What does the ideal home office look like? That depends on what’s possible. Of course, the best is to have a separate room that you can set up exactly as you wish. However, sometimes you’ll have to make do with a corner in the living room or bedroom. With these tips, you can create a pleasant and aesthetic workplace in such circumstances.
Ensure Good Lighting
Choose a spot for your home office with plenty of natural light. Research shows that natural light increases productivity. Place your desk as close to a window as possible to the left or right when you look at the monitor. If you sit with your back to the window, the daylight will cause annoying reflections on your screen. And if you face the window, the sunlight can blind you. Also, ensure adequate lighting when the daylight is not sufficient. Five hundred lux is the minimum for a well-lit workspace.
And Healthy Air
Regular ventilation increases concentration and helps you stay fit. Open the window a little or install a window with integrated ventilation.
Separate Work from Family Life
When you don’t have a separate office room, you can visually separate your home office space instead. A room divider, curtain, or a row of large houseplants will help you divide your workspace, making it easier to relax after work. If your workspace is always in sight, it will be harder to do so.
Attention to Ergonomics
It’s important to create good ergonomic conditions in your home office to prevent typical office work issues such as back pain. An ideal desk is large enough to work on comfortably. It is recommended to have a desk surface that is at least 120 cm wide and 80 cm deep. The height of the desk is also crucial. You can check if your desk is the right height by sitting down and placing both hands on the desk surface. If your arms and elbows form a right angle, your desk is at the right height.
For a relaxed working posture, adjust your office chair so that your upper and lower legs form a 90-degree angle and your feet can be flat on the floor. Maintain a distance of about 80 cm from the monitor. This is for a normal-size screen; the larger the screen, the greater the ideal distance. Also, stand up from time to time or work standing for a while. Sitting for long periods is not good for your body.
Placement of Your Work Materials
Maintain a distance of about 80 cm from the monitor. This applies to a normal-sized screen; the larger the screen, the greater the ideal distance. And ensure that the screen is no higher than eye level. Your head should not tilt more than 45 degrees when looking at the screen. If you’re working with a laptop, a laptop stand is recommended.
Place the keyboard directly in front of you and 10 cm from the edge of the desk. The keyboard and mouse should not be too far away, otherwise, you won’t be able to keep your elbows and wrists at a ninety-degree angle.
Tip: Expand your work materials with a second monitor. The ability to use different programs side by side can increase productivity by more than 30%, according to research.
