The Complete Guide to Setting Up A Home Office

Working from home and remote working is becoming increasingly popular. Here's our complete guide to setting up your own home office space.

As time goes on, working from home is becoming more and more popular. As the 2020 COVID-19 Pandemic showed, many people can even be more productive when working from home. 

Of course, while there are a lot of benefits to working from home, there is one hurdle you need to get over before you get to work: setting up your home office.

There are a lot of things to consider, from the type of chair that you need to buy to the sort of laptop and internet you need to work to the best of your ability.

If you’ve never set up a home office before, then you will be pleased to know that we’re here to help. Read on for our total guide to setting up a home office for the best productivity. 

Find the most suitable for your workspace (dedicated workspace)

If you aren’t careful, working from home can mean losing the distinction between work life and home life. The first step to making the perfect home office is picking where you’ll be working every day. Although you technically could just use whatever space seems most convenient at the time, a designated spot is better.

So, the first thing that you need to do when it comes to setting up your home office is to find the best possible location to set up.

Having a dedicated home office will help you step out of home mode and into the work mentality, and you’ll end up getting more done. It also comes with the benefit of being able to step out of your office space and switch into a more relaxed, leisurely attitude when you’re done with work for the day.

This may be a little challenging if you have a cramped home, but here are just a couple of ideas. 

Spare Room

If you have a spare room, then it may be worth setting up your home office there.

A spare room could be a good place to get some peace and quiet so you can do your work.

Not only that, but you could permanently locate your office in this room and use it as a guest bedroom and home office combo.

This will really allow you to maximize the space in your home.

Of course, make sure that you have enough space for all of the essentials – your desk, a chair, etc. More on that later! 

Office

Of course, the most obvious choice for a home office is in an office.

Not every home has an office space, but if you happen to have one then it’s probably the best choice.

Home offices are quiet and you can design them in such a way that will allow you to concentrate the best.

You can also keep your office there permanently without having to make space for a guest who’s coming to stay, as you would with a spare room office.

You can make the color scheme and set it up completely to your liking – it could even double as a home library if you’re fond of reading! 

Living Room

Not everyone has enough rooms in their house for a dedicated office or a spare room, and that’s okay!

Setting up your home office in your living room is also a good choice.

But where exactly would you put a desk? Here are just a couple of ideas:

Behind the Sofa

If you have a pretty spacious living room then you could set up a desk to go behind the sofa.

This is especially good for open floor plans. All you need to do is grab yourself a lamp and a swivel chair.

You can even sit at your desk and watch TV during your lunch break – though, maybe not while you’re working as you may end up getting distracted! 

Nooks and Crannies

Again, if you have a spacious living room, the chances are that you have a whole bunch of little areas in your home that are just dead space. You can fill up that space with a home office.

If the space is small you can invest in a slightly smaller desk, and you can decorate by adding a bit of art. It shouldn’t be too difficult to get it to fit in with the rest of your living room. 

Try to find a place where you can get some peace and quiet when you’re working. You can always hang a curtain or use a closet space if you’re working with a studio apartment.

Passageways

You could try to put a desk into a passageway from the living room to another room to save a little bit of space.

In fact, you can make it look like a console table when it’s not in use and put a mirror above it. That way it will look welcoming even when it’s not being used as an office.

Dedicated Space

Once you’ve chosen your home office space, make a rule that you’ll only use it for work-related tasks.

If you start playing Sudoku puzzles or texting at your desk, you may have a harder time switching back to work mode when you need to. Keeping your work and leisure activities separate will ensure you can more adequately focus on both.

Tips For Small Spaces

Thankfully, with some creative thought and the right organizing of items, you can create a small home office quite easily. Your needs will differ based on how much room you have, of course, and whether or not you have roommates or live with family.

Here are some tips for furniture to select, along with ideas for reducing clutter and making the most of the space you have.

