Setting up a home office and not sure where/how to start? This article will provide you with some suggestions and ideas on how to set up your home office. I’ve worked remotely for 15 years, so these suggestions are based on my personal experience.
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Setting Up a Home Office
1. SETTING UP A HOME OFFICE
OVERVIEW
Working remotely is no longer a temporary situation, but has become the norm at many
companies around the world. As such, it’s likely that you’re going to have to work from a
home office, at least for a while.
If you’ve never worked remotely, you may be unsure what you need to set up your
home office. This article will provide you with some suggestions and ideas on how to set
it up. I’ve worked remotely for 15 years, so these suggestions are based on my personal
experience.
A PRODUCTIVE WORKSPACE
A home office that works is critical if you want to be productive. This means you need to
have a space where you can work comfortably, not just a place to work from.
But what does work comfortably mean? To some degree, that will depend on the
individual. For some people, it will mean a fully outfitted office space, just like they
would have in a corporate office, while for others it could mean something as simple as
a place with WiFi and a chair. It really depends on the person and their style of working.
However, in order to be able to function effectively and perform most, if not all, of the
necessary tasks that you would do while working in a corporate office, there are some
basic elements you need to include in your home office.
The sections below will provide you with guidelines and suggestions on the various
items you’ll need to set up your home office. Depending on your job, you may need all
of them, or just a subset. If nothing else, these sections will get you thinking about what
you need to set up your own home office.
2. OFFICE WORK SPACE
If at all possible, you need to have a completely separate, dedicated workspace for your
office. This means you don’t just put a laptop on your coffee or dining table and work
from there. That doesn’t work, trust me. For a temporary situation, sure, that might be
sufficient, but not for a permanent home office.
A home office that works is one that provides you with a dedicated workspace that is
away from the everyday activities that take place around the home and allows you to
focus on your job.
Some key features to consider are:
A door (for privacy during calls, block out sounds and interruptions, etc.)
Someplace that provides privacy so you are not interrupted
Someplace quiet to reduce distractions
Someplace with windows (for both ventilation and natural lighting)
The easiest way to make a place for your home office is to look for unused space, or
space that is not used on a regular basis, in your home. For instance, if you have an
used bedroom, a downstairs basement, a small outdoor building, or even a large double
closet, you can convert that space into your dedicated home office.
Working from home can provide innumerable benefits (no commute, flexible hours,
increased productivity), but one of the main drawbacks is that it is often difficult to
separate the two. Having a separate office space allows you to both physically and
mentally separate your work from your home.
OFFICE FURNITURE
To be productive while working remotely, there are some standard pieces of furniture
you’ll need in your home office:
Desk
o Based on my experience, I suggest getting a desk with the largest top
possible, as you’ll need it (my desk is 42” x 60”)
o I also suggest getting a desk with a center drawer (for pens, pencils, tape,
and other supplies) as well as large drawers on the side (for hanging files and
file folders and other things)
Office Chair
o I recommend investing in the very best office chair you can afford, as you’ll
spend a lot of time in it
o At a minimum, the features a good office chair should have include:
Wheels to be able to move it around
Ability to recline/tilt the back
Ability to raise and lower the back height
3. Ability to raise/lower the seat height
Lumbar support in the back
Adjustable arm rests
Once you have a desk and chair, there are lots of optional pieces of furniture that might
also help you be more productive:
Side Table
o You’ll probably need one for your printer
o You may need more than one for other pieces of equipment (depending on
your specific requirements)
Bookshelf
o Buy at least one for the books that you use and reference on a regular basis
o Bookshelves also provide additional storage capacity for other items
File cabinet
o You’ll probably need at least one, and may need several depending on your
specific requirements. These are available in 2-drawer, 4-drawer vertical and
lateral file cabinet configurations.
Recommendation: buy a metal locking file cabinet (both for security
and fire safety)
o Most file cabinets are set up to use hanging folders for 8.5x11 documents, but
you can get wider ones if you need them for legal sized (11x14) documents,
or some file cabinets allow you to hang file folders lengthwise
Other misc. furniture
o Additional seating for clients/customers
o Couch (used for larger gatherings)
o Conference table (if you have space and need it)
o Storage for items you use infrequently, but need at hand
If you’re someone like a draftsman or an architect, in addition to the above, you’ll also
need job-specific pieces of furniture, such as a drafting table, a light table, etc. Many
professions have other unique requirements, so take those into account as well when
setting up your home office.
While office furniture is not inexpensive, there are many alternatives to buying it new.
Many cities have businesses that sell used office furniture. Many government agencies
also have depots where excess furniture and other equipment is sold cheaply. There
are also thrift stores (such as Goodwill and the Salvation Army), online markets (such
as Craigslist or Facebook Markets) and even classified ads through which furniture can
be purchased. Big box stores such as IKEA, Target and Walmart also carry a variety of
furniture for reasonable prices.
OFFICE EQUIPMENT
The specific equipment you’ll need to include in your home office depends on your job.
