Working from home has become more common than ever. Most offices now allow their employees to work either partially or entirely from the comfort of their homes. This transition means that the work-life demarcation has now thinned, and people find it difficult to separate their home lives from their office lives.

In such situations having a home office is highly beneficial. It allows you a separate space where you can recreate an office setting without all the unnecessary restrictions. This will enable you to be productive when you need to be and get things done. 

Why You Need a Home Office

A home office is the best of both worlds because you benefit from mentally and physically leaving work when you are done with your tasks. Then, you are back in your living space without the need to commute. There are many benefits to having a home office. Here are some of them.

It’s Convenient

Having a home office is highly convenient as you can work from the comfort of your own home and have the flexibility of deciding your own schedule. You can set up meetings whenever it suits you and take breaks when you think you need them. Additionally, you do not need to spend a considerable chunk of your day commuting back and forth from your office to your home. You can avoid all the stress that comes with traffic and bad weather. 

It Can Provide a Better Work-Life Balance

When you have a home office, you can spend more time with your family as you do not waste time commuting. Additionally, during lunch break, you can venture back into your home and be with your family than be stuck in a lunchroom at work. Working from home has also shown a significant increase in job satisfaction. 

A Quiet Place

A dedicated home office allows you to have a quiet place to do your work. Most home offices are located away from the commotion of the living areas and have a quiet and peaceful environment. This allows you to have a space to focus on your work and not be distracted from your home life. Additionally, due to its secluded nature, you are less likely to be disturbed or have to fight for a place to do your work. 

It’s Cost-Effective

When you have an office space within your home, you don’t need to rent an extra space where you would also have to pay for utilities. A home office allows you to forgo all these expenses. You also don’t have to pay for bus fares or gas, meaning you save a lot of money by having a home office. 

You Can Personalize Your Space.

A home office allows you to personalize your space, meaning you can decorate it however you want and not worry about what your coworkers think. Offices are usually bland, which makes being creative challenging for many. When you have a home office, you can decorate it according to your style and have paintings and boards up that will help enhance your creativity.  

What Do You Need To Set Up the Perfect Home Office?

When setting up your home office, you must choose items that will make the space functional and stylish. There are some essentials that you need to have and some that will make the experience better. By having a mix of both, you can create the perfect home office that will boost your productivity and look extremely stylish at the same time. 

Desk

A desk is the most crucial piece of furniture needed for a home office, so you should be very careful when selecting one. Ideally, you should choose one tailored to you and your needs.

Most people prefer a flexible standing desk that they can turn into a standard table or a standing table, depending on their mood. A standing desk is excellent for working long hours as it has many benefits. Such desks reduce the risk of weight gain, help lower blood sugar levels, and lower the risk of heart disease. Back pain also subsides when you don’t sit for hours in a single position. 

Ideally, your desk should offer both work positions, seated and standing, so you can alternate between the two throughout the day. 

An Ergonomic Desk Chair 

An ergonomic chair is a must when it comes to setting up your home office. Most home offices are not designed to offer you the support you need, which is why you may feel pain at multiple points in your back. To avoid this, you should purchase an ergonomic desk chair that offers support at various points so that you can be comfortable as you work. 

The ergonomic chair you purchase should ideally have lumbar support and be adjustable. The shape of the support offered by the chair should match the curvature of your lower back so your spine remains straight. Additionally, the chair must have the option to adjust the height, armrest position, and headrest. Such options ensure that the chair caters to your unique needs. 

The height of your home office chair should also correspond to your height. When you have the right-sized chair, you can sit with your feet on the ground and your knees at a 90-degree angle. This is the best way to sit, but doing so is impossible without a chair designed for your size. 

A Desk Chair Mat

A desk chair mat is a vital home office accessory if you want your floors to remain intact. If you roll from one place to another to reach items in your office, the wheels will likely ruin your carpet or hardwood floors. Wheeled chairs are known to scratch and cause dents in hardwood floors and rip up the fabric in carpeted floors. 

A chair mat helps cover up the floor around your desk to help protect it. These mats also help you roll your chair much more easily. Office chair mats come in various sizes and shapes, and you should assess your desk and the kind of floor you have before buying one for your home office. 

A Laptop and a Laptop Stand

When setting up your home office, you must have a home computer that is powerful enough to get all your work done smoothly. Laptops are much better than stationary setups because you can change your location whenever you want. One of the benefits of working at home is that you can change your scenery or make yourself comfortable when you start to feel tired. A laptop allows you that flexibility.

Additionally, laptops are highly portable and are excellent for taking with you when you are traveling or want to work in a cafe. With a laptop, it is also essential to have a laptop stand, which you can use to prop up your laptop. Using a laptop for extended periods causes posture problems, and you may also feel neck and shoulder pain. 

To address this issue, a laptop stand is incredibly useful. It elevates your laptop and brings it closer to eye level. This position prevents you from hunching over and helps you develop a healthy upright posture. 

A Monitor

Monitors are known to drastically improve your productivity because it is an extra screen where you can pull up documents and programs. An extra screen allows you to work on multiple programs simultaneously, and switching between them becomes a breeze. Additionally, you are less likely to make mistakes because you are not constantly opening and closing tabs. 

Having a second screen also means you can better organize your programs and tabs. Additionally, cross reference becomes easier because you no longer need to go through multiple windows. 

When purchasing a monitor, you need to consider the space you have and your requirements. Ensure that there is an outlet and that your laptop is compatible with the monitor.

You can also invest in a portable monitor, which is much lighter and easier to manage. You can take these monitors everywhere with you., and they are straightforward to use and perfect if you travel a lot. 