Organize, Organize, Organize

If you don’t know where to start, start by cutting out everything unnecessary to your work. Everything on your desk must help you work and be within reach. Decorative items should be left to the walls or shelves. Keep wires organized by tying them together neatly, or attached to the sides of desks or to the wall to keep the floor clear.

Organization is one of the most important factors when it comes to creating a home office in a small space. Get specific, labeled compartments for keeping different types of documents, such as “to sign” papers or outgoing mail. Make sure that you throw away unneeded papers as soon as you can to help yourself stay organized and free from clutter.

Another method for better organization in a small space is consolidating your devices. As of now, you probably have multiple office machines doing different tasks. You may want to consider upgrading to combination faxing, copying, and printing machines.

Consider a Paperless Office

Piles of paper can clutter your space within no time after you organize, so going paperless in your home office is one potential solution to this. There are many advantages to reducing or eliminating paper use:

• Fewer costs: Every piece of paper costs something, whereas every email is free. By reducing your paper usage, you’ll save on postage by using email instead of snail mail, and using less paper is better for the environment.
• Saving time: Hunting through a large file cabinet to find information can be a thing of the past if you move your information over to digital files. A digital storage method for your files will allow you to easily search your documents make them much easier to access quickly.
• Less clutter: By going paperless, you’re simply creating less clutter. Without a ton of pages to keep track of, you’ll use a lot less space.

Use Wall Shelving

Wall shelves don’t require as much space as other storage methods and take up no floor space. They’re also easy to install and can be used to put anything you want on them.

You can use wall shelving to hold papers, photos of loved ones, your clock, or whatever else you need.

Divide an Existing Room

If you’re working with a single bedroom apartment, you may have trouble finding the appropriate space. If this is the case for you, you can divide up an existing room for multiple uses.

For an office space, it’s best to use a corner so that you aren’t facing the rest of the place and getting distracted by your family or roommates. Bookshelves or bamboo dividers are great options for splitting up a room.

Spaces to Avoid 

Of course, just as some places are perfect for home offices, there are also places that you should try to avoid when setting up your working from home layout.

The biggest thing to avoid is putting your home office in your bedroom.

Despite the fact that this is a bad idea though, around 80% of people work from home from their bedrooms! 

The biggest reason for this is actually work life balance. You need a space where you can relax, and ideally that should be different from the place where you work.

When you’re working from your bedroom it can be difficult to switch off – you may be drawn to the laptop to answer some late night emails, and find yourself feeling like you never have a break.

Besides this, avoid working in any areas where there are dangers to your electronics, such as areas with lots of water. Seems kind of obvious, but we just thought we would mention it!

Home Office Money Saving Tips

Don’t have tons of cash to spend on a fancy setup? Thankfully, you can get creative and save money, while creating an awesome workspace.

Here are some tips to help you along the way:

Use What You’ve Got

You might already have some items around the house that you can use to create a great home office space. Search your closet for printer paper, staplers, and other small items you may need.

Also consider ideas like repurposing your old dresser and using it to store your office files.

Paint Your Space Yourself

Instead of hiring a company to paint your office space, consider doing it yourself. If you aren’t very experienced or confident about this, ask around and find a friend or relative willing to help you.

Choosing an inspiring color to paint your office will help you feel better in your space and get more work done.

Go Paperless

Using paper for all of your work duties is not only outdated but unnecessarily expensive. There’s the cost of paper itself to consider, in addition to the cost of running the electronics involved in printing, faxing, and scanning.

While you’ll still likely need these devices in your workspace, you’d do well to depend on them less. Set up a paperless home office to save some cash. You’ll also find that it gives you more peace of mind and enhances organization in addition to saving you money.

Buy Used Items

Need a desk lamp or filing cabinet for your home office? Instead of buying new items, try looking at Craigslist or going to yard sales to find what you need. When people move or renovate their homes, they often get rid of high-quality, brand name items that they just don’t have room for any more.

Ask Your Friends

You might not have to spend anything to get the basics set up in your home office. You can make a Facebook post asking your friends or family if they have any old office furniture or supplies you can use. You may even be able to trade some old items you don’t need anymore. This will be much cheaper than buying office products new.

