AD | COVID-19 and lockdown has meant a new normal and a new way of working for many of us. The modern office, cubicle, or whatever cafe we happened to be working from that day is no longer a given. And a lot of us are very lucky to be working from home, perhaps for the first time. It’s something I’m well used to, having been a remote worker for over 10 years. But if you’ve never had to do this before, then here are a few tips on how to set up your home office.
How To Set Up Your Home Office – 5 Top Tips
Inspirational and wonderful as it might be to see social media posts and news reports showing people working from holiday destinations, that’s not the reality for most of us. Let’s face it, it’s going to be difficult to finish that 8-hour shift from the comfort of your bed. Why not leave that for Netflix, some online shopping, and sleep 😉 ?
Because when you’re living at work, having a dedicated workspace is key to both your productivity and your wellbeing. Working from home can affect our mental health in more ways than we think, so it’s really important to set up your home office properly.
Use The Right Equipment and Furniture
When working from home, the basics like a desk, decent Wi-Fi, notepads and pens are top of the list. And you’ll also need to ensure you have enough sockets to charge your laptop and phone. If you add in a printer and a desk lamp, you might need to buy an extension gang too. Just make sure it’s a surge-protected one to safeguard your electricals.
Be sure to keep all your equipment and home office safe as well, add a doorbell camera to your home security, and make sure to install cybersecurity measures to protect your network. Probably your biggest investment will be your chair. Remember, you’ll spend a LOT of time sitting on it, so choose one that’s going to give you the right support.
Create A Routine
Find a space in your home that you’ll use only for work. If you set up your home office in a certain corner, at a specific table, in a spare room, or even a garden office, it will help you get into the right frame of mind. And try to find a space that’s quiet, free of distractions, and has natural daylight coming in. When you have a dedicated home office space, it’s easier to create a working routine. So when it’s time to clock off, you can come back into your personal space and relax.
And if you need to, you can also de-clutter your home office area to create more space. If you live in Manchester, you could use a storage unit like Cheap Storage Manchester to store anything you’re not going to need for the time being. You can also widen your search by using this platform called WhatStorage which allows you to browse through all storage units in Manchester and compare prices.
Invest In Some Good Speakers, Headphones, or Earbuds
One of the best things about working from home is you can do more or less whatever you like when you like. So, if you live on your own, you can play your favourite tunes out loud on as high a volume you fancy (until the neighbours start complaining…)
If you don’t live on your own, however, then that’s where some headphones or wireless earbuds will come in handy. Many studies have shown that music can boost your productivity. And, because it can get lonely working from home, having the radio on, whatever your choice of station, can also help you feel less isolated.
Get a Few Houseplants
As a gardener, I would have to say my top tip for when you set up your home office is to add some houseplants or fresh flowers (if practical). As well as looking good and adding some life to your workspace, indoor plants can improve our mental wellbeing and our physical fitness.
Plants help oxygenate the air and also remove VOCs (Volatile Organic Compounds emitted from furnishings, detergents, paints, etc) at the same time. I have to confess, my houseplant game is not strong but I can recommend buying a few of these allergy alleviating house plants, which are really quite easy to maintain – and keep alive (!)
Keep Your Desk and Workspace Clear
A clear desk and workspace is key. Procrastinations like the sudden urge to clean your home office instead of working are a big productivity killer. And an untidy workspace can also be a huge distraction when working from home.
Why not consider renting a safe and secure storage unit for anything you don’t need right now? For example, from Storage Manchester who guarantee to be the cheapest in Manchester area. Or you could get rid of an unwanted old device by selling it to iPad Recycle, where you’ll not only make a little money but also help the environment.
Home offices come in many set-ups and sizes but I hope I’ve helped you with a few ideas. Do you work from home now? Have you found that a dedicated workspace helps you stay focused and productive? What tips helped you when you set up your home office?
* This is a sponsored post.
Great tips! Especially plants and a clear desk is so important to me to get in the right mindset for productivity! Lighting can also do a lot for me though.
Thank you – a tidy desk and a good plant work wonders for me – but yes, great lighting is also a must.
This is great advice. It has taken some time to adjust to being at home and having to work but I am now back at work and missing being at home!
