What You Need to Create the Ideal Home Office
I’m sitting at my dining table (my home office), all set up with my dedicated work things, ready to conquer yet another day. #WFH
So many people have had a significant shift in their work routines this year, with a good portion strictly working from their scrambled-together work station at home. Maybe its your sofa, or your dining table, or you happen to have a spare room or nook that fits a desk or table. Wherever you’re setting up for your daily grind each week, here is a list of four things that will help you create the ideal home office and will make you feel more grounded in your new(ish) situation.
“We don’t really know how long we’ll be working from home, but we do know that it will be for the foreseeable future. With that in mind, it’s a good idea to set up your home office for the long term.”
Invest in a comfortable chair
At your workstation in your away-from-home office, I’m sure you had a comfortable chair to sit in all day. Something with an adjustable seat height, adjustable arm rests, casters, and maybe even lumbar support. Now, working from home, say at your dining table, your new ‘office chair’ is made of solid wood, or is upholstered without anything that’s adjustable.
Invest in a comfortable chair. There are so many out there that fit any budget, from craigslist or marketplace, to IKEA, to Herman Miller. Here are some things to keep in mind when purchasing.
Are you using a keyboard and desktop or a laptop? Do you need arm rests?
Do you need the casters or is a stationary task chair suitable? (will you neighbours below you hate the rolling?) (this is one of my favourite videos on the internet!)
Will the chair have a place to be stored or does it need to fit in with the décor/style of your space? (Maybe you don’t want an office chair in your dining or living space reminding you of work during your off hours?)
If purchasing a new chair isn’t an option, try adding a lumbar pillow or a seat cushion to add comfort and support. And be sure to get up and stretch every once in a while because that’s good for you, no matter the chair!
Layer your lighting (ambient and task)
You’re likely sitting in front of a screen for most of the day, so layering your lighting is so important for your eyes and will help decrease chances of a headache. Yes, turn on your ceiling light (ambient), but also set up a desk light (task) that will help illuminate your work surface and will ensure even lighting all around you. And if you can set up your ‘desk’ near a window, do it so you can reap the benefits of natural light, too.
Have dedicated, work-specific items
Aside from a table, chair, and laptop, there are a few other things that will help make your WFH setup feel more like a workstation.
Here are a few things to think about:
File folder or desktop organizer
Coffee/tea mug
Docking station for electronics
Headset (for those zoom calls, or to help tune out noises/distractions)
A printer/scanner because you can’t keep using your neighbour’s wifi printer all the time
Create a routine and stick to it
If you’ve got a 9-5 work week, your daily structure is all set out for you. Just because you aren’t commuting to work doesn’t mean you should opt out of your morning routine. Get up, shower, get dressed (doesn’t have to be sweat pants!), have your coffee and a bite to eat, and maybe take that normal commute time to read a book or catch up on the news. Then set up your workstation and get your day rolling.
Cleaning and packing up at the end of your work day is just as important and any other part, because we all need to wind down at the end of the day. Clean up your dining table or workstation and put your work things away. Creating a division between work and home life when you work from home is key to sustaining this lifestyle long-term.
BONUS TIP: Have things around you that make you happy!
We are in a time where physical social connection is extremely limited (no more office parties, Friday afternoon wine socials, or even lunchroom chats) and this can affect our level of happiness while working all week. Surround yourself with things that make you happy, like plants, a vintage stapler, a selection of colourful pens, or a stack of coffee books to flip though during your little breaks to get inspired or just to take a pleasant pause from the computer screen. It’s important to cut yourself some slack and do these little things for you.
Hang in there! Try making these changes and keep doing what works best for you. We’re all trying to navigate this WFH situation the best we can so don’t be too hard on yourself. Do your best, take time for yourself, and the best thing you can do at the end of the day is pat yourself on the back. You’re doing it.
Do you have any tips that are not on this list? I would love to hear what’s been working for you while working from home. Please share in the comments below!
All the things,
Hello! Catherine here. :)
I’m a Vancouver-based interior designer and love all things creative! I’ll be sharing things that inspire me, posting design tips and DIY projects, chatting about all kinds of topics, and hopefully inspiring some people to make little changes at home to create an environment that is functional, beautiful, and a perfect reflection of you!