 Buy High-Quality Items

This may sound counterintuitive since higher quality items cost more. But when you buy great products the first time, you don’t have to keep replacing them, and you’ll save money in the long run.

One example is opting for a glass chair mat instead of a polyurethane mat. A glass mat is much sturdier and won’t crack or fade, so you only have to buy it one time.

When furnishing your office, emphasize value for the money rather than the lowest cost.

Decorate Your Space Yourself

You don’t need to hire a designer to get your office set up the way you want it. Look into creative office décor ideas to get some inspiration.

Learning a little more about DIY projects or crafting, like building furniture, will help you customize the space to your exact tastes on a budget.

Buy in bulk

Whether it is groceries or office supplies, buying in bulk is a great way to save money. You might not use that giant box of paper clips in the next two months, but buying them in bulk now means you will not have to shell out more money later.

Choose furniture that does double duty

There is no reason your office bookcase cannot also hold your DVD collection, so make your furniture do double duty. The fewer pieces you have to buy, the more money you will save. 

Finding creative ways to use wall space is another way of maximizing the utility of your space.

Save on Printing Costs

If you are not able to go totally paperless, here are some ways to save on printing.

Inkjet refills and replacement laser toner cartridges can really take a toll on your budget, but doing your own refills can save you a lot of money. Look for printers whose cartridges are easily refilled – it will save you a ton of money in the long run.

Printing on just one side can be very wasteful. Use the double-sided feature on your printer to double the capacity of your paper supply and make your dollars stretch twice as far.

“I have reports and proposals I sometimes send out to clients,” says Sarah over at The Toddle. “You’d be surprised how much I save simply by double-sided printing everything that comes out of my home office.”

Consider getting a monochrome printer. Save the full-color printing for business-critical communications and use black and white for everything else. Even if you are printing a full-color website or document, choosing the black and white setting can conserve your ink and save you money.

Office furniture

Now that you’ve decided upon the location of your home office, it’s now time to figure out what furniture you need. It’s hard to know where to start with buying furniture, so here are the key things that you need. 

Ergonomic Chair / Office Chair

The first thing to think about is your office chair.

The right chair will improve your posture, provide lumbar support, and keep you comfortable while you work.

Some people may wish to stand at their desk (more on that later) but most people like somewhere that they can rest their legs while they work.

For that, you need a good office chair.

One of the most important parts of a productive workspace is the furniture. You’re going to spend a lot of time in your chair (unless you get a standing desk), so you must make sure it’s both comfortable and good for your posture. 

Ideally opt for an ergonomic office chair if you have the budget for it.

When you’re working at any job that requires you to be stationed at a computer screen, you’re sitting for a long time, so it’s important to think about your health while you’re sitting.

Neglecting to think about your comfort and posture can cause health issues later down the line.

So why get an ergonomic office chair? 

• They’re designed to support you as you sit for long time periods. They’re more comfortable than normal office chairs, and this is usually because you can make alterations to the chair based on your personal needs. You can adjust things like the backrest, the arms, the height of the chair and more. 
• Ergonomic office chairs help to encourage you to have good posture. They tend to curve around where your lower back would be, which mimics the shape of your spine. It encourages a natural posture.
• Ergonomic office chairs are also good as they align your pelvis and hips. This means that there’s less stress on these areas, meaning you’re less likely to damage your body and you will feel comfortable for longer.
• They’re comfortable! One of the principal reasons that people invest in ergonomic office chairs is that they are much more comfortable to sit in for long periods of time. Not only are they made of much better materials, but the cushioning is usually thicker and designed to perfectly reflect your body. You can keep everything from your elbows to your knees comfortable – this isn’t always the case with all office chairs. 
• They’re good for people with chronic pain conditions.

Of course, there are a few key things to look out for when you’re buying an office chair, whether or not it’s ergonomic. 

