7 tips for the perfect home office

Start here for a functional home office space

Carve out a dedicated space

Working at the kitchen table can make it hard to concentrate due to household noise and clutter. Set up a dedicated work area that offers some privacy. Consider clearing out a walk-in closet, putting a desk in a hallway nook or rearranging your bedroom furniture to make room for a desk if you don’t have much space. The goal is to find a quiet zone that is free of distractions.

Find storage solutions

Minimize your mess (and the opportunities to create a mess). Organize loose paper in folders or boxes, colour-code your filing system and place office supplies in dedicated containers or drawers. If space is limited, set up wall shelving or utilize a closet for storage. An organized home office will improve your ability to focus and increase your productivity.

Decrease distractions

If you have children at home and no office door, consider investing in noise-cancelling headphones and a divider to separate your workspace from the rest of the house. Plus, unless you need them for work, try to set aside your smartphone, tablet and other gadgets so you won’t be tempted to fall into a social media time-suck. According to experts , relocating your smartphone to another room will help you stay engaged, cognitively adept and productive at work.

Invest in ergonomic office equipment

Do your wrists ache or does your neck feel pinched after a day of typing on your laptop? Investing in the right ergonomic office furniture can help prevent strain. Consider choosing an adjustable office chair or an ergonomic keyboard, mouse, footrest or computer stand. With the right equipment, it will be easier to keep your feet flat on the floor, eyes level with the top of your screen, and keyboard and mouse level or just below your elbows.

Add a little something special to your home office

Lighten up

If possible, move your desk in front of a window since natural light can reduce eyestrain, headaches and blurred vision and make you feel more alert. If you can’t put your desk near a natural light source, consider an adjustment desk or floor lamp to brighten up your workspace.

Personalize professionally

Make your workspace warm and inviting. Add framed photographs of loved ones or pets, hang up artwork or play some uplifting music – anything that creates a positive vibe and motivates you to work for long stretches. Just remember that your colleagues can often see your workspace during virtual meetings, so keep personal touches as professional as possible.

Go green with your space

Adding plants to your home office space can increase happiness and productivity, remove toxins from the air, increase humidity around your desk and add flair to your workplace. It can’t replace the benefits of getting outside on your lunch break, but it’s a close second.