We had 3 of us in our house working from home around the same table, it was a strain on resources for sure but what I struggled with most was sitting on the wrong kind of chair. I certainly appreciate my fancy office chair at work now.
Let’s hope we can all return to some kind of normal fairly soon x
Ah, I’m lucky to work from home, but I only recently treated myself to a proper chair and oh my, the DIFFERENCE it’s made to my back! That’s the one essential I’ll never do without again 🙂 x
Such a great blog post, especially as lots of us are still working from home. I love having house plants in my study and I also try and make the most off natural light. I really need to invest in some good speakers, as I like having music on in the background x
Thank you 🙂 House plants are so good for office environments, they’re brilliant as de-stressers and also as environmental toxin removers. Never underestimate the humble cactus! x
Good tips. I think it’s high I reorganise and redecorate my work station. It’s getting crowded. Thank you for sharing.
That sounds fun – any excuse for some new desktop treats!
I have primarily been working from home for almost 10 years. I find it’s really important to have an actual workspace rather than sitting at the kitchen table. I’m lucky that I have space to do that. So many people who have been thrown into working from home don’t have that luxury and are doing the best they can.
Yes, you’re right, we’re very lucky to be able to use a separate room for our working from home. Sometimes I might use the kitchen table for blogging but never for my actual paid employment work.
Oh I’d love a home office, I’d be in it all the time! These are great tips of how to set up your own home office x
Lucy | http://www.lucymary.co.uk
Thank you – I have to admit, I’d hate to go back to an office after all this time now! x
I been wanting to convert of my bedrooms into a home office. One of the first hurdles is finding a good computer desk and chair for me! Thanks for sharing this post!
If you can find a desk that doubles up as a dressing table that might be a good space saving solution 🙂
Houseplants bring in some of the outside and add a timeless splash of green, as well as give us something to water! I also find that keeping my workspace clean gives me the right frame of mind not to fuss around trying to tidy up and instead get stuff that needs to be done DONE!
Water always helps my motivation too. 🙂 Thanks for sharing, Lisa!
Yes, you’re right, Jaya – plus I always find if I remember to water the plants, I remember to drink myself, thank you!
Such a great tips. I’ve been spending a lot of time in my “home office” which is basically a desk in my room. I really want to take some time and make it look very organized and clean.
Antonia || Sweet Passions
Thank you – and yes, I think it will make a big difference to how you view your workspace – it’s important to have that division between office and home.
I really need to set up a proper space. I’ve been working from the dining table since March and clearing it away every night for dinner. It’s killing my back using the chairs all day instead of a proper chair.
Cora | https://www.teapartyprincess.co.uk/
That’s what I was doing for ages and oh, my back 🙁 Since I got a proper desk and chair it’s made a world of difference, I feel much better at the end of the day now.
I’ve wanted to build myself a home office space for ages and now that I started off as a freelancer it really needs to happen! I need to find a space by the window because being able to watch the life outside is super inspiring for me. Totally agree with having a good sound system and adding some house plants into the mix, such small things that make a big difference.
Teresa Maria | Outlandish Blog
I think it’s one of those things that gets forgotten about when you start freelancing but it really is so important! I love the sound of your ideal set up though – natural daylight is super important.
I have worked from home since March and I have worked out of my living room for the entirety of working from home. It’s proven quite difficult and when I get my own place, a seperate home office will come in extremely handy for me. I love the tip about having house plants around, I love plants they create a really calming and relaxed atmosphere!
Oh wow, that’s hard, I couldn’t concentrate in the living room with the TV etc. Far too many distractions. I hope you can get your own office space soon – and yes, hooray for plants!
I’ve been working from home since mid-March and it’s taken some adjustment! Your suggestions are so helpful, I will have to implement a few of them. I’ve been thinking I need to create a dedicated workspace. I’ve been working from my dining room table, and it’s not the best set-up! Adding a few green plants will help, too.
Oh thank you, I’m so glad. And yes, working from the dining table isn’t great. The table is a good height but the chairs aren’t at all supportive. Definitely get some plants though!
This is very timely I have started my online class and my mom bought me a study table which will be arriving this week and I’m so excited about it! 😄 I can use this post for my class and blogging work! I find this very helpful, will totally pin this! 😊💕 Thanks!