The price is the first thing to keep in mind. Ergonomic office chairs can be pretty expensive, so it’s no wonder why some people opt for models without that extra support.

With that being said, still look for a chair with a good amount of support, especially if you’re going to be sitting in it for a long period.

You also need to think about whether the chair has adjustable height. We aren’t all the same height, and maybe a chair’s standard height is too high or low to allow you to work properly.

If you can adjust it, then you don’t need to worry as you can get the right height for you.

Remember, when sitting you need to be able to sit with your feet totally flat on the ground, making sure you don’t compress the thighs while doing so. 

If you have the budget or you’re particular about it, it’s also worth considering the color and design of the chair.

It’s nice to have an office chair that fits the rest of your decor and style – you may even feel more comfortable working if it does! 

Always consider lumbar support too, as it will make you feel more comfortable in the lower back.

You may end up spending a bit more money for this feature, but it’s certainly worth the investment. Adjustable lumbar support is even better if you can find a chair that offers it. 

Desk / Standing Desk / Alternative (Laptop Stand)

The next thing to consider is your desk. There are a few options available.

Standard Desk

The first option is a standard desk. This is basically what you would expect to see in pretty much any kind of office environment.

It’s a flat surface that you can put your computer and paperwork on so you can go about your workday, sitting comfortably in your office chair.

These desks are usually roughly 30 inches tall, and this works fine for most people. With that being said, it’s not always a suitable option for taller people.

Some standard desks also have things like adjustable leg heights which are particularly handy.

Standing Desks

You could also invest in a standing desk. But what exactly is a standing desk?

Standing desks can also come in a range of forms, some designed for treadmills, and others that can actually be used with a stationary bike or treadmill. 

There are a wide range of different benefits of standing desks, or even sit to standing desks that can be completely adjusted based on whether you want to sit or stand.

We all know now that being sedentary and staying sat down for too long can sometimes be bad for your health, and so a standing desk is great for combatting the problems caused by having a sedentary lifestyle.

If you opt for a version that you can use with a treadmill, you can even get some exercise in as you work!

Here are some great home office standing desk options.

Alternative Desk Options

Perhaps a home office desk is not convenient for you – it isn’t the best choice for everyone.

Maybe you don’t have a great deal of space, or you don’t want a desk looking out of place in your living room. Thankfully, there are a wide range of different alternatives you can use for desks, including:

• Ironing Board

So maybe right now you’re only using your ironing board to, well, iron your laundry. It may surprise you to know is that an ironing board is much more versatile than just that – you can also use it as a desk!

This only really applies to a height adjustable ironing board, but you can often change the position so it can double as a sitting and standing ironing board. 

• Bookshelf Desk

If you’re a big fan of reading, you’re going to love this desk idea. Have a look for desks that have built-in shelves where you can put things such as books and work. Multifunctional desk spaces? Yes please! 

• Portable Desk

Do you fancy working straight from the sofa for a while? If so, then a portable desk may be a good idea for you. These desks can fit right on top of your lap, and you can usually fold them down afterwards.

This means that once you’re done, you can simply slot the desk into a small nook in your living room and it won’t take up a great deal of space.

Also ideal for working on a commute where there are no desks available on your mode of transport. 

The Benefits of Good Posture 

So why is it so important to have the right choice of office chair and office desk? That’s simple – it all comes down to posture.

Posture is important in general – after all, why else would your mother have told you not to slough as a child?

It’s especially important when you’re sitting for long hours, however. The benefits to having good posture truly are endless, but here are just a few.

• Better Breathing

As you most likely know by now, considering you’re reading this article, breathing is pretty important! What you may not know, however, is that poor posture can negatively affect your lungs and your breathing capabilities.

The muscles around your lungs can start to shorten as you slouch, and this means that it’s a lot harder to breathe in deeply. If you simply sit with a good posture, you can improve your breathing capabilities. It certainly makes living much more comfortable! 

• Relieves Back Pain

If you struggle with back pain, it may help to reassess your posture.

