Setting Up a Home Office

Setting up a home office is about getting the balance right between productivity features and your personal style.

A Sanctuary for Productivity and Creativity

Date published: 26th October 2023 By Kerry Greener

Advice for Setting Up a Home Office  ~  Interior Design Tips  ~  Kerry's Bonus Tips  ~
  Share Your Home Office Designs & Ideas

Before the COVID-19 pandemic, setting up a home office and working from home was a luxury for many people. But with lockdowns and social distancing measures in place, working from home has become the norm for millions of workers worldwide.

Setting up a practical but luxurious space for working in is the norm nowadays as more and more home workers need to feel productive, relaxed and incentivised at home.

As a result, there has been a surge in demand for home offices, layout designs, and the equipment needed to make them run smoothly. Many people have upgraded their home office space since the pandemic began. They are investing in ergonomic furniture, comfortable seating, and noise-cancelling headphones.

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Sound Advice for Setting Up a Home Office

However, some home office workers realise they commonly overlook some fundamental issues when transitioning from a company-based office to a home office.

Here are a few of those overlooked challenges and how to address them:

Creating a dedicated workspace:

Focusing on work in a space used for relaxation or other activities can be challenging. 

Tips for creating a dedicated workspace:

• If you have a spare room, convert it into a dedicated home office.
• If you don't have an extra room, try to find a quiet space in your home to set up a desk and chair.
• Create a separation between your workspace and your personal space using dividers, plants, or other objects.

Set up a dedicated workspace in your home, away from distractions.

Maintaining a healthy work-life balance:

It can be easy to let work take over your life when working from home. 

Ideas for maintaining a healthy work-life balance:

• Set regular work hours and stick to them as much as possible.
• Take daily breaks to get up, move around, or step outside for fresh air.
• Set boundaries with your family and friends so they know when you are working and available to socialise.

Take regular breaks, step outside and be with nature. It's a great way to stay focussed and refresh that grey-matter.

Staying motivated:

It can be challenging to stay motivated when you are working alone. 

Tips to stay motivated when working at home:

• Set goals for yourself and track your progress.
• Reward yourself for completing tasks and reaching milestones.
• Connect with other remote workers or join online communities to stay engaged.

Connect with other remote workers or join online communities to stay engaged.

Dealing with distractions:

There are many distractions at home, such as family members, pets, and household chores. 

Tips for dealing with distractions in the home office workplace:

• Turn off your phone and close any unnecessary tabs on your computer when you are working.
• If you have family members or pets at home, try to find a way to isolate yourself from them during work hours.
• Use a noise-cancelling headset or earplugs to block out noise from outside.

Finding ways to minimise distractions and stay focused on work is essential.

Ensuring cybersecurity:

Protecting your data and devices from cybersecurity threats when working from home is essential.

Ideas to help you deal with cybersecurity:

• Use a strong password for your home Wi-Fi network.
• Enable two-factor authentication on all of your online accounts.
• Install security software on your computer and devices.
• Be careful about what information you share online.

Overlooking cyber threats and needing to be adequately protected is the top issue most companies face when allowing workers to operate from home.

Cybersecurity is the Top Reason Companies Say No to Staff Setting Up a Home Office

If you want to set up a home office and work from your house rather than commute to work every day, you can approach your company with these cybersecurity solutions:

• Provide employees with secure devices and software. This includes providing employees with laptops, smartphones, and other devices equipped with security features, such as antivirus software, firewalls, and encryption. Companies should keep their software current, as outdated software can contain security vulnerabilities.
• Educate employees about cybersecurity best practices. Employees should be trained on how to identify and avoid phishing attacks, how to create strong passwords, and how to keep their devices secure. Companies should also have policies in place for reporting suspicious activity.
• Use a VPN. A VPN (virtual private network) encrypts all traffic between an employee's device and the company's network, making it more difficult for attackers to intercept data.
• Implement multi-factor authentication (MFA). MFA adds an extra layer of security by requiring employees to enter a code from their phone in addition to their password when logging in to company systems.
• Monitor for suspicious activity. Companies should use security tools to monitor their networks for suspicious activity, such as unusual login attempts or access to sensitive data.
• Set up strict and specific security measures. Restrict the type of data remote workers can store on their devices or on the websites employees can access from their work devices.