Oh, congratulations, I hope the class goes well – and lucky you to have a proper desk, happy studying!
I relate to these so much! I literally have been doing a full days work every day from my bed for years and yep, it sucks. I’ve done my back in from it. I’ve got a fake plant for my office when it’s done but I want to get some real ones too and have a little garden for myself as well on the patio area outside my office.
I am so envious of your new garden office, I can’t wait to see it! A little garden area outside sounds heavenly – may I suggest some herbs such as rosemary and flowers like lavender that you can rub when you need a break and enjoy the calming and reviving fragrances? Yay for plants!
Completely agree on decluttering. I find it really hard to work when there’s chores to do, so I try to keep my office area really together and shut the door on everything else!
That’s a good tip, I need to try and shut my door too – hard when my family keep wandering in though!
I wish I had a proper home office setup! I have a set workspace that I try to keep as clear and tidy as possible but not a full office. Having a set routine helps so much in terms of productivity! x
Sophie
If you can’t have a separate room then yes, it’s hard. But having a routine really helps, doesn’t it – you always seem so productive, so yours clearly works! x
I’ve always had desk plants in my office but never thought about having one at home too! I love that idea. For me it’s been so important to keep a separate space to focus and get in the right mindset to get things done
Yes, you’re absolutely right, having that separate space is key – and you can never have too many plants!
Wow ! Thank you, I’ll definitely try these tips ! ☺️
You’re welcome, I’m glad they helped 🙂
So many great tips! Especially the clear desk! I find it so hard To work when everything is a mess!
Eliza
Thank you – and yes, a clear desk is a must.
These are really useful tips. I can’t work in a space that feels cluttered and unorganised so I always try to keep my desk area tidy.
Thank you! Yes, I do too – at least I try!
Love these tips. When lockdown began I spent 3 months working from my bed. It was not comfortable in the slightest.
No, I can’t work from my bed, it’s just not right!
Real good tips! I agree that there should be a dedicated area for working from home. In my case that’s my study table in my room with some houseplants. It’s a nice addition to my area as it’s so relaxing to look at.
Your work area sounds lovely – yay for some plants!
Hi Lisa. Some very useful tips there. I agree that having a decent chair is a must – having a bad back will sap the enthusiasm from even the keenest of workers. We never seem to have much luck with house plants … perhaps we should try again. What are the most hardy houseplants? Cactus? Spider plant?
Definitely get a good chair – and cactus, succulents, dragon plants are all pretty hardy. Or you could try air plants, which just need a spray of water every so often!
These are great tips, thank you for sharing! I need to do some work on my home office and this was really helpful information!
You’re welcome, I’m pleased they were helpful!
A really great resource! The only thing I’d add is a good ergonomic set-up! Thanks for sharing.
Thank you – and yes, definitely, comfort is key!
Such great tips! I recently invested in a new desk, a new chair and a little raised platform so my screen could be at eye level. It’s a game changer! I do need to work on my routine and I’d love to get some plants to make the space more welcoming.
Your set up sounds brilliant – maybe just a few plants now to make it perfect!
Great suggestions! I’ve been working from home for over 4 years now and I can’t say enough about the importance of a good chair. You want something that’s going to be comfortable to sit in long-term but also something that provides the support that you need to avoid any unnecessary back pain or discomfort down the road… There’s a reason that so many companies were starting to focus on ergonomics in their office spaces – carry that over to your home. If you can’t afford a new chair, consider purchasing a back support to place on an existing chairin your home (like a dining room chair).
That’s a really good idea, Britt. Properly ergonomic chairs aren’t cheap, although I do think they’re a sound investment. But if you haven’t got the space then a back support for another chair is a great tip – thank you so much!
Thanks for sharing, these are good tips for working from home to make your space calming. I do find having a couple of houseplants (fake ones!) can change the mood 🙂
Nic | Nic’s Adventures & Bakes
Thank you, Nic, I’m glad you agree!
Love this post – some really great tips. And I love your home office pictures – so cute!
Thank you, I’m glad they were helpful – but sadly the pics are stock photos, I can only dream of a home office like that!
A clear desk is so important to me! Love all these tips, thanks for sharing 🙂
Absolutely – and thank you!