Sitting correctly can help to ensure that your joints, bones, ligaments and muscles are all aligned correctly, and this means that not only are you less likely to have back pain in the first place, but if you are currently struggling with it, then you may get a little relief.

If you continuously get back pain regardless of this, then it’s worth seeing a doctor as there may be something deeper going on, but having good posture can certainly help for many people. 

• Better Digestion and Circulation

Having better posture helps to ensure that all of your organs will stay in the position where they best operate naturally.

If you aren’t sitting properly then the way that your organs function and flow can be disrupted, which could cause issues like constipation, acid reflux and more.

Making the conscious effort to sit in a good posture can help with this. 

• Better Concentration

It stands to reason that if you have better oxygen and blood flow from improving your posture, that you can also concentrate and focus that much easier. Your boss will certainly be pleased! 

• Reduced Fatigue and Depression

Wait – your sitting position can influence your mood?

You bet!

A study by the San Francisco State University showed that changing body posture can actually improve both your mood and your energy.

Your posture can influence your state of mind, as when you’re feeling happy and optimistic your posture is more likely to be upright and open rather than slumped over.

Little things like this can really help if you want to change your mood. 

Office hardware 

So now you’ve got your desk and your office chair at the ready, but you can’t do your work without that all important office hardware!

An office is only as good as its office equipment.

The specific tools you’ll need for your business will depend on the nature of your work, of course, but you can get the common staples set up first. Designate a spot for your laptop computer or PC.

One of my home office pet peeves is having an unorganized jumble of cables near my desk.  Here’s our article on keeping your office equipment cables organized.

Here’s everything that you are going to need to make your home office a success. 

Laptops

Laptops are by far one of the most important pieces of office equipment today.

Accessing the internet is essential for everything from data management, to accessing CRM systems, to doing research and more.

For that reason it’s important to ensure that you get a laptop that will fit your purpose.

For instance, if you work in cyber security then you may need a more powerful laptop than someone that’s mainly using their laptop to access the internet and Microsoft Office packages. 

Now you aren’t necessarily restricted to a laptop if you don’t want one. If you are going to be solely working from home then you could invest in a desktop computer.

These are pretty handy for when you want to upgrade later down the line, as you can often just replace the hardware inside – something much harder to do when you use a laptop.

If you are going to be working in several locations though, consider getting a laptop as they are portable. 

Other things that you will need to consider are the speed of the laptop, the RAM, the amount of hardware space on the laptop and the type of hard drive that the laptop has.

Make sure that you fully consider your needs before you invest, though, and consider whether you are going to be using the laptop for other things such as gaming that will require more power. 

Monitors

Monitors are pretty crucial if you choose to go for a desktop computer.

Without one, you won’t be able to see what you’re working on, making the machine basically redundant.

Of course, that’s not all that monitors are useful for.

If you’re using a laptop, it can often be handy to have monitors.

This isn’t applicable if you’re working out of the house or from a location without a lot of desk space, but having multiple monitors means you are looking directly ahead of you instead of looking down, which may mean that you have less strain on your neck.

Besides this, if you are doing work that requires you to focus on a few different things at once, then getting dual monitors can be handy and can save you a lot of time on changing tabs. 

To buy your monitor, consider key factors such as the display quality, the size of screen that you will need and how easy it is to set up.

Keyboards, Mouse and Web Camera

There are a few other things that you will need for setting up your home office – a keyboard, a mouse, and a web camera.

First of all you need to think about your mouse.

Now, what you get will largely depend on your preferences, but there are a few things to keep in mind.

Would you rather have a wireless mouse or a wired mouse?

Both have their own benefits and weaknesses.

For instance, you may need to consider replacing batteries if you have a wireless mouse, whereas this likely wouldn’t be an issue if you had a wired mouse.

Consider other purposes too – a mouse you’re using purely for work may be very different from one that you also intend to use for things like gaming.

