Covid has definitely changed many things for us, and at the forefront has been the way we work. John and I have certainly noticed an increase in demand for extra space at home to set up a home office. But sometimes, the property is ideal but doesn’t fit the demands of working from home. So, I decided to share my thoughts with you here.

The first question you will probably ask yourself when setting up a home office is; where can I have my office?

Your spare room in the attic or the basement is the obvious choice. If you don’t have much space at home, you will have to get a little creative when furnishing your home office.

You need to work undisturbed and have peace. That is the most critical factor to consider in a home office.

A quiet corner in the living room or dining room is suitable. If you have a hallway with daylight, it can also make sense to move there. However, you should only use the bedroom as a workplace if there is no alternative. Have a look for niches or staircases that can isolate you a little and allow you to concentrate on your work in the home office.

Ergonomics at the workplace.

Once you have found the right place for your home office, it’s time to set it up. You should make sure that your home office is as ergonomic as possible, just like in your office. Spending eight hours or longer in front of the computer will strain your back and neck. You want to stay healthy and productive. Therefore, the desk and chair should be just right to suit your needs.

Ensure that

• Your elbows rest loosely on the worktop at a right angle.
• The screen is at least an arm’s length away from you.
• The top edge of the screen is about a hand’s width below eye level.
• The keyboard and mouse are no more than 15 cm from the edge of the desk.
• Any paper documents are between the screen and keyboard, not between the keyboard and you.
• Your legs are at a right angle when sitting.
• Your feet are on the floor within the whole surface of the desk.

Separate your working area.

You will need to concentrate. There are simple means to separate your home office from your living space. Using shelves are a good option because they are also useable as storage space for documents. If you work in an alcove, you can hang a curtain. You separate your home office from your living area when you draw it. 

You can use plants to create an air-cleaning partition that also looks good. Get some large plants or build a room divider and attach hanging baskets. A room divider made from doors will give you greater separation, and cork will create a minimum of sound insulation.

A visual separation can also help. Just give the wall in your workplace a different coat of paint. You shouldn’t choose colours that are too bright. Softer colours are better. Grey and blue tones promote concentration; green helps to relieve stress. Brown or beige are also suitable wall colours for your home office.

Have proper lighting for your home office.

Correct lighting is necessary. You don’t want to overlook anything, and you don’t want to have a headache at the end of the day. The best workspace would be by a window so that you get as much daylight as possible.

 No window at hand? You will need sufficient artificial lighting. That also applies to a window seat, especially in winter when it’s grey outside. For this purpose, you can use ceiling spots or pendant luminaires with LED lamps, which illuminate your room optimally. The light intensity should be at least 4,000 Kelvin and in the range of daylight white. It will keep you active and promotes concentration.

A table lamp on your desk will ensure that you have sufficient light directly at your desk. Place the lamp on your right if you are left-handed, or else it will cast shadows on the paper. The best light colour should be in the daylight white range. If you don’t have enough space on your desk, use a floor lamp that you can place next to your desk in your home office. No matter which light you choose, make sure it doesn’t dazzle you.

I do hope this helps you in your house hunting. Remember, it’s first and foremost your home. Don’t let a few details about where you can work ruin the pleasure of pleasant home life.