Home Office Setup Guide

Need to work from home? These home office design tips will ensure it is easy and productive

Nailing that home office design is so important, especially at the moment with so many of us working from home a lot more. So how do you create a space that ensures a productive atmosphere no matter what size space you are dealing with?

Start by thinking about the purpose of your home office. If you’ll be working in there on a daily basis, creating a different feel from the rest of your rooms may help you to focus, while a room that's part home office, part homework study, part home admin center might look better decorated to match the rest of your home – especially if it's part of an open plan scheme. Long story short, Lifestyle Furniture will give you some tips for a perfect space to work from home. Intersted in some furniture in this post? Click to images for shopping online.

Choose A Location That Best Suits Your Working Style

The first – and probably the most important – thing to think about when designing a home office is where your home office ought to be located. Consider your working style and the nature of your work, as well the needs of the people you live with. 

If your work is solitary and requires quiet and privacy, a garden office room, garage conversion or home office in a loft conversion is most appropriate. 

On the other hand, if you run a small business from home while keeping an eye on children, you may need your workspace near the kitchen or sitting room, perhaps in an under-used dining room. An ideal solution in this case might be a cupboard workstation. 

Or, if you simply don't have the space elsewhere, a spare bedroom or corner of a bedroom or living space can do the trick nicely, if well planned. 

What Do You Need In Your Home Office?

When designing a home office ask yourself a series of questions to establish what is needed in your work area:

• How much desktop space do you require?
• What storage do you need?
• What are your printing requirements?
• Is it important for you to have peace and quiet; to be insulated from noise and disruption within the home?
• How much of your time is spent on the phone and, while on the phone, do you use other equipment?

• Do you require access to a library of books, or samples?
• Are you untidy, and must your clutter be left untouched by other people in the house?
• Do you often need to access files? Would these work better for you as lever arch files on a shelf or drop-in files in a desk drawer, or are there so many that they would work better on your wall?

Always Design Your Home Office With Tech Needs In Mind

If your desk is in the middle of the room, you need to plan the safest way to run cables to a power point – flexible plastic trunking is the best option. Buy a power pack for charging your home office tech, which can be positioned under the desk. Top up your smartphone with a dual-purpose desk lamp that allows wireless charging.

With bespoke units, you can specify how many power points you want and where cables need to go, so ensure you factor in lighting, computers, printer, TV, music system and charging points. You may also want a mini-fridge and tea/coffee making facilities, too.

Invest In The Best Desk You Can Get For Your Budget

Choosing the best desk for your home office will involve considering how much space you have available in the room. The desktop needs to be big enough to accommodate your laptop or computer, while giving you space to take notes or sort files. 

A corner desk will allow you to split the work station into two: one side for the computer, the other for paperwork. Be aware that integrated storage pillars (while incredibly useful) will dictate where you can sit and may affect achieving a comfortable working position. Like to be more mobile? A standing desk is worth considering.

Some desks have handy wire channels to keep your tangle of cables neatly out of the way. If your chosen desk does not, you will need to consider the placement of the desk for a neat and safe connection to plug sockets. 

Have a look through at these office desks at our store for your consideration. 

Pick A Great Office Chair

Match your office chair to the rest of the room’s furniture, rather than using a more typical office chair. But make sure it’s supportive and comfortable if you’re going to be sitting for hours. Opt for a swivel so you can adjust it to the right height.

The best office chair is a must for anyone sitting at a desk for any length of time. There is a wide choice online so it is easy to find something that is ergonomically designed and suits the look of your space.

Banish Clutter With Comprehensive Office Storage

Clutter is at its most distracting in the home office area, and you will want to make sure that the space is as tidy as possible, with all important paperwork easily accessible. Choose home office storage, such as shelving and smaller home office storage accessories that are functional and stylish and will encourage you to keep everything where it should be. Browsing our website for the best bookcases. 

You may also need to make room for office accessories such as printers, scanners and document shredders. Think about whether you want these neatly packed away, or within easy reach on a worktop.

When you plan your fitted cupboards and units, make sure you allow enough room for displaying items that aren’t work-related. Shelving for treasured books and ornaments will all help create a space you want to be in, rather than have to be in.

Get Home Office Lightning Right

When planning the lighting for your home office design, remember to allow natural light in the room to blend in with your selected products. For homeworkers who use natural materials, position your desk close to the window to benefit from as much daylight as possible. If you’re working with computers or other screens, make sure you allow for the angles of natural light through the day and avoid glare.

A purpose-designed home office desk lamp is a must-have, but creating the right ambience in a home office is essential, and clever lighting is crucial to achieving it, too. Soften harsh light with a lampshade to set the mood and, if space is at a premium, pendant lighting is a good way to illuminate a room without cluttering it. Have a look at our pick of the best desk lamps. 

Dress Your Home Office Window Practically

When designing your home office, think carefully about your choice of window treatment. Shutters will allow you to control the amount of light coming into your home office throughout the day. A light colored blind that blocks glare while still allowing in natural light might be a good option, too, if your computer screen is near a window. 

If the room doubles as a bedroom, a blackout curtain that can be pulled over at night will ensure a restful sleep.

Create A Home Office Extension

Factoring a home office into an extension design is far easier than building an external garden office as you are already closer to your power and heat supplies. You should discuss these elements with your architect when you are planning the project from the start.

A new factor to consider is acoustics, especially within a busy household. To minimize distraction, place your office away from loud spaces like the living room, or insulate the room against sound as best you can.

If your office has a lot of glazing, ensure blinds are installed to regulate natural lighting, shade and temperature. Extensions tend to be cooler than the rest of the house, so investing in underfloor heating might also be a viable solution to keep the area warm without installing radiators, which can encroach on space.

Don’t Let An Awkward Space Deter You

If you can’t add a new home office, being creative with existing small space might be the solution. Hallways and landings that are often thought of as being unusable can actually be a perfect place to create a small home office.

If you have a small nook under the stairs, a hallway or even the living room, it could be suitable to neatly fit a small desk and a chair without it encroaching on the space itself. 

To Sum Up

Now you're ready to start planning your home office. We truly hope that these tips will help you create a personalized yet productive home office that works for you. No matter what kind of home office you seek, invest the time and imagination to customize it to your lifestyle. After all, you’ll be using it every day!

Have a visit at our store - Lifestyle Furniture Homestore - located at 21E Shaw, Fresno to get more inspiration. Our experts will give you the essential tips to choose the furniture for creating a perfect work area at your own home.