Setting Up Your Home Office For Working From Home

Homeworking is something lots of us are now having to do and many are choosing to do. You might be about to convert a bedroom or garage into your new workspace, or perhaps you’re already working from home, but don’t feel inspired by your surroundings. Well, there are plenty of things you can do to improve the quality of your new office.

Design ideas and inspirations

Whether you’re looking for a minimalist work space, something bright and cheerful, a place full of greenery and natural colours or a classical office with oak furniture and a log fire, there are so many sources of information available to you. For starters there are websites such as Pinterest, but also magazines and architects who can fill your head with great ideas. The important thing is to pick a design that’ll make your workspace a joyous place to be, but also a practical one, with enough room for all the things you’ll need.

Maximising space 

If you’re scratching your head wondering where on earth you could possibly put a home office, it might be time to start getting inventive. Think about how much space you’ll actually need – is it simply enough room for a chair and a desk for your laptop? If so, then think about hallways and landings, or maybe even a nook under the stairs. Would someone in the house be willing to let you use their bedroom between 9am and 5pm as, let’s face it, they’ll probably be out of the house then anyway?

The right equipment 

It’s worth pointing out that if you’re employed (rather than self-employed) then it’s your employer’s duty to provide office equipment that’s appropriate for your work and also safe, so you avoid injury. 

And if you’re thinking ‘how dangerous can working from home actually be?’ research by the National Accident Helpline shows that nearly half of those working from home have suffered some form of injury or accident while doing so, with back pain, eye strain and neck pain being the most common ailments.

They discovered many people lack an appropriate workspace or suitable equipment in their home, and as a result of this almost half (48%) have suffered an accident or injury whilst working.

The research also revealed the most common injury, that 1 in 4 home workers suffer from back pain. Choosing an ergonomic chair is a great start to alleviating some of these problems and avoid a back injury. One with height adjustment is important to make sure it allows for good posture. A decent desk is also invaluable – one that’s large enough to easily accommodate all your equipment. A standing desk might also be worth considering if back or neck pain is a concern.

Useful storage

You might be mostly working online, but it’s surprising how things pile up. Think shelves for small accessories, cupboards and units for larger items, or even a fire-safe box if you have equipment or paperwork that’s really expensive or important.

A blend of cheerful and practical is what’s required in your home office. Take a bit of time to work out the equipment you need to use, the space you have, and the vibe you’d like to go for, and you might end up with the workspace you’ve always dreamed of.