How To Set Up a Work From Home Office
Whether you’re just starting to work from home or you’ve been working from home for a while but struggling to feel like you have a defined office space, we’ve got you covered.
In this post, we’re going to show you how you can set up a home office in 6 simple steps. Don’t worry if you don’t have a lot of space or money. You can set up an effective home office just about anywhere, here’s how to do it!
1. Choose Your Space
The first thing you’ll need to do to get set up with your home office is choose a space to work from. While some people might have a whole room to convert into an office, the reality is that most of us don’t.
Don’t overextend, you can create a comfortable and productive workspace just about anywhere. Just choose a space in your home that you have available.
You might be able to make a home office in a closet (aka cloffice), an unused corner of a room, or a room that doesn’t get used very often.
For example, your bedroom usually gets used in the evening, so why not turn part of it into an office during the day?
If possible, try to choose a space that is free of distractions. If you easily get distracted by chores around the house, put your office in a room that doesn’t get used often. If your kids are home for part of all of the day, it might be helpful to position your office somewhere quiet.
For small space working and living, check out our blog post, 5 Design Tips for Small Home Offices, for more ideas and tips.
2. Assess Your Needs
Next, you’re going to need to figure out exactly what items you need for your home office. Everyone is different, so really take some time to walk through a normal work week and think about everything you use.
Here are some questions to ask yourself:
- Do I need space to store files? Can some of my files be digitized?
- How much desk space do I need?
- Do I lose focus if I sit all day? If so, how can I incorporate more movement into my office?
- Do I need a printer or can I print elsewhere on occasion?
- Will my pet need a bed near my desk?
- How much lighting do I want or need?
- How much storage do I need for all of my office
3. Use What You Have
With so many people working from home this past year, there are all kinds of office accessories and decor trending. Although this stuff might be fun to have, you usually don’t need to purchase much, if anything, to get your home office set up.
Before you go online shopping, take a look around your home first. Is there a table you can turn into a desk? Do you have shelving or organizing accessories in your closet that you can repurpose?
Did you know you can even turn your current desk into a standing desk? We created standing desk converters that allow you to turn any desk or table into a standing desk. This way, you can keep the desk you already have while also getting the benefit of standing while working.
We recommend using what you have first so you can get your office running and you can get to work. You can always add or upgrade things down the road as you need to.
4. Purchase Essentials You Need
If you do decide you need a few extra essentials for your home office, here are some things we recommend considering:
- Desk light. Good lighting can improve your mood, keep you uplifted throughout the day, and reduce eye strain.
- File storage. For just a few items, try an accordion folder. Otherwise, you may need to invest in a small file cabinet.
- Desk with a monitor riser or laptop stand. Elevating your screen can reduce back and neck stiffness.
- Ergonomic desk chair. This is especially necessary if your current chair is causing back problems.
- Standing desk. Sitting all day can make you feel lethargic, cause stiffness in your body, and reduce your overall daily movement.
Many of the things on our recommendation list involve your comfort. Remember to put yourself first when setting up your home office. You’re spending ⅓ of your day at your desk, so it’s important for your body and your mind that you’re ergonomic and comfortable.
A few money saving tips:
- If you work remotely for a company, ask if they might be able to cover some of your home office expenses.
- If your employer won’t cover expenses or if you work for yourself, don’t forget that home office items (and space) are tax deductible.
- Check resale stores for office furniture. If you live near a large university, check to see if they have one. Many universities sell their old furniture, computers, and more at a discounted price.
5. Get Organized
Finally, once you're all set up, it’s time to get organized! Get organized from the beginning so that your clutter doesn’t pile up and become too overwhelming to deal with.
Keeping your desk space organized is more important than you might think. Our environment can directly affect our mood even if we don’t realize it’s happening.
A cluttered desk can make our mind feel cluttered and make us feel distracted. This will make it hard to stay focused and even harder to get things done.
Top 2 organization tips:
- Take a minimalist approach and only put out what you actually need. Store everything else away for later use or donate it.
- Give everything a home. If everything has a place to go, it’s easier to keep things tidy. At the end of each work day, make it a point to put everything back where it belongs so you can start fresh in the morning.
Need a home for your tech gadgets or desk clutter? We have some office accessories that might do the trick!
6. Add Something Inspiring
Don’t forget that you want to feel inspired to work from your home office every day! Before you finish setting up your home office, be sure to add at least one element to motivate you or make you smile.
You might add an inspirational quote poster like this one, a memo board with pictures painted by your kids, something that reminds you of your favorite place, or a photo of your loved ones.
We hope this post helps you get your home office all set up so you can look forward to many enjoyable and productive workdays! To find more ideas, check out our other blog posts, our entire line of desks, and our home office accessories.