It is usually quite small and cramped. It forces you to get out of your PJs and put on a nice (ish) outfit. Bingo!
Your home office is the hub of remote work many of us have dealt with. The one place in your house can still provide this space to separate your personal life from your work.
You might not be able to create a perfect home office, but you can still get some ideas.
If you’re in doubt, get a Cubicle!
Have you ever seen a complete-fledged painting studio in a closet?
Yes, I have. Years ago, I visited a friend who lived with her husband in a small apartment in Sydney. Her husband was a painter, and her studio was a simple wooden closet.
You might be able to skip this tip if you have a large house with many rooms.
But you are probably closer to a hobbit hole than you think because you’re here. (No offense, Bilbo!)
The ideal home office setup will assume a separate space you can set up with a desk and call it an office.
Many of us live in cramped spaces and don’t have the space to make a perfect guest room or office.
Don’t despair! It is possible to take one corner of your garage or basement (or even your living room or kitchen) and transform it into your work area. You can transform it into a workspace.
Make sure you have a divider, an improvised wall space, or a curtain to ensure your family doesn’t forget that you are at work.
You will find your best friend in a pair of noise-canceling headphones.
Is there any chance of natural lighting (without glare)?
Your dedicated workspace will likely be in a spare bedroom, even if you don’t need to use a basement-sized room that looks like a hobbit hole.
This spare room wasn’t big enough to be used as a bedroom, living room or bedroom. It is likely too warm or too dark in the summer.
You’ll usually be dealing with this issue in Australia.
You can easily tint your windows to reduce glare and create a cooler environment in your home office. Tints can reduce up to 99% of UV rays and save you money by reducing energy bills.
What if it is too dark? Proper lighting is not possible. Window tints could make things worse.
Enter lamps! Be aware that a floor lamp cannot replace a desk lamp. Although it may be more intimate and cozy, it can cause strain on the eyes.
Get a Seat or Not!
This dilemma isn’t limited to sitting or standing.
There is a middle way, which works for many homeworkers suffering from back pain.
If you are a dedicated sitter and your back is comfortable, don’t hesitate to buy a good office chair. A standing desk setup is a better option. A standing desk setup is a great option, even working part-time!
Standing desks have another advantage. They will only have enough space to hold your laptop, an external monitor and some paper and pens.
There is no room for endless amounts of office supplies!
Comfortable, but NOT Comfy
A chaise longue is not necessary unless you are a therapist.
You might feel that you NEED one. If you get one, your home office will soon become a chic and small lounge area.
Dear remote worker, there is no need for another excuse to feed the hungry specter of procrastination.
What’s the best thing for you?
An ergonomic chair is a great choice! You can relax and unwind, but the chair will remind you that you are in a workplace, not a game room.
Let the Shelves Float
Filing cabinets can take up lots of space that you could use for better purposes.
Floating shelves are a better alternative.
They are cheaper and easier to make than regular file cabinets. However, they are stylish and minimalist.
They can be used to store office equipment you don’t use daily.
Cables, Cables All Around!
You can leave them alone for 2 minutes, and they will be in tangles.
You’ll see dust bunnies everywhere the tangles once they are gone for two weeks.
Of course, I am referring to cables, wires, and cords. Despite all the technological advancements, we still live in an extremely wired world.
You and I will have only two choices until wires are buried in the history ash heap.
- A wireless keyboard, mouse and internet connection are all available to you.
- A good cable management tray, organizer or kit is essential.
You can keep your USBs and chargers in a drawer on your desk if you have one. If you are anything like me, this won’t work. Cables can slide out of any drawer and into your desk space.