Also, since you will be using your mouse for hours on end, consider an ergonomic mouse if you have any pain issues.

Second, your keyboard.

Typing can be a little difficult if you don’t have a decent keyboard which is especially important if you write for a living.

Consider whether the keyboard’s keys are well spaced apart to allow you to type efficiently. If you’re a night owl that likes to work in the twilight hours, perhaps you could opt for a backlit keyboard.

There are also wireless Bluetooth keyboards that can be rather handy, especially if you want to type on a device like a tablet or iPad as Bluetooth keyboards can sometimes link up to them.

It’s an excellent choice if you’re often on the move!

Finally, your web camera. A lot of laptops and monitors will come with a web camera built in, but this is not always the case.

In addition to this, the web camera that comes with your device may not be that good, which is inconvenient if you will often have virtual meetings with clients and coworkers.

Mobile Phone

There’s usually no need to set up a landline telephone anymore, except for a few special situations. If you spend a lot of time on the phone for your business, you may want to consider getting a landline instead of a cellphone for your business calls.

In some cases you may need a conference phone but for most a mobile phone is all you need.

These days, you can use a mobile phone virtually anywhere.

In fact, today it’s pretty much essential to invest in a decent mobile phone with plenty of calls and texts if you’re working from home.

Have a look at what your local providers can offer you if you’re running your own business, as there are often plans available for businesses.

Otherwise, your employer may provide you with a phone of your own. 

You may wonder whether you should really invest in a new mobile phone for work when you already have a personal phone.

It’s often best to invest in a mobile phone specifically for work if you can, as this can help you with work life balance. 

Other Office Equipment

There are a few other items you may need depending on the type of work.

Having a printer set up can save time if you need hardcopies of a document. Personally, I also prefer reading paper documents vs reading them on a computer screen.

Some lines of work, such as real estate agenst, frequently require a fax machine to send a receive documents.

To safely dispose of old bank statements, documents with personal information, and other types of confidential documents, invest in a good paper shredder to safely dispose of documents.

Microphone

Going back to the point about getting a decent webcam, you will also need a good microphone if you are going to be doing a lot of video conferences.

Consider a quality microphone that will help your coworkers and clients to hear you well.

As with webcams, many laptops and monitors will already come with microphones but they often won’t give you the best audio quality. 

Accessories e.g. USB Adapters, Cables and AC Adapters

You should also think about investing in some extra accessories so you can do your job well.

For instance, a Wi-Fi USB adapter will be handy if you’re out on the go without access to your usual Wi-Fi network.

You should also invest in other things such as memory sticks, external hard drives, and other data storage systems.

AC adapters and Cables can also come in handy when you need to connect things to your laptop or computer. Just don’t forget the cable management solutions.

Read more about essential home office technology.

Headphones

When you’re working from home, there’s a chance that you may not be alone.

No, we don’t mean that your house is haunted – you may have your spouse nearby, or your children, or your housemates.

The last thing that your friends and family want to deal with is hearing your clients on your computer, and you may also have a call that’s confidential that you don’t want anyone hearing.

For this situation, investing in a good pair of headphones can be incredibly beneficial. You can also get some noise-canceling headphones to help to ensure that you don’t get distracted by the ambient sounds.

Speakers

On the flip side of that, sometimes you may enjoy blasting some music to entertain you while you work.

Or perhaps you aren’t alone and you would prefer not to wear headphones.

Your laptop may have speakers, but they may not be particularly powerful.

In this case, you may like to buy a pair of speakers online that can help you hear things more clearly. 

Notepad / Whiteboard

There are very few people out there that have impeccable memory.

If you have a photographic memory, this tip may not be helpful, but for the rest of us having a notepad on hand with a lot of paper inside can be very handy. I often use it for taking notes during meetings or to give myself memos.

If you’re in a Zoom meeting or you’re trying to do some planning, having a whiteboard can also be helpful for you to jot down your ideas and notes.

Alexa or Google Dot

A recent addition to the office equipment world, devices such as Alexa and the Google Dot can be incredibly helpful.