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Interior Design Tips for Setting Up a Home Office

Setting Up a Home Office For Your Personality

Create an oasis for productivity and inspiration by surrounding yourself with a space built on your own terms.

What if you are setting up a home office as a small business owner or a budding entrepreneur?

One of the unique aspects of working from home is having more control over your working environment. In other words, you can create a functional and inspiring space perfectly tailored to your individual needs and preferences.

You Don't Have to Follow All the Rules

With some planning and creativity, you can create a home office you love working in, reflecting your unique personality.

Here are a few additional tips from an expert interior designer:

• Use mirrors to create a sense of spaciousness and reflect natural light.
• Add plants to purify the air and boost your mood.
• Incorporate pops of colour or metallic accents to add visual interest.
• Create a focal point, such as artwork or a gallery wall.
• Use area rugs to define different zones and add warmth and texture.
• Add comfortable seating for guests or clients.

Tips for Setting Up a Home Office You'll Love to Work In

Invest in ergonomic furniture. A suitable desk and chair are essential for maintaining good posture and avoiding discomfort. If you spend much time working at your computer, consider investing in a standing desk or ergonomic keyboard and mouse.

Whether you prefer a minimalist aesthetic or a more eclectic mix, there are endless possibilities for creating a home office you love spending time in. 

Here are a few tips to get you started:

• Consider your needs and workflow. What tasks will you be performing in your home office? How much space do you need? Once you understand your needs well, you can start planning your room's layout and design.
  
  
• Choose a comfortable and inviting colour palette. Colours can significantly impact our mood and productivity, so choosing a colour palette that you find both calming and inspiring is crucial. Soft neutrals, light blues, and greens are all popular choices for home offices.
  
  
• Add personal touches. Feel free to add personal touches to your home office, such as family photos, artwork and plants. This will help to create a space that feels warm, inviting, and personal to you.
  
  
• Create dedicated zones. Create dedicated zones for working, relaxing, and socialising. This will help you to stay focused and avoid distractions. Set up your home office in a separate room from where you sleep and relax. This will help you separate work from downtime and compartmentalise your functions in each area.
  
  
• Maximise natural light. Natural light is one of the best ways to improve mood and productivity. Set up your home office in a room with plenty of windows. Natural light is best, but invest in a good task lamp if natural lighting is unavailable in your space. (I strongly advocate for OLED lighting, and I have one in my office. I find LED lighting too stark, and it gives me a headache after a while. OLED is an organic cross between candles and daylight - just beautiful; it almost breathes!)
  
  
• Minimise noise distractions. Consider using noise-cancelling headphones or earplugs if you work in a noisy environment. Noisy roommates or neighbours can be very off-putting, so invest in an acoustic panel or two to help absorb sound.
  
  
• Declutter and organise regularly. A cluttered workspace can be distracting and stressful. Take time each day to declutter and organise your desk and surrounding area.

By following these tips, you can set up a functional and inspiring home office where you can be productive and creative.

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Kerry's Bonus Tips:

If you are new to working from home, it can be helpful to create a routine. I've got mine down to sophisticated symphony. Which involves getting my teenage son up and organised, breakfast, and a brisk 40-minute dog walk before I get stuck into whatever I want.

The bit of the day I love the most is writing - articles like this one. (This AI-generated picture is unfortunately not me!)

I do take a lot of breaks throughout the day. I want to say I do a workout or go for a jog on the beach, but that would be a complete lie! Ha ha, so I usually sit in the garden and spend time with the dog just to escape the computer screen for 10 minutes or so. I also do some house chores before my son emerges, creating domestic chaos again.

I've automated many of my work processes with Groove CRM, so my business ticks along nicely, doing what it's supposed to do. Click to discover more about Groove...

One thing I found a challenge when I first started working from home was setting boundaries with my family and friends. I explained that I'm unavailable between certain hours for girlie lunches or early afternoon drinks, and they need to respect my 'working hours'. They completely ignore it, and sometimes, I write off a whole day.

I wouldn't have it any other way!

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Share Your Home Office Designs

What does your home office look like? 

What are your favourite tips for creating a productive and inspiring workspace? 

Have you recently transitioned from working in a corporate building to working from home?

We would love to hear your story - share your fantastic home office setup below...