Working from home has been commonplace since 2020. Furnish your home office productively. Discover 6 tips that will make your home office an ergonomic and aesthetic one.
1. Invest in ergonomics
Prevent neck, back and wrist pain:
- Use wrist rests if your wrists hurt regularly. Avoid wrist bends and use a vertical mouse.
- Stand up regularly. Try to exercise every 30 minutes. Walk around, make a coffee and stretch your muscles.
- Consider investing in a sit-stand desk that you can adjust in height (manual or electric). It is recommended that you work 2.5 hours a day in an upright position.
- Choose an office chair in which you sit nice and upright. Invest in an office chair that adequately supports your back during a full workday. Make sure the chair is height-adjustable so you can put your legs on the floor at a 90-degree angle. Preferably try it out in the store. Can’t get to the floor? Then use a footrest, e.g. Ikea DAGOTTO.
- Place your computer/laptop screen so that the top of it is at your eye level. That way you don’t have to bend your neck much. Use a laptop stand, e.g. Ikea SIGFINN, in combination with an external keyboard and mouse.
2. Provide natural light
Choose a place with enough daylight to avoid eyestrain:
- Clean your windows regularly for better light.
- Make sure shrubs, trees or other objects do not cast shadows on your windows. Prune where necessary to improve light penetration.
- Hang mirrors opposite windows or in corners where light does not reach as well. They reflect daylight and thus also illuminate dark areas of the room.
- Use light, sheer curtains or blinds instead of heavy, thick fabrics. This provides privacy without completely blocking daylight.
- Choose light-colored walls, ceilings and furniture. These reflect daylight and make the room brighter without needing additional lighting.
- Position your desk as close to the window as possible to take maximum advantage of daylight. Make sure the light comes from the side (left or right), not straight from the front or back, to avoid reflections on your screen. Do you still see sun reflection on your screen? If so, hang curtains.
3. Provide basic supplies
Find the perfect balance between a home and office. Too much of a home feel quickly distracts you. An exact copy of your office is too big an investment. Here are minimal items you need for a productive home office:
- A (sit-stand) desk.
- An ergonomic office chair with armrests.
- A work laptop.
- A laptop stand.
- A screen of at least 21 inches. An extra screen is ideal if you need to multitask a lot (e.g., for administration, marketing, IT, etc.).
- An external keyboard.
- An external (ergonomic) mouse.
- A desk lamp for dark days.
- Cables: charging cables, hdmi cables, usb-a, usb-c cables etc.
- Small cabinets, shelves, reading bins, sorting bins, etc.
4. Keep your work and personal life separate
- Minimize overtime.
- Keep yourself to set work hours.
- Schedule breaks in advance to maintain structure.
- Self-discipline is essential. Stick to your own rules.
- Put on work clothes when you work from home. This helps you get “in the game” mentally.
- Create a physical separation between your workspace and private space. Don’t use places like the dining room table. This will also avoid spending extra time moving your home office stuff.
5. Bring the “home” into home office
Create a home office where you feel at home with some personal items. This positive feeling contributes to your productivity:
- Add color with a fresh bunch of flowers or a flower arrangement.
- Paint bright colors in your interior with an accent wall.
- Make it a habit to clean up your workspace every day.
- Less clutter improves focus and makes you feel calmer.
- Put on a soft playlist with lo-fi, jazz or nature sounds, for example.
- Put a picture frame of family, friends or a happy vacation on your desk.
- Choose desk or floor lamps with warm, soft light rather than white, bright light.
- Choose a stylish leather or fabric coaster to make your workspace look nicer.
- Use candles, plants, artwork or souvenirs to add a personal touch to your workspace.
- Put up a few plants such as a pothos, sanseveria or monstera to make your space fresh and vibrant.
- Invest in a coffee corner. Place a small table or bar cart with your coffee machine on it, including pretty cups, pretty spoons and tasty cookies.
6. Minimize distractions
If your home office is in a separate room:
- Use door strips or place a carpet to dampen sound.
- Put on noise-cancelling headphones for extra concentration.
- Put your private devices on silent during your work hours: phones, laptops, home computers, etc.
- Keep your desk tidy and organize your space minimalistically to promote focus.
- Make sure roommates know you are working and do not want to be disturbed. If necessary, hang a “Do Not Disturb” sign on your door.
- Hide personal devices. Put your phone out of reach or use focus apps to block distracting notifications.
If your home office is in a shared space:
- State your boundaries with your roommates or family. Tell them what your work hours are. If necessary, use a signal to indicate when you don’t want to be disturbed (e.g., hang a “DO NOT DISTURBANCE” sign on the wall that you can turn over).
- Create a defined workspace. Use a room divider, book rack or curtain to separate work and living spaces.
- Keep your work stuff in a storage box or drawer when you’re done working so you can visually disconnect from your work.
- Use background noise. Turn on soothing music or white noise through headphones to focus and mask distracting noise.
- If silence is essential, it is best to wear earplugs to isolate yourself from household noises.
- Try not to work in shared spaces during peak times. Work when it is quieter in the house, e.g., when others are out of the house.
6.1. Hoe maak je een afgebakende werkplek in een gedeelde ruimte?
- Use physical separation:
- Put a bookcase or a plant rack between your workspace and the rest of the room.
- Hang a curtain or cloth as a flexible partition that you can easily remove or move aside.
- Install a room divider to create a visual and physical boundary between your workspace and the rest of the room.
- Choose compact furniture:
- Invest in a collapsible desk that you attach to the wall.
- Use furniture with a dual function. For example, a side table may also be a desk.
- Use visual separation:
- Place a carpet or rug under your desk.
- Decorate your workspace with colors, lighting or accessories that are different from the rest of the space.
- Use bins, cabinets or a trolley to keep all your work materials out of sight after work hours.
Would you like to cite this article as a source? Then use:
Biets, R. (November 2024, 25). Decorating your home office: 6 tips. Apartment.com. Accessed on (date XX/XX/202X), from https://www.appartement.be/6-tips-voor-het-inrichten-van-je-home-office/
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