Job Advice

How to Set Up a Home Office

Are you working from home for the first time? You’ll need to set up a home office where you can work undisturbed. Here are some tips for setting up a home office that will work with any budget.

Choose Your Location

You don’t need an entire room for a home office. Consider setting up in a corner of your bedroom, under the stairs, in the basement, or even in a wide closet.

Make a Desk

Your home office desk can be a folding table, a card table, or an actual desk with drawers. It doesn’t have to be fancy, but it should be stable and large enough to hold all your work equipment.

Gather Your Work Equipment

To be productive, you’ll need to equip your desk with the same things you have at your work desk at the office. Typically, you’ll want a desktop computer or laptop, a printer and scanner, a telephone, a task light, and a file holder. If you’re short on space, choose an upright file holder. Otherwise, you can use a standard “in-box” style of file holder. You’ll also need a comfortable office chair that’s padded, with good back support.

Setting up Your Area

Make sure you can get in and out of your desk area easily. All the things you use should be placed on the desk within easy reach, arranged in a semi-circle around you. This includes desk accessories like a stapler, tape dispenser, calculator, paper clips, etc.

Make the Rules

You may need to train your family not to disturb you when you’re working. This is easier if you follow your own rule. Make it a policy that if you’re at you’re desk, you’re working and not to be disturbed. If you can, close the door while you’re working.

Finally, have some fun with your home office. You’re not at work, so you can make things colorful and creative. This may help you to be even more productive!