13 Tips for Designing the Perfect Home Office

Home offices allow you to work more efficiently and comfortably. With more people working from home than ever before, the need to have a good home office is clear. If you are a remote or hybrid worker, you need an office that can help you be productive and focused. If you don’t have one yet or are in need of a refresh before the winter season, here’s how you can achieve the perfect home office.

1. Get natural lighting

Set your home office up in a place that has access to natural light, which can help you feel more energized throughout the long workday, especially during the winter months. Natural lighting also improves your mood, so make sure to open the shades and let the sunshine in whenever possible.

Additionally, a home office with natural lighting helps reduce your energy consumption and can prevent headaches from artificial lighting.

2. Find a quiet spot

You don’t need to lock yourself away in a spare bedroom to have an effective home office. Instead, focus on finding a quiet spot where you’ll be able to focus.

3. Get ergonomic furniture

There’s nothing worse for your health and productivity than having an uncomfortable chair. Look for home office furniture that’s ergonomic so you can be comfortable and improve your posture while promoting health and wellness.

4. Focus on needs

Your ideal workspace will look different from someone else’s. While you might want a luxurious office, you should focus on what you need more than anything else, including the amount of space necessary.

5. Get storage

Most home offices don’t have enough room for tons of storage, but smart storage solutions can help you keep your documents organized and your desk free of clutter.

6. Make your home office blend in

If your home office is visible from other areas of your home, consider blending it into your current decor. You can find desks and chairs that will match your style so your workspace doesn’t look out of place.

7. Get a second monitor

If you’re not already using a second monitor, you should strongly consider getting one. A second monitor increases productivity by helping you do multiple tasks at once. If you use a laptop, you can easily connect a second monitor, mouse and keyboard so you can sit comfortably at your desk.

8. Consider a standing desk

Now that you’ll have a home office, odds are you’re going to be spending more time at your desk and less time being active. Sitting for long periods is bad for you, which is why standing desks have become popular in recent years.

A standing desk is a tall desk that can fit in any space so you can stand while you work. Many standing desks come with adjustable height options so you can be comfortable and switch from sitting to standing throughout the day.

A standing desk won’t make a significant impact on your health, but it can improve productivity and make you want to be more active. The more you stand, the more you’ll feel like walking around or moving your body.

If you don’t have the space for both a desk and a standing desk, consider getting a desk extender so you can turn any desk into a standing desk without sacrificing space.

9. Add plants

Whether you’re adding your home office to your living room or using a spare bedroom, you’ll need to add a dash of color that can help you reduce stress. Plants can also increase productivity. Make sure you pick something easy to maintain, especially if your home office will be in a spare bedroom that might not get a lot of light. Also consider which plants do better in the colder temperatures as you approach winter.

10. Get better internet

When you work from home, you’ll need high-speed internet so you can be as productive as possible. If your internet is slow, switch to an alternate provider or install a router or wi-fi extender. If you notice your internet acting slower than usual, try moving any clutter or furniture away from it, as these can disrupt the signal.

You can check your internet speed online, but for best results, do multiple tests before you decide to switch providers so you can determine what speed you need to be the most productive.

11. Maintain business hours

Just because you’re working from home doesn’t mean you should be accessible to your employer or clients outside of your office hours. Giving yourself working hours can help you improve your productivity. Inside of these working hours, set aside times to make phone calls so you won’t get distracted by phone calls throughout the day. Remember, if a client calls after business hours, even if you’re still working, try not to pick up so you can have firm boundaries.

12. Separate work and living areas and activities

If you have a desk, make sure you only do work at it so you don’t make your entire home feel like your office. Working from home comes with its challenges, such as making you feel like you’re constantly on the clock even when you’re resting before bed. To avoid feeling like you should be working even when you shouldn’t be, make sure you don’t mix work and living areas and activities.

For example, stop working while sitting on the couch. Your couch is a piece of furniture that is meant to make you feel relaxed. When you start bringing work to the couch, you blur the lines between work and play, which can make even your relaxation time feel stressful.

13. Take the home office deduction

Make sure you take advantage of the home office tax deduction whenever you can. You can deduct items like office furniture, equipment, and even a portion of your internet and electric bills.

Building your perfect home office

Depending on how much space you have, building a home office doesn’t have to be costly, difficult or time-consuming. Whether you’re adding a desk in the corner of a room or designing an entire spare bedroom for your office space, make sure you pay attention to the features you need to remain productive and happy.

With the right furniture and optimal lighting, you can make work feel like a breeze and enjoy going to your home office every day.