The work from home trend had been gaining momentum in the past few years with many companies realizing how much they can save on office costs if they can maintain a remote workforce. However, in the present situation of the world, employees working from home has become necessary for many companies who would not have thought of it as a feasible option otherwise.
Be it a customer service representative or a digital marketer, anyone and everyone who could work from home has been asked to do so. Yes, many of us still want to get back to the office as soon as it is safe to do so but I’m sure there are a lot more people who are grateful for this opportunity to spend more time with loved ones. All that time spent commuting can now be spent on personal as well as professional growth.
However, I do wish we were doing this under different circumstances but nature has its ways of teaching us what matters and showing us different ways of conducting our lives. Therefore, for all the people out there working from home here are a few suggestions of office furniture for the home office to help you work successfully and without any physical or mental stress.
Office Desk
Once you’ve decided where you’re going to set up your home office it’s time to figure out which kind of desk would work best for you. No, I’m not talking about those huge office desks we see in the movies lying around in some millionaire’s office. I would personally suggest a simple desk that won’t take up a lot of space to avoid overcrowding in your office area. These days there’s a trend towards standing desks that keep you more active and healthy. However, it all depends on your preferences and the work you do. Choose whichever feels comfortable, sitting, or standing there’s no better option.
Desk Mat
If you decide that you want to go for a standing desk then you would want to go for a desk mat to go under your feet. Standing to work a 9 to 5 shift every day of the week is no joke. Your feet require proper support so the fatigue can be limited, otherwise, you’ll end up with very stiff and aching feet. A standing desk mat would help you incredibly with the required support. You can even go for a balancing board if you like a little movement while working.
Office Chair
If you think a standing desk is not your thing and would rather sit to work then make sure you have a comfortable chair. Ideally, an ergonomic office chair would be best for you to sit for prolonged hours. However, if that sounds too expensive you can choose to use any comfortable chair that helps you sit upright with good support to your back and is high enough for you to work comfortably on the desk without causing undue fatigue by creating a weird posture.
Work Space
I believe you already have a spot in mind that is going to be your office space; nonetheless, I’ll put my two cents in the jar. If you like to work with a view of the outdoors in the backdrop then consider placing your desk in front of a window. All the activity outside will keep you refreshed while you work on those boring reports. 😉
However, if you’re anything like me and can get easily distracted then it is a better idea to place your desk in an isolated spot of the house so that you’re cut off from all the activity inside and outside the house while working. Otherwise, you may start working on something and might catch yourself looking at the neighbor’s tiny little dog trying to dig a hole under the fence for an hour.
Internet Connection
One thing is for sure, if you’re working from home you need a high-speed internet connection that provides reliable service. Good for you if you already have a subscription to one that you are satisfied with. Although, if you’re looking to sign up with a new provider make sure that you get a connection that offers 100 Mbps or higher download speed and unlimited data allowance. Spectrum offers both and a competent customer service department on top of it to ensure any problem you encounter is dealt with immediately. If Spectrum provides service in your area, it’ll be a good idea to check out their latest promotions.
Charging Station with Surge Protection
I would be surprised if you said that you have enough outlets in one spot of your house to charge all your devices at the same time. Therefore, it is recommended that you buy a charging station that gives you at least 5 outlets to simultaneously plug-in devices. Also, ensure that this power station comes with surge protection to avoid having your devices toasted in case of a power surge.
Heating and Cooling
Our workplaces are always centrally heated and cooled. However, that may not be the case in everyone’s house. So you must have proper heating or cooling equipment as per the weather requires because you can neither work efficiently when you’re sweating nor when you’re shivering. A space heater in the winter and air cooler in the summer may do the trick.
Clutter-Free Zone
Your office is supposed to be a space where you can completely focus on your work. However, that won’t be possible if it is cluttered with all sorts of knick-knacks. Make sure anything that is not related to your work stays out of the office space to avoid any distractions. In a home office, less is always more.
However, just a few items like a scented candle or something of the sort is perfectly acceptable as you do need a few personal touches to the office to make it feel cozy enough to want to go and sit there. We don’t want to make it boring and a place you dread. You can also add soy wax candles to enhance the mood of your home office.
Ideas Board
If you’re a creative person working from home you need a board to jot down your ideas as they come. It could be the trusty old blackboard, or a cool glass writing board, whatever suits your needs. For the rest of us, I think a simple notepad may suffice.
Caffeine
Last but not least, get a coffee maker if you’re one of the millions who can’t push through the day without it. It is even more important to have access to an easily brewed cup of coffee when you’re at home and more likely to relax during work hours.
Conclusion
The above-mentioned essentials are just suggestions to help you get started on setting up a home office. Only you can be the judge of what works for you and what doesn’t. Take your time to think about what aspects of the home office are more important to you and what can be foregone. Then spend your money wisely. Also, experiment with different office arrangements to find the optimal arrangement that works best for your needs. And most importantly give yourself some breaks through the day to stay energized.