How to Make Your Home Office Work for You

Even before the coronavirus pandemic led a record number of people to work from home, a large percentage of Americans were already doing so. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, about 16% of the workforce (24 million people) now works remotely at least some of the time, a number that’s increased by 115% over 10 years.

One thing that professionals working from home have realized is the importance of having a workspace that’s professional, pleasant and productive. A home office has the potential to reflect your unique style and to be as fun as your dream bathroom, bedroom or kitchen.

Before you start shopping for cutting-edge technology and furniture, it’s important to consider all that goes into a functional and comfortable home work space, whether it’s located in a dedicated room or on an empty swath of the kitchen table.

●    Purpose First: Choosing the right work area is highly personal, and people with homes will likely have more options than condo or apartment dwellers. Whatever your starting point, keep in mind that the ultimate purpose of any home office is to help you get your work done, which means selecting a spot as free from distractions as possible. “This can be an underutilized dining room, bonus room or guest room,” says Catherine Avery, founder of the design company Productivity by Design and host of “The Uncluttered Office” podcast. “With kids home, working in the kitchen or living room is not the best option.”

●    Light for Productivity: Don’t underestimate the importance of natural light. It can boost your productivity and your mood. If possible, find a space that has enough but not too much sunlight. “Sunlight’s health benefits are well documented, including improved concentration, reduced irritability and fewer headaches,” says Paul Foresman, a vice president at Design Basics, a home design company. “Still, too many windows may be a distraction and may dictate where computers must be placed to avoid washing out those screens.” Keep in mind how sunlight streams into your office when situating your computer and selecting lights that complement the rays of the sun. As a general rule, Foresman suggests avoiding fluorescent light in order to reduce eye fatigue.

●    Be Ready for Your Close-up: What you surround yourself with in your home office matters. A clean and ordered office can help you focus. On teleconferences and video chats, your reputation may be affected by what others see around you. “Visually appealing spaces are both a reflection on your professionalism and personality,” says Tonya Dybdahl, a space planner with National Business Furniture. Dybdahl suggests striving for a design that features simple lines, so that your video conference background won’t distract from what you are saying. She also warns against turning on only an overhead light during a conference; it won’t flatter your face. “Have an ambient, shaded lamp at face height or, during the day, stay close to that window to have natural, indirect light.”

Beyond Office Basics
Once you have the basics down, it’s time to envision what you want your space to be like. After all, this is the place where you are going to do the bulk of your work. Here are some ideas to make it the best office for your needs.

●    Desk: Studies suggest that sitting for long hours each day is bad for your health. Those health implications have led many people to move to a standing desk. That said, if you’re going to make the move from the kitchen table to a standing desk, make sure to select a desk that is easy to adjust, because sometimes you just need to sit. Make sure it is also stable enough to hold your monitor and other equipment. The Uplift V2 checks those boxes with built-in stability braces and dual motors that adjust the desk height easily and quietly. The desk is designed to bring order to the many cables that are an unsightly fact of modern work. It has built-in hooks to hold a hammock—you know, for those necessary moments of quiet contemplation or the inevitable mid-afternoon energy slump.  

●    Chairs: Even if you opt for a standing desk, you’ll likely still spend a few hours a day sitting. The Herman Miller Aeron Chair has been the ergonomic and stylistic gold standard for office chairs since it was first introduced in the 1990s. The iconic chair got a full design update in 2016, while keeping the same back support and breathable mesh that made it so popular in the first place. At nearly $1,400, the chair is decidedly upscale. Dybdahl also suggests less-expensive options, including an ergonomic mesh chair made by Amp or an executive leather chair made by Highland. 

●    Monitors: If your work requires long hours in front of a screen, then a small laptop screen may not be adequate. If you need to look at crisp, high-resolution images on a large screen to remain focused and productive, you have a host of options. Consider the massive Dell UltraSharp UP3218K, with a 32-inch screen with an ultra-high resolution of about 8K. It’s enough screen acreage and image clarity for professional video editors, which means it’s probably enough for any task you’re taking on.

●    Storage: Even in our highly digital world, you’re going to need a place to store important documents and files. For those with a modern aesthetic, Dybdahl suggests a collection of pieces made by the company Portland, particularly the storage pedestal that doubles as seating for visitors. “The storage pedestal has a little cushion on top to use as a second seat, great for parents with kiddos who, sometimes, come bother you by the desk,” she says.

●    Accessories: Your own personal style and the space you have to work with will dictate the equipment and furniture you ultimately select. But don’t just limit yourself to items that are strictly practical. Alessandra Wood, vice president of style at online interior designer Modsy, suggests adding throw pillows to your office furniture. “The tie-dye Match Everything Pillow from CB2 is the perfect piece to display on a sofa or tuck behind you for lumbar support,” she says. It’s not all about decoration. Other additions can help with good health and productivity. The Laser Egg + CO2 by Kaiterra monitors everything from room temperature and humidity to fine dust to CO2 in the room, to help you keep your work conditions optimal.

Comfort, style, productivity are a few watchwords as you choose and outfit your home office for success. Hopefully these ideas will help you build the kind of workspace that makes your work from home days easier.  

A former editor at Los Angeles magazine, Chris Warren's writing has appeared in publications ranging from Institutional Investor and Forbes to National Geographic Traveler, Oxford American and Greentech Media.

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