A Keyboard and a Mouse

If you have a desk computer setup or a laptop propped on a laptop stand, you will need a keyboard and a trackpad. Even if you use a laptop normally, having a separate keyboard and mouse is extremely useful. This is because laptop keyboards and trackpads are known to damage your wrist.

Ensure that you invest in a high-quality keyboard and mouse. There are plenty of options on the market that you can choose from, including wired and wireless options. Wired keyboards and mice are messier due to the cables, but they are reliable because you don’t need to worry about them running out of charge. On the other hand, wireless keyboards and mouses are much cleaner and more portable. This makes them highly convenient to use and take with you. 

Surge Power Strip With USB

When setting up the desk, you will probably notice the number of wires and cables you must connect. Cable management is the most troublesome part of having a work desk, but it can be solved with a surge power strip with a USB. This tool lets you connect all your devices to one power source, making cable management much more seamless.

Additionally, it also protects your home office setup from an electrical surge. Surge power strips are designed to keep power at a safe level when several devices are connected. So, you don’t need to worry about a surge damaging your electronics. Surge power strips can be attached to the underside of the desk or the wall behind your desk so that it remains out of your line of sight. 

High-Speed Internet

High-speed internet is a must when working from home. It allows you to work much faster, meaning you can finish your tasks earlier and clock out. A high-speed internet connection also helps you send large files back and forth and stay in touch with your clients. 

A Printer and Scanner Combo

A printer and scanner combo is a must for every office setup. It allows you to take out printouts of important documents and scan already printed ones. It also enables you to quickly transfer your files in whichever format you are most comfortable with. 

Good Lighting

Having good lighting in your office is a must. You should invest in good desk lamps and wall lighting to ensure you have plenty of light as you work. If you have dim lights, you may strain your eyes, which can cause headaches. A bright desk lamp will ensure you can work on the most intricate tasks without straining yourself too much.

When purchasing a desk lamp for your home office, ensure that it has the right tone and intensity of light. If you work with colors and value the accuracy of colors, you should purchase an LED bulb that covers the whole spectrum. It allows you to view colors exactly how they are, which can be highly beneficial. 

You should also ensure that the lamp is positioned correctly. The light should not produce a glare on your screen, as it can make it challenging to work on your computer. 

Paper Shredder

A paper shredder is an essential piece of equipment in an office. Naturally, when working in an office, you will accumulate paper that needs to be discarded. However, it should be in a manner that does not disclose the information printed on it. Paper shredders are excellent for such situations as they can shred documents into small pieces that are impossible to put together. 

There are three different kinds of shredders available on the market, and the one you choose should depend on your usage. Suppose you plan on using it for sensitive data. In that case, you should purchase a micro-cut or cross-cut shredder, as they are designed to cut the document into hundreds of small pieces. This makes them unreadable, meaning your data won’t be stolen. 

If you need to dispose sheets of paper with less sensitive data, you can purchase a strip-cut paper shredder. Such shredders cut up paper into long strips. When purchasing a paper shredder, you should also look into the kind of security it offers, its paper capacity, and the size of its waste paper basket. 

Office Stationery

Office stationery is an essential part of any office. Since you aren’t working in a large scale office, you will need to invest in pens, pencils, and staplers yourself. Ensure you purchase printer paper, pens, highlighters, pencils, and notebooks. It is also helpful to have binders, folders, staplers, scissors, paperclips, etc. 

Under-the-Desk Treadmill

Although an under-the-desk treadmill is not essential. It is an excellent addition to your office setup, primarily if you use a standing desk. An under-desk treadmill keeps your body moving gently so you can remain active even as you work. It is an excellent exercise gear to help you lose weight and complete all your tasks simultaneously. 

File Cabinet

A file cabinet is essential in any office because it allows you to store all your hard-copy documents neatly. Even if you are entirely paperless, there are always some documents you need to print out and store. In such cases, a file cabinet is perfect. 

File cabinets have greatly evolved from steel columns and are now available in various styles. When purchasing a file cabinet, ensure that it fits the aesthetic of the room and is placed in a strategic location from where it can be accessed immediately. 

Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS)

An uninterruptible power supply is an electrical apparatus that ensures that you always have power, even if your main power supply fails. It provides you with power for a short period if your electricity goes down, giving you enough time to turn off all your electronics safely. A UPS is essential because a power outage can cause you to lose files you are working on if you haven’t saved them before the outage occurs.

A Comfortable Couch

A comfortable couch is another necessity in a home office. Most people get tired of working from the same spot all day and want to move from time to time. A comfortable couch allows them to relax during their breaks and can be a second desk because some like to work while lounging. A comfortable couch is a perfect place to do so. Additionally, you can seat someone on the couch if you are hosting them.

FAQs

What is the first step in setting up a home office?

The first thing you should do when setting up your home office is to find a room where you feel comfortable and want to work. Ensure that this room is far from the common room and should be quiet so you can work in peace. 

What makes a good workspace?

A good home workspace is an area where there is the least number of distractions. The fewer distractions there are, the more productive you will be. Therefore, ensure that your home office is located in a quiet section of your house.

Where should a desk be placed in a home office?

Your desk should ideally be placed in an area with the most light. Ensure that your desk is placed near a window so that you get plenty of natural light. Some people like their desks to face a window, but some find it too distracting. In that case, you can place your desk perpendicular to it. This position will allow ample sunshine to come in and help you stay focused. 

Conclusion

Working from home has many benefits but to reap those benefits, you should set up a good home office. Setting up such a space can be daunting, but ultimately you will be more productive, have a better work-life balance, and save a lot of money.

For your home office to be effective, ensure that you have all the necessary equipment, including a laptop, a desk, good lighting, office stationery, a file cabinet, and more.