Friday, July 31, 2020

5 Essentials Every Work-From-Home Office Needs




Whether you’re working from home by choice or by necessity, creating the right office environment is the key to doing your best at your job.

Many of your home-office needs will depend on the kind of work you’re doing and the space you have available to you, but there are a handful of things that every home office shouldn’t be without. Below are the 5 essentials you need to make your work-from-home office the ideal space to do your best work.


1. Designated space for working

Whatever kind of work you’re doing, it’s absolutely essential to do in a space you have designated specifically for working. Designating a space for work will allow you to shift your mental focus and get into work mode by “going to work” just as you would with an office outside the home.

You’ll also be able to relax better at the end of the workday by leaving it behind. What your designated space actually looks like will depend on your resources and living situation, but should go beyond a chair at the kitchen table or a spot at the coffee table.

The ideal designated workspace is a separate room closed off to the rest of the house that you use only for work. But if you can’t designate a whole room, try claiming a wall, corner, or partitioned section of a room to create an office space.

Consider the lighting, power, and ventilation requirements that you will need. Once you’ve claimed your designated space, you can create your ideal work environment by adding plants, stimulating décor and even good smelling incense or diffused essential oils.



2. Comfortable seating

Whatever your job, there’s a good chance that you are going to spend a lot of your workday sitting down. Your desk chair should be comfortable and supportive.

When choosing the right chair, shop for comfort first, not style and price. The ideal chair is supportive with good cushion, adjustable height, and helps you maintain proper posture. In addition to your desk chair, you may want to consider adding a recliner or armchair to your office as a place to read or take a break from your computer screen.


Stock photography (Licensed via Canva)

3. The right desk for the job

Your desk is the hub of your home office and choosing the right one can make all the difference. When choosing from the many different styles and sizes of desks, consider your individual needs.

Will you be working on a laptop, desktop, or with ink and paper? Will you be using multiple computer monitors? Are you drawing or drafting? Do you have a lot of tools that you will need at hand? This can help you determine whether you want a desk or drafting table, lots of drawers and storage, or multiple surface levels.

4. Office stationery

Just because you’re working from home, it doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy the luxury of a well-stocked supply closet full of extra stationary. In fact, stocking up on bulk office supplies is cost effective and ensures that you’re not scrambling around looking for a spare paper clip. A basic list of office supply essentials includes

  • Pens, pencils, and highlighters
  • Sticky notes
  • Legal pads or notebooks
  • Printer paper
  • Binders and folders
  • Stapler and extra staples
  • Scissors
  • Paperclips

5. A good filing and organizational system

Whether you’re working with paper or electronic files, a good organizational system is key to your productivity. For paper files, a file cabinet or file boxes will be much more efficient and tidy than shoving them into desk drawers.

For electronic files, create a labeling system that allows you to locate them quickly and easily. Consider the other storage needs of your office. Would a bookshelf or cabinet help keep your space clean and organized?

These 5 essentials will get you well on your way to your perfect work-from-home office, but keep in mind that you can keep fine-tuning your space over time. If you aim for a balance between focus and comfort in your space, you will find that you are not only productive, but you can’t wait to go to work each day.

20 comments:

  1. These are so helpful. I tried working from home, but it was hard with no dedicated space.

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  2. Very helpful post. I live in a small apartment so it was definitely a task trying to transform this space into a comfortable work space during quarantine.

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  3. this is so true! My home office is a perfect little area for me and it works wonders knowing I have my own space!

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  4. Great suggestions and useful, especially now that almost everyone experiences some remote working environment.

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  5. I always find myself getting a little extra boost of motivation when I get a new stationery or a few extra sticky notes :) Thanks for the great post!

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  6. I agree especially the comfortable seating. A couple times I tried to work on my kitchen table and it was so uncomfortable I was not productive

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  7. Comfortable seating is so important! My husband bought me a nice chair for the holidays about two years ago, but it doesn't have a lot of cushion for the butt so I've been thinking of getting a cushion for it.

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  8. Very informative post,liked all you suggestions and specially the one about comfortable seating.

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  9. It isn't easy working from home, creating a work space is definitely a great way to start.

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  10. I'm also working from home and will definitely keep this in mind once we start renovating our house. I love minimalist design :)

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  11. These are all so true. Especially the right desk and comfortable seating. I used many things in my house as desks until I bought the perfect one. My next job to tackle is a filing system.

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  12. I agree with all you've mentioned. When we moved into a new place, we are glad that we have extra space to house our new office together. We don't want putting a work desk in our bedroom coz it is unhealthy vibes.

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  13. Great tips and I do agree comfortable desk and seating is essential. Also VPN connection and a printer :) - Knycx Journeying

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  14. I need to work on setting up a home office before school starts. In the spring, I taught from the kitchen table, but I'd like a more organized place, preferably one with a door. We're supposed to go back face to face, but I don't think it will last.

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  15. You are so right ! I’m more comfortable having a good space for my wee office table. Inspite of me trying to be minimalist , can’t help but collect loads of different colours of paper clips and high lighter. Oh and notebooks! Still an old school here...

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  16. This is such a great article! I've been working from home in my room for 5 months now, and I feel so burnt out and exhausted. It feels like I never leave the office, and it's definitely because my new "office" is in my bedroom. I'll have to follow your tips and create a new space for myself so I can leave work at work.

    Rayka | South Asian Skin Blog
    www.southasianskin.com

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  17. Nice list! I'd add space for entertaining the kids, based on my experiences lately working from. home lol

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  18. Good practical write up Agnes. Definitely an opportune timing for the post!

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  19. Really helpful and good article. I browse this web page and read very valuable informative articles.

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  20. Great post! Since this pandemic situation many people has resort to work from home.

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