sure you have sufficient lighting when working at night. Think about getting a night lamp to provide you with indirect light that is easy on your eyes.

You don’t have to spend a lot to set up a home office. With a little imagination, you can have it anywhere in your home. However, you need to create a working space that helps you work at optimum productivity.