Have a question? Ask Alexa.

Want to set a reminder that you have a meeting at noon? Ask Google Dot.

You can also ask them to do other things such as play music and games, for those times when you have a rare 15 minute break to enjoy. 

Software and Apps that enable productivity 

Working from home poses its own challenges as well as benefits, but one of the biggest issues for working from home is trying to stay connected to those around you.

This can be challenging when you’re trying to get a remote team to work together.

Of course, technology has also advanced to the point where this need not be an issue. Here are some apps and software that can be incredibly helpful for remote teams working from home. 

Zoom

If you’ve lived through 2020, it’s pretty unlikely by this point that you haven’t heard of Zoom.

This video conferencing software has revolutionized the way we communicate to people from a distance – it’s not even just for businesses either.

We’re sure you’ve heard of a Zoom quiz before! 

With Zoom, you can continue to have regular meetings both with coworkers and with your clients just by clicking a few buttons.

You don’t even need to change out of your pajama bottoms if you don’t want to – though, we certainly recommend doing so! 

Zoom is pretty simple to use. You can visit the Zoom website and set up an account using either your personal or work email address.

You can use it for free up to a point, but if you want extra things such as admin controls and recording, you can invest in Zoom Pro. This is often an excellent choice for businesses.

Once you have chosen your plan, you can then download Zoom onto your computer or on your mobile device.

You are going to need to have a microphone and camera in order to use Zoom, so make sure that you have decent ones available to you. 

If you want to spice up your weekly meetings, you can also do things like change the backgrounds of the video.

This is useful if you have an enormous pile of unfolded laundry lurking behind you that you don’t want anyone to see.

If you have weekly meetings, you can also set up Zoom to connect with your calendar so you will have a weekly reminder that it’s time to jump on a call.

Slack

Another useful tool is Slack.

Slack is a direct messaging software – sort of like WhatsApp or Facebook messenger.

The difference is that it’s designed for remote teams. 

Using slack, you can speak directly with your coworkers and employees without needing to have a meeting every time.

Simply send them a direct message.

Need to write a message to a group of different people? You can set up ‘channels’ where you can talk about specific things.

You can create channels for certain teams and set them to private so that nobody else on the team can view what you’re saying unless you want them to.

You can also save messages and pin important information on certain channels.

If you need to, you can also see older messages, though you will need to upgrade your plan if you want to see messages from a couple of months ago. 

Slack is ideal for remote teams – in fact, if your team wants to get a little silly you can even set your own emojis and reactions! Pretty cool, huh? 

Office / Google Drive 

Microsoft Office Drive and Google Drive are also pretty useful, both for individuals and remote teams.

With these tools, your team can save documents all in one place.

On your office or Microsoft drive, you will have access to all key documents for your company, and your staff can save things on the drive that other members of the team can access.

It’s a great way to ensure that all of your information and projects are in the right place, and you can share anything from videos, to spreadsheets to word documents. It’s very versatile.

Asana

Asana is another fantastic tool for organizing remote teams.

With this program, you can set up projects and you can assign them to members of your team – or they can assign themselves!

You can set it up by order of priority so you can ensure that all projects and tasks are done in a timely manner.

It’s a great way to ensure that everything in your business is running smoothly, and for managing the workload of your team. 

Lighting 

Lights, camera, action! When working from home, it’s essential to make sure that you have the right kind of lighting so that you can do your work effectively.

Natural lighting is ideal for productivity, reducing eye strain, and general health. But if you tend to work at night or your workspace doesn’t have a lot of natural light, look into getting a desk lamp for your home office.

Having adequate lighting will help you stay focused on your work tasks. Also, some people get headaches working for long stretches with poor lighting. Here are some lamp options if you suffer from migraines.

So let’s talk about natural and artificial lighting. 

Natural or Artificial 

So what’s better – natural or artificial lighting? 

