With working from home becoming permanent rather than temporary for many, it is probably time to invest some time and money in creating a dedicated office space rather than camping out on the kitchen table. Office furniture expert Mark Brown of Lismark Office Furniture offers a few tips on how to create the perfect home office.
Location
Although the longest journey you are currently making may be upstairs, downstairs, to the bottom of your garden or wherever your workspace is located, it is important to replicate the physical separation between your home and work by having a designated workspace in your house. It would also be ideal if you could close the door to your ‘office’ at the end of the working day, so you are not tempted to nip back in just to check your emails.
Office Chair: Find a comfortable chair, that you are happy to sit on for up to 8 hours a day, preferably the office ‘swivel’ type with plenty of simple adjustments, including seat height adjustment to make sure the seat is at a height so that your legs are at 90 degrees and your feet are flat on the floor.
Office Desk: Try to get a designated desk which will make the transition from home to work much easier and will ensure that you are working at the correct height and position, making you feel more professional and in control. It will also mean that you won’t have to pack up every night as your ‘desk’ is going to be used as a dining table. You can simply shut your home office door and walk away until you start work the next morning.
Power: You may need extra power sockets as you will have a pc, printer, phone chargers, fans, etc. Consider a desk mounted power module with a least 2 power sockets for quick and easy access without having to dive beneath your desk and banging your head!
Good lighting: Good lighting is important to avoid eye strain. Consider adding a desk lamp to any existing lighting you have in your home office. Place your monitor or laptop so that there is no glare on the screen from any windows. Most importantly, make sure the lighting is very flattering when you take part in all of the Zoom meetings we are getting used to!
Ventilation: Get those windows open! A stuffy workspace makes you feel lethargic.
