How to make the perfect home office

Due to the pandemic, we’ve all been spending a lot more time indoors, our home offices in a lot of cases. Now that you’ll be spending more in there, you’ve no doubt been wondering what the perfect home office would look like, what it would have in it and how it would run. With that in mind, here are a few ideas.

Lighting is key

The first thing every office, or indoor space that people spend a lot of time in, needs is a good amount of natural lighting. Not only does this help your eyes, but also makes the space look more welcoming and peaceful.

Getting a good amount of natural light in a room, whether through the use of mirrors or switching out curtains for blinds, can be worth the amount of money you spend on them, even if you have to take out a small loan to cover the expenses. This is your new workspace, so you won’t want any half measures.

Get your tech right

The next thing you need to think about is the type of computer you need. Generally, this choice is between a laptop and a desktop. You could spend a while weighing up their advantages and disadvantages or read a guide like the one in England.edu. On the one hand, desktops are arguably better for your posture and keeping a workstation in the same place; however, they require a lot of cables and take up a lot of space.

On the other hand, laptops are compact and easily portable, but they can also hurt your neck from looking down all the time and are often a lot more flimsy and easily broken.

Don’t forget the snacks

When working remotely, it can be a pain to quickly go from one room to the other because you forgot your coffee or you’re hungry. If you install a food and drink station in your office, it means you don’t have to go backward and forwards all the time.

Also, if you have a wheeled office chair, you don’t even have to walk to get your coffee or your piece of morning fruit. It also means you don’t have to go down into the kitchen and have the potential issue of getting distracted by your pet, your kids or just a chore you suddenly have the urge to do.

Boost your WiFi

The last thing your office needs to make it perfect is an excellent WiFi connection. A great way to do this is through a WiFi signal booster. By having one of these in your office, you can rest assured that your WiFi connection isn’t going to take a sudden dip unless your router becomes disconnected from the internet. As most of us are now working and relying on the internet, we can safely assume this is a must-have for any perfect office.

Conclusion

By ensuring that the quantity of natural light in your office is good, by making sure you have a great internet connection, by ensuring you have all the food and drink you need without needing to go too far from your work as well as making sure you have the tech that’s right for you, you can make your home office the perfect place to work.

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How the right office equipment can boost productivity

With the rise of remote work, a growing number of people realise that they can do their job perfectly well outside a traditional office environment. Working outside your company’s office and no longer having your supervisor’s eyes on you offers a lot of flexibility. But to maintain productivity, you still need an office space that encourages deep focus. Without essential office equipment, your efficiency and the quality of your work are likely to suffer.

Read on to discover how the right office equipment can help you reach peak productivity even when you’re working from home in your pyjamas.

Comfort

The majority of office jobs require you to sit in front of the computer for several hours each day. To stay productive throughout the whole day, you need to sit in a comfortable position that doesn’t cause strain to your body. An ergonomic furniture set-up can provide the necessary comfort so you can maintain good posture for hours. First, you need an ergonomic chair with lumbar support that can protect you from back and neck pain. Although all desks are mostly the same in terms of comfort, choose one with drawers to store important items you need to have within reach. Thus, you’ll avoid creating clutter on the desk.

Convenience

Imagine having no printer where you work and being forced to visit a local library each time you need to print a document. This is the perfect example of why investing in the right office equipment is worth it. High-quality gadgets, electronics and office machines can help you save minutes and even hours each day. To use a wireless printer at home, for example, you only need a smartphone or tablet. There’s no simpler or more convenient way to get fast, high-quality printing. So, think about your daily office activities. You may find that there are more convenient ways to do them than you think.

Connectivity

When you work remotely, staying connected with your co-workers, supervisors and clients is vital. So, it’s important to install equipment in your office that can ensure fast connectivity with the outside world. First, you need a high-speed internet connection so you can easily transfer files, access digital platforms and maintain instant communication. To enhance the internet connection in your office, purchase a high-quality router. Besides a fast internet connection, you may also need a reliable phone and a generous phone data plan.