Natural lighting is pretty important for a home office. See this NREL report on the effects of natural lighting (pdf from nrel.gov.

Natural light can help you to save some energy bills during the day, as you won’t need any other lighting.

Seeing the natural light can also help to improve mood and reduce fatigue.

In fact, the Harvard Business Review actually found that having a significant source of natural lighting was a huge priority for employees. 

With that being said, natural lighting isn’t always an option. Perhaps you’re in a location with smaller windows, or maybe you’re working during the nighttime.

In this situation make sure that you have some good artificial lighting too.

It’s good to have some bright overhead lighting (not too bright – you don’t want to get headaches!) and also invest in a desk lamp to allow you to see things like documents more easily from up close. 

Plants

Once you’re done with all of the essentials, it’s time to start making your home office really feel like your own.

Just because you’re inside working doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy nature a bit at the same time.

A clinical space may mean that it’s harder for you to focus or stay in one place, but giving your space a little bit more personality is key in optimizing your performance.

One way to give your home office some life is to invest in a bit of greenery to adorn the room.

There are a wide range of benefits to having plants in your home office, including:

• Stress Reduction

One study from the University of Technology in Sydney showed workers were significantly less stressed in work when there were plants in the area.

People are far less anxious and tense when there are plants around them.

This could be because some psychology studies have shown that the color green can relax and calm people. So keep some houseplants in your office to improve your mental health and productivity.

Perhaps you could paint your home office green too? 

• Better Productivity

Having plants in your home office may also help you be more productive. Human beings are designed to be around nature, so we work well in an environment with a lot of plants.

Plants make you feel good and give you a deeper connection with the surrounding environment, so having them nearby can be a good way for you to enjoy your time working a little more.

• It’s Healthy! 

You probably won’t be surprised to learn that having plants in the home is very good for you.

Plants release oxygen and take in carbon dioxide, which makes your office space much healthier to live and breathe in. They’re also very good for your skin. 

• They Look Attractive

Let’s face it – sometimes an office can look pretty boring. You can add some natural beauty to your home office just by adding a plant or two to the room.

This can help to uplift your mood, and they look good both to you and to any visitors. 

So, if you needed an excuse to go to your local garden center, you can use any of these! 

If you’re like me and aren’t blessed with a green thumb, try at least to position your work desk so that you can see some greenery outside.

As a bonus, take frequent walks out in the fresh air to keep your mind and body alert and awake.

Make it Personal 

The last step in creating your perfect home office is adding your own personal touch. 

Some days, you’ll spend more time in your home office than in other parts of your home. It’s in your best interest to personalize the place and make it feel a little more like home. 

Have Music Available

Music is powerful. Used correctly, it can improve your focus and productivity. Just setting the right music can help get you in the right mood – and you’ll need to do that at some point.

The grind will get to you as it gets to everyone. Music can help you focus on an important task. It could inspire you or calm you down, depending on your needs.

Photographs of loved ones

Why are you working? For many people, the enjoyment of working is their driving force, but this isn’t the case for everyone.

For some, a reminder of why you’re picking up your laptop and making calls is exactly what you need to stay motivated.

For this reason, it’s helpful to have a few photos of your loved ones in your home office to remind you why you work in the first place.

Art Prints

Get yourself on Etsy or Amazon and look for a couple of art prints to add some extra fun to your home office!

There are a range of styles available – you can even get some custom prints if you want to! If you’re feeling extra creative, you could also make your own.

Having a few prints on the wall is a great way to make your home office look and feel a little more lively.

Conclusion

So that’s everything that you need to know about creating your own home office!

With the right set up, working from home has never been easier and you can be sure that you will be just as productive as you are in an office building! 

Citations

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0003687019300304?via%3Dihub

https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB10001424127887323551004578116922977737046

https://news.sfsu.edu/research-posture-yields-insight-treating-depression

https://hbr.org/2018/09/the-1-office-perk-natural-light

https://www.greenlifeindustry.com.au/Attachment?Action=Download&Attachment_id=1430