How to set up a home office?
Your mission: to create your own space that will blend in perfectly with your living room, your bedroom or in a corner, … without disturbing the overall harmony! Even if you only work from home a few days a month, you should still be able to be effective, just like in the office.
Where to install yourself ?
Start by looking around in your home or apartment where the perfect place is situated for a home office. Sometimes you need to make some small adjustments in the current configuration of your interior.
The lounge? Move the sofa to the place of the television, put the table rather with the fireplace, turn the sideboard and the armchair,… and like magic, you have freed up a little space :)
The bedroom? As it's calmer here than in the lounge, it can also be a good option. As far as possible, try to choose a spot near the window, so that you can also enjoy natural daylight and make sure that your Wi-Fi connection is strong enough to work correctly and without unwanted interruptions.
Which working surface?
Ideally, you should choose a workstation or console that best fits into your interior, in order to balance the atmosphere. In terms of dimensions, your desk should be at least 120 cm x 60 cm in size, so that you can place a computer on it and put files on it. If you don't have enough space, think of an arm support for your computer screen ;)
You can also install a small secretary. The advantage of this is that this piece of furniture is not noticeable once it is closed. Furthermore, an IT post can also come in handy. This piece of furniture is both compact and practical, and ideal for installing a computer, screen, keyboard, mouse and printer in the same place.
How to organize yourself ?
When it comes to the storage, there are different solutions. Use a specific space in the bookcase, a furniture piece in the hallway or in the lounge... Or invest in a drawer cabinet, which can be put easily under or with a desk: it is both discrete and practical.
There are also different colored, attractive and stylisch solutions for storage, which offer a comfortable and decorative touch. For example storage boxes, mini archive cases, mail boxes, ...
Tip
In order to create an as calm as possible work bubble, you can install for the separation of the rooms Japanse panels, green plants or removable dividing walls.
Points of attention
1. The lighting
The importance of lighting when furnishing a desk is often forgotten. After all, it does have an effect on well-being and fatigue. In the most ideal situation you can enjoy natural light. A window with a view of the outside allows you to rest your eyes for a while by looking outside every now and then. Be careful not to place your desk with its back directly opposite a window, because you will be hindered by reflections of the light on your screen. Ideally, windows should be on the sides and the screen should be placed at a minimum distance of 1.5 m.
But that's not enough. When the sun begins to set or a thunderstorm is approaching, the lights must kick in to keep you alert. The desk lamp, with an articulated arm, illuminates a specific area, and certain ergonomic models even provide different light intensities, so that you can adapt it to your needs. The floor lamp in turn spreads light over the entire room. So one cannot exist without the other.
2. The connections
Be vigilant during installation. Whether you choose the living room, the kitchen or a separate desk, always check whether you have enough sockets around your workstation to be able to connect your computer, a screen, a lamp, .... In any case, also provide power strips and extension cables. These will undoubtedly prove their worth.
Ditto for USB ports! A mouse, a keyboard, a USB key, a hard disk, a charging cable for a smartphone, … You quickly need different USB inputs. Hubs are the ideal solution for that :) They form the ideal bridge between your computer and your other instruments, multiplying the number of inputs.
Another point of attention are the hideous cables…. Several workstations offer discrete cable passage under the work surface or in the legs for cable passage. Some other options for hiding cables: :
- CableDrops. These are like little suction cups that you can simply attach to your desk and hold together chargers for your smartphone, tablets or computer.
- Cable ducts. They provide an extremely discreet and safe passage of wires or cables. If you want your desk to be a permanent part of your decor, this option is definitely worth it!