Efficiency

The best part about remote work is that the time you save by being more efficient is all yours. Depending on the type of work you do, you can increase efficiency simply by creating a strategic office set-up. For example, adding a second monitor can help boost productivity significantly because you won’t have to switch between windows, projects or platforms for a piece of information, thus disrupting your work-flow. An updated computer system with the latest and fastest hardware can also increase productivity.

Whether you work from a traditional office, a co-working space or from your living room, you can’t reach your maximum productivity if your environment is not geared towards efficiency. Invest in high-quality office equipment to streamline your work and gain valuable time.

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Get their look: Jungly work station

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A post shared by 🌴 H E L E N 🌴 (@homewithhelenandco)

When I saw this photo, I immediately recognised the pattern on the wall. It’s inspired by the Martinique banana wallpaper which famously adorns the Beverly Hills Hotel. The original was designed in 1942 by Albert Stockdale who was commissioned to create it by the company, CW Stockwell. Helen even uses the iconic design as her laptop’s wallpaper!

To add to the jungly feel of the corner, there are lots of lush pot plants dotted about; including a Swiss cheese plant, string of pearls and mother-in-law’s tongue. The use of natural wicker accessories continues on the tropical theme. What a lovely place to sit to embark on a day’s work!

Get their look

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Prices & links correct at time of publication.

Velvet shell-shaped pillow

Nogu rattan teardrop mirror

Malu vintage style shelf

Rattan planter

HK Living cappuccino mug, pink

Jimi 4-drawer bureau

Original Martinique wallpaper

Velvet shell-shaped pillow

Nogu rattan teardrop mirror

Malu vintage style shelf

Rattan planter

HK Living cappuccino mug, pink

Jimi 4-drawer bureau

Original Martinique wallpaper

Personalising your work desk

It doesn’t take much for us to lose motivation, or get distracted easily. Work-flow can then decrease rapidly, and we get stuck in a vicious cycle. But have you ever thought that maybe your work desk might be the problem? If you’re working in an uninspiring environment, your work might then be uninspiring.

Whether you work from home or in an office, we wanted to give you some ideas on how to make your desk come alive and make it a bit more ‘you’.

Is your desk suitable?

First, you need to make sure your desk isn’t the problem. Are the drawers falling apart? Is it covered in pen and pencil marks from previous colleagues? Is it too small to hold your computer, paperwork and stationary? It might be time for a new one. Furniture At Work do a range of office desks to choose from, that will surely boost your productivity.

Photos

Displaying your favourite people, places and memories around you while you work could give you the motivation you need, whilst also brightening up your desk. And photo frames don’t have to have pictures of you in, but maybe inspirational quotes or even a pretty landscape or cityscape.

Plants and flowers

How many times have we heard that having plants in the office increase productivity? They produce more oxygen helping us to work more efficiently, and can even make us happier. Maybe buy some small plants to keep on your desk, or even bring in a vase to put fresh flowers in. They’ll be sure to brighten the place up. You could even choose something like Aloe Vera that could come in useful if anyone burns themselves, or needs a good moisturiser!

Stationery

The stationery you use can say a lot about you as a person. Do you want a dull notebook and a standard pen that you got free from work? Personalise your desk using your stationery. Buy notepads in your favourite colour, of all shapes and sizes. Buy a few pens to match. You can display them nicely on your desk.

Personalised items

The final touch on your desk is personalised items. You could have a personalised mug with a photo on, or maybe your first initial. A huge bonus is that no one can steal it ‘by accident’. The other bonus is that it will brighten up your desk. Maybe you got a mug as a birthday present one year. It’ll always make you think of the person who gave it to you.

There are tons of ways you can personalise your desk without having to change too much, and without spending too much either.

Are there any other ways you’d choose to personalise your desk? We’d love to hear from you in the comments!

H is for Home Harbinger

Tag: work space