While there are a lot of upsides to working from home (convenient commute, quiet coworkers, lenient dress code), for many of us there are a lot of challenges too. How do you set up a work from home station that has everything you need? Where do you store everything? How to avoid cabin fever? We’re sharing our favorite home office ideas and work from home tips:
1. Designate Your Space
At the top of the To Do list, you’ll need to choose the spot in your house where you’ll set up your home office. If you don’t have a whole room, that’s fine. Choose a corner of a living room or den, add a work space in your guest bedroom, or carve out a corner in the kitchen.
Just keep in mind that you’ll want a quiet space to work, so try to find a space out of the way.
2. Choose Your Furniture
Every home office needs a few basic things, but your desk certainly makes the biggest difference in how your workspace will function. Do you have lots of computer equipment that needs a large surface? Do you have lots of storage needs? By far our best home office ideas are to be realistic about what functions you need to serve and how to best accommodate them. Here are some questions to ask yourself before shopping for a desk:
- How much work surface do you need?
- Do you need file storage?
- Is there room for a task lamp?
- Is there enough storage for office supplies?
If you need to accommodate multiple workspaces, a modular home office system might make the most sense. You can configure two desk spaces united by countertop, add a plenty of storage space, and even pick out unique chairs for each person.
3. Cord Management
Not only are cords an eyesore, they can be dangerous if they’re in traffic areas or exposed to small kids. Most of our desks have cord management to keep everything neat and tidy.
4. Home Office Ideas
If you’re planning to work from home, you’ll be spending a lot of time in your new office, so make the extra effort to make sure it’s pretty in addition to being functional. Decorative accents go a long way in giving your room a comfortable, homey feel. Drapery panels, wall art, and great lighting all create a comfortable, welcoming home office where you’ll enjoy spending your time.
5. Soft Rugs
While they’re important decorative elements, rugs also serve a functional purpose in a home office. They’re great at absorbing sound, making your space a quieter place to function.
When picking out a rug, choose the largest size that will fit in your space. At the very least, all of your desk legs and chair legs should fit on the rug, even when you pull your chair out.
Guide to Choosing the Right Rug Size
6. Comfortable Seating
After your work surface, your desk chair is the most important item you’ll add to your home office. You want something comfortable, supportive, and with enough clearance under the apron of your desk to move around and cross your legs.
We have lots of options that swivel, glide, spin, and roll. Choose an exciting fabric that perks up your whole space, or pick something durable and practical that can’t stain (we’re looking at you Sunbrella!)
7. Storage Solutions
Storage is hugely important in a home office, even if you don’t have a ton of papers and files. You’ll certainly have pens, notebooks, and books so add shelves, cork boards, organizational accessories that keep everything neat and tidy.
Most importantly, you’ll want to make sure that your office looks organized so that you have a clean workspace where you can focus rather than feel anxious and overwhelmed by mess.
8. Small Space Situations
We’re big believers in making the most of your space, and there’s no reason you can’t make room for a working station even in a small space. Secretaries with fold-down surfaces are amazing multitaskers that can serve lots of purposes. Add one to your entryway as foyer storage, and fold-down the top for an instant workspace. Or add a secretary beside your bed as a nightstand.
Vertical space is your friend. Consider using shelves, cork boards, and other wall organization tools to make your small work space more efficient.
9. Work from Home Mentality
Most importantly, get in the right frame of mind when you’re beginning to work from home. Try keeping a regular routine, take a true lunch break, and make time to get dressed in the morning so you feel as though you’re working in an office rather than trapped in your home day and night.
Do you have remote coworkers? Consider using video chat and phone calls to keep in touch easily and to increase your person-to-person interaction. One of the biggest complaints from workers who tackle their jobs remotely is loneliness, so make the effort to connect with others even in small ways.
Want more inspiration? Here are our suggestions?
- Room Organization Ideas for Your Hardest Working Spaces
- 5 Common Decorating Mistakes and How to Fix Them
- How to Layout a Room
- 10 Ways to Start Decorating a Room from Scratch
- Colorful Rooms: How to Add Color to Any Space
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