If you’re working from home, you know how difficult it can be to get in the mood for work. Unfortunately, not everyone has a private office. And although almost every apartment today has a computer and a table on which it stands, this can not always be called a workplace.

One of the ways to equip a mini-office at home without a separate room is to follow the rules of workplace ergonomics. We have compiled recommendations for you that will help you not only choose the right furniture but also organize your work and increase your personal efficiency.

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home office workspace inspiration

How to organise your workspace at home

Before we move on to the tips, we want to remind you that you don’t need to organize a workplace just for the sake of having it. You can do a great job at work by moving with your laptop from the sofa to the balcony, from there to the kitchen table, and then to the chair by the window. If you are comfortable, then perhaps you don’t need to equip anything.

But if your efficiency is suffering, try following our tips for creating your workspace at home.

#1. Set up your desk properly

Putting a table in front of the window, with your back to the door, is a bad option. The logic of this arrangement is clear – it’s nice to look out the window when distracted from work. But for psychological comfort, this is not the best variant since you don’t see the entrance to the room.

In this situation, we involuntarily feel danger because, from the point of view of brain reactions, we are all the same cavemen. And the emptiness behind your back creates tension and anxiety, even if there is no one at home but you. In this stress, we waste our mental resources, which otherwise would go to fruitful work.

Sit sideways to the door, sideways to the window, and back to the wall. So you will see the entrance to the room and feel safe.

#2. Create a nice accent on the front wall

You should be pleased to look at the wall in front of you when you’re working. You can make this wall an accent in the room – paint it in your favourite colour or add bookshelves with your favourite books and magazines. This will create the feeling of a special zone that will set you up for positive emotions.

You can also hang your favourite wall art, picture, photographs, wish cards, or motivational cards with foreign words there if you are learning a foreign language.

This wall is designed to give you a feeling of strength, harmony, and inspiration. So think about what inspires you.

#3. Choose furniture wisely

Mulling over the home office design, it is important not only to arrange the interior items correctly but also to choose the right furniture. Not only your comfort depends on this, but also on your health and efficiency. So, picking the wrong height of a table or chair, you will feel discomfort, from which you will spend more energy and get tired faster. If the table is too low or the chair is too high above the tabletop, you will slouch. If the tabletop is too high or the chair is set too low, you will lift your head and tense your neck muscles.

#4. Add a personal light source

Daylight significantly affects the productivity of work, as it forces the body to wake up and act. Therefore, strive to ensure that the workplace is naturally lit for most of the day. At the same time, it is important that there is no glare from the sun’s rays on the monitor screen.

Don’t forget about the correct artificial lighting, because often working activity increases precisely in the evening. Home office lighting is essential not only for eye health but also for zoning. Even a small lamp on a clothespin will do here. Your own light source will immediately indicate that this place is your work area; this is where you come to work.

#5. Keep order in the workplace

Psychologists say that a cluttered desk leads to a destructive mood, so keep order in the workplace. Ideally, if next to you are only those things that are needed: a laptop, a notebook, a pen, and a pencil. All in all, even if they can be replaced with a laptop with remote work tools downloaded, but a sheet of paper will not be superfluous either. 

It is important that there is order around you. Say, if there are a bunch of old boxes of cassettes or disks left around you, transfer everything to a computer. Convert VHS to digital to have all your memories at hand and also have free space at home.

What are the best places for setting up a workspace?

Well, not every remote worker has the luxury home office space. But if you are fortunate, make the most of it. Don’t skimp on storage space, and make sure the living room has a comfortable couch or armchair.

But if there is no such a room, it doesn’t matter. Arrange the work area where there is space. Most often, people prefer a living room for these purposes. Just use choose partitions or screens to separate the workplace.

If the living room appears to be too noisy for working, the bedroom is a better choice. There is often a table by the window in the bedroom where you may conduct your business in a pleasant vibe.

A balcony is also an awesome option: this is nearly like a separate room! The balcony has the benefit of providing constant light and fresh air, which improves working power. However, because the space is smaller than others, the furniture must be chosen depending on the size of the balcony and used as efficiently as possible. Warm up the balcony ahead of time so that you may remain there comfortably all year.

Wrap up

Whatever your workplace, the most important thing is that you enjoy it! If things don’t go smoothly and are continually postponed tasks, is it possible that you are just uncomfortable performing them? Working at a decent table in a comfy chair, surrounded by objects that inspire you to new heights or merely satisfy the sight, is far more critical. Work with joy and dedicate more time to what matters most.