Don’t be afraid of vibrant colours and patterns if that’s what you enjoy, as colour can instantly transform a dull corner into a welcoming space that encourages you to stay productive. Whether you’re using a spare room or a study, the kitchen table or a garden room, you can create a working space that has everything you need home office tips to knuckle down. Making sure you have reliable tech is important (strong broadband is vital), but so is setting up the space and decorating the area in a way that makes it a pleasure to work in. Sometimes, the answer is apparent; other times, you might need some inspiration from other remote workers in the same boat.
- You’ll also find below a few home office computer setup suggestions to make the most of your MacBook Pro.
- This home office design guide covers the basics of home office decor.
- Choosing the right decor, installing ambient lighting and maintaining a clean office environment will help you get more done.
- If that’s the case, they may ask you to provide photos of your set-up.
- Our editors created a minimalist home office to let you be more productive.
- An entry-level laptop with a small screen can be yours for less than £200, but at this price, the laptop will probably only be able to deal with simple tasks.
Keeping things organised while you’re working from home is really important. Your normal office should have plenty of storage space, but that might not be the case at home. Although bulky, a desktop PC is far more customisable than a laptop.
A comfortable chair
Working in your PJs may be comfortable, but it won’t get you in the right frame of mind to knuckle down. Allocating a designated workspace away from your home’s sociable areas and the temptations of the refrigerator is a great place to start with your home office ideas. It doesn’t have to be a huge space, but it does need to be reasonably quiet during your working hours and ideally include a window for eye-strain relieving screen breaks. Investing in a home office setup is, in many ways, an investment in yourself.
Indirect light with diffusers that soften the light and reduce glare may be an even better option. The more kit you need to use for work, the more power cable you will probably have. Avoid creating a spaghetti junction and use some sort of cable management system to keep them all tidy.
Maintain a Separate Phone Number
Good lighting is key to improving productivity and keeping your mood up. Shop around for desk lamps or standing lights if things are a little dark. Your home office desk only needs to be as wide as your PC monitor or laptop, so consider adding some floating shelves above you for general office supplies. You could also transform an old cupboard into an office desk, incorporating a shelf for your PC.
If you don’t take care of it, it will end up ruining your productivity and burnout. A cluttered workspace can be extremely distracting and spending time searching for essentials amid the chaos can also waste precious time. Organizing a desk and keeping it organized will increase home office productivity and reduce stress. Clearing away everyday detritus like notepads, junk mail and completed lists is easy but for a really clean desk, it pays to tidy up permanent fixtures, too.
A properly placed desk
If you’re lucky enough to have a spacious home office, it’s worth taking the time to consider all the layout options for the desk. A desk positioned centrally is far more enticing than one rammed up against a wall or tucked tight into the corner – and this will help with your home office productivity. If you do not get enough natural lighting in your office, you can use floor or desk lamps to supplement, as we mentioned above in our natural lighting section. If your home office does not have a window or other access to natural lighting, consider investing in full-spectrum bulbs. While these bulbs are more expensive than a typical light bulb, they provide a crisp, bright white light ideal for reading and doing work that requires visual accuracy. These bulbs have the same balanced temperature as natural daylight, providing you with most of the benefits of natural light.
However, if you have a drawer that accommodates hanging folders, Smead colored hanging file folders with tabs work nicely with any file cabinet. Each of these folders has a repositionable poly tab and coated rod tips that allow the folders to slide into your cabinet easily. Finally, this Devaise 3-Drawer Slim Vertical File Cabinet may be your best bet if you want an easy storage solution for a small space. It has an interlock system, three drawers, and comes with two keys. It offers ample storage space and five casters for easy mobility.
Task & Time
If you use one monitor more often than the other, that monitor should be directly in front of you. Position the secondary monitor directly next to that one at a slight angle, forming a semi-circle. Setting up an efficient workspace in your home environment — as well as the very act of working from home — can be challenging. However, the pandemic-driven increase in companies adopting a hybrid or fully remote work arrangement has allowed many more people to begin working from anywhere.
In general, light and airy colors are preferred for a home office. You’ll also want to use more “natural” colors, such as blues, greens, off-whites and other earthy tones. While working from home, you will likely need standard office supplies, such as paper, pens, scissors, paper clips, and stationery. Stock your home office with the necessary items to make working from home just as convenient as working in the office with its well-stocked supply cabinet.