At a minimum though, you’ll need the following items:
4. Internet
o Internet access in your home is a given these days, but having enough
bandwidth to be able to work from home may not be
o Check with your ISP to make sure you have high enough bandwidth and
download speed to support your requirements
o You may also want to invest in a dual-band WiFi router that provides better
coverage for your home, and maybe even a WiFi extender/booster if you
have dead spots
Computer
o Laptop, desktop or tablet, whatever works best for you
o If you need more connections for external peripherals, you can always add a
docking station or USB hub
Mouse
o Get whatever you prefer, a mouse, a trackball, trackpad, or whatever works
best for you
o Mice are available in a variety of options
Wired
Wireless
Mechanical
Optical
Laser
Mouse pad
o If you use a mouse, a mouse pad really does make it easier to use and
control
Wrist support
o They make them both for using with a mouse and with your keyboard
o Yes, they do help you avoid getting carpal tunnel if you use one
Keyboard
o Like a mouse, keyboards are also available in wired (USB) and wireless
options
I recommend a wireless keyboard, as that provides more flexibility
o Keyboards also come in standard and ergonomic configurations (which I
highly recommend)
Monitor(s)
o I recommend getting the largest one possible, but at least a 24” (diagonal)
monitor
o I also recommend using multiple monitors, as that allows you to work on
multiple documents simultaneously, move files back and forth easier, etc.
o Some monitors have a built-in riser (to raise the height of the screen up) or
are able to convert from horizontal to vertical display
External hard drive(s)
o If you don’t want to keep files on your computer, or are just concerned about
security, an external hard drive is a must
o External USB hard drives with several terabytes of storage are very
inexpensive
5. Shredder
o In an office, lots of things still need to be printed, so you’ll need a shredder
o Purchase a heavy duty, high capacity cross-cut shredder. These also have
the option of being able to shred credit cards, as well as CDs/DVDs. They
cost a bit more, but are well worth it.
Multi-function device (copy/scan/print/fax)
o It’s amazing how much copying, printing, scanning takes place in an office
every day, so a multi-function device allows you to have all the capabilities
you need without taking up as much space as individual pieces of equipment
would
Note: if you’ll need to use the faxing function, you’ll also need a hard
telephone line (i.e., a landline)
An option to this is to set up an efax number online
Web cam
o You’ll need this for all your video conference calls
o Buy one that has enough features so you’re able to control the quality of the
image you send and receive
These features should include: face tracking, pan and tilt controls,
standard and wide-screen display, the ability to choose between NTSC
(60Hz) and PAL (50Hz), the ability to adjust settings (brightness,
contrast, color intensity, white balance)
Headphones
o You have numerous different options here, it really just depends on what you
are most comfortable with and whether you want an all-in-one solution that
has earphones and a microphone or not
Ear buds
Bluetooth in ear
Bluetooth over the ear
Headset with boom mic
Headset without mic
Desktop Microphone (if you don’t like having the mic in your headset)
o These are available in both wired and wireless models
Desktop Speakers
o I like to have music playing in the background, as it helps me work and also
blocks out background noise. These speakers are also used for audio on
video calls.
Telephone
o You have many options here:
Cell phone
If you have a poor cell signal, you may need to buy a cell signal
booster
Land line telephone
VOIP phone
USB Hub (if you need additional connections for external peripherals)
Security cable(s)
6. o If you are in a shared work area and need to leave your equipment overnight,
it is a good idea to secure it with a locking security cable
LIGHTING
Overhead
o LED if possible, as that provides much greater overall lighting. Some LEDs
also allow you to tune the color to your preference.
Task
o Table top lamp
This provides close-in task lighting at your desk
LED or standard bulb, your preference
Floor lamp(s)
o These provide additional illumination as needed and can be moved if you
need more light in specific areas
OTHER ITEMS TO CONSIDER
There are lots of small items that are non-essential, but help make your office
environment more comfortable and productive. Here are some of them that you may
want to consider having:
Riser (to place a monitor or laptop on to raise the screen height up)
Desktop clock (if you don’t like the one on your computer)
Coffee mug
Coffee maker
Small refrigerator
Coaster(s) for your drink
Book ends (if you need to keep books on your desk)
White board (to write quick notes on)
Cork board (to tack things to for easy availability)
Calculator (if you don’t like the one on your computer or phone)
Paper sorting/filing trays
Inbox/outbox
Trash can
Hard surface desk chair mat (for under your chair to protect your floor)
Electrical power strips (there are always things that need to be plugged in)
Pencil sharpener
SUPPLIES
Believe it or not, it’s much easier to purchase extra supplies in advance so that you
have them on hand for when you need them, instead of running out of them in the
middle of an important task. If you were in a corporate office, when you run out of an
7. item you would go to the supply cabinet and restock. Set your home office up in the
same way.
Pens, pencils, markers, highlighters
Pen and pencil holder
Printer paper
Legal pads
Note pads
Sticky notes
Sticky notes holder
Stapler
Staples
Ruler
Hanging folders
Manila folders
Desk drawer organizers
Tape dispenser
Tape
Scissors
Glue stick
Paper clips
Thumb tacks
White board (erasable) markers
If possible, having a ceiling fan in the office is always a good idea, as it helps move the
air around. A reversible ceiling fan allows you to circulate both cool and warm air
(depending on the season), making the office much more comfortable. If that isn’t
possible, then you should purchase a good quality oscillating fan (both desktop and
floor models are available). Depending on where you live, you may also need a portable
heater for the colder months.
Plants, artwork, photos, mementos, and decorations are all other items that you may
want to consider having in your home office. As mentioned at the beginning, you’ll be
spending a lot of time there, so you want it to be as comfortable as possible for you to
work in. Personalizing the space goes a long way towards making that happen.
SUMMARY
In this article I’ve tried to include as much information about the furniture and equipment
I have and use on a regular basis in my home office. This guideline will help you think
about what you’ll need to set up your own home office.
Remember, a home office is an investment, but one that pays significant dividends.
Having the proper furniture, tools and equipment will enable you to be more comfortable
and more productive. By investing some time and planning what you will need, the