There are perks to working at home, and if you have the right office setup, you can be productive and comfortable throughout the day. Whether you’re setting up a home office on a budget or trying to make the best of current situations, below are the tips on how to set up a home office so that it’s functional.
- Choose the Right Room
When you work from home, you have to deal with a lot of different distractions than you would deal with in an office. It’s incredibly easy to be pulled away from your work to watch TV or play with your pets or see what the kids are up to.
Thus, when it comes to choosing the right room for your office, you’ll want to make sure that it has a door that can be closed. This gives you the opportunity to shut out distractions so that you can focus on your work and get things done.
In addition to having a door, you’ll also want to choose a room that has some natural lighting. Not only can the sun illuminate the work you are doing, but it can also enhance your mood and help you feel energized and alert.
Of course, since it won’t be sunny all the time, you’ll want to make sure you have the right lamps for your office. These will help on cloudy days, the shorter winter days, or if you find yourself working late into the evening. Having a desk lamp and some overhead lighting will ensure that your office is illuminated so that you can get stuff done.
- Find the Best Desk
When it comes to the best home office setup for productivity, one of the most important pieces you need is a desk. Depending on the room you choose for your home office, you may have the opportunity to have a full-sized desk with many drawers for storage and plenty of space on top for your computer and other items, or you may need to find a space-saving desk.
No matter which option you have to look into, make sure that you can access all of your things quickly and comfortably. Since you will more than likely be using your computer on a daily basis, you’ll want to find a desk that is large enough for the monitor and keyboard, and it should be set up so that the screen is at eye level and your hands and wrists are in the right position while you type.
- Your Office Chair Will Make All the Difference
Since you will be spending a lot of your day sitting, it’s imperative that you find an office chair that is comfortable and ergonomic. There are no standards when it comes to chair height and adjustments, so you’ll have to find one that will work for you. Make sure when your feet are flat on the floor that your knees are bent at a 90-degree angle.
Other than being able to adjust your office chair to the ideal height, you get to choose what makes it comfortable. If you need a chair with lumbar support, then look for one or add a pillow. If you like to have arms or the ability to tilt back while working, you’ll want to look for a chair that has all of these features. The perfect chair will be based on personal preference, so take the time to find the right one for your home office.
- Organization and Storage
In many ways, your home office will be very much like a commercial office, and you will have important documents that will need to be stored somewhere. The most logical place to keep these would be in the drawers of your desk, but if you have to get a space-saving desk, this may not be an option.
You can always add file cabinets to your office space to add addition storage and keep your things organized, but if your office isn’t overly huge, then you’ll need to find another solution. If the room you have turned into a home office has a closest, then you might consider utilizing this space to store and organize your work.
There are many options when it comes to closest organizers, and finding the one that works for you will depend on how much stuff needs to be stored. If you only have a few papers that you keep for a short amount of time, you might consider getting hanging organizers or file cabinets for inside the closet.
If you have a lot of stuff, then getting a closet organizer with many shelves and drawers can create a place for all of your important documentation. If you have items that you need to access quickly and often, you might consider getting baskets or file organizers that will set on top of your desk.
It’s also a good idea to store other items in your home office as well, including pens/pencils, scissors, staplers, stamps, etc. While you probably have these items in your home, you don’t want to have to leave your office every few minutes to grab what you need. Having them within reach in your office will ensure you have the best home office setup for productivity.
- Don’t Forget About Your Comfort
Your desk will be in your office to ensure that you can access the technology and items you need to be productive. But there will probably be times throughout the day when you need to think or read, and having a comfortable place to sit is your best option. You can always head out of your office and go to your couch, but this could impact how much work you get done. Plus, when you have extra seating in your home office, this can double as a place for clients to sit if necessary.
Choosing the Right Furniture
When it comes to finding the right furniture for your home office, you don’t have to spend a lot of time visiting a variety of different stores. At The RoomPlace, we have a large selection of furniture that helps you when setting up a home office on a budget or making sure you are productive in your space. Check out what we have to offer and order the furniture that will fit perfectly into your home office space.