Setting Up Your Home Office

Launched in 2009, the Donut websites have grown to be the UK’s largest resource for small businesses. Learn more about key start-up topics such as business ideas, business planning, and sales and marketing. Some business centres provide office equipment for a higher licence fee. An office clearance company may be able to offer complete sets of office furniture and equipment from downsized or closed companies. In a well set-up office, the equipment, the systems and the environment all contribute to making you and your business more efficient. You might think that sustainable living comes with a price tag, requiring you to buy expensive, plastic-free or organic items.

If you have a habit of sitting for longer periods of time, then a good ergonomic chair could be a worthwhile investment. An integrated office like this one from Wren Kitchens blends seamlessly within a kitchen, with easy home office tips to clean surfaces and extra cupboard and drawer spaces. You’ll need to think about legal implications like insurance, practical things like a comfortable office chair and design features like colour and lighting.

Select the comfiest chair you can

Outdoor offices work really well as they give a sense of separation from home life, and there are fewer distractions. If you need a lot of storage, make sure you search for a desk with ample drawers or a tall shelving unit to make the most of vertical space. Since 2020, many of our home offices have resembled makeshift spaces born of necessity, but lacking in functionality. But as home working slowly became part of daily life, a reported 38% of homeowners set about creating a permanent home office, this according to a survey by Rated People. Becoming a Paperless Office – save time, money and space and you’ll find your day-to-day business becomes faster and more seamless than ever before. The first time I had a home office, it was before I had children and I was simply always at work.

Based on these parameters, you can define a budget, and decide on which priorities you want to set for your home office design. Remember that this isn’t some dull corporate office; it’s your own personal office and you’re the one who has the say in how it looks and feels, so add some personal touches. Ideally, you should tailor your home office to the design and style of your home itself, but that’s up to you. With so many employees unable to conduct face-to-face meetings currently, video conferencing has become the new go-to method for keeping in touch with colleagues. It’s also important to allow yourself time for a proper lunch break and other short breaks throughout the day.

Keep Your Office Tidy!

So, whether you’re self-employed or used to the office lifestyle, you may be adjusting to setting up shop in the house. It’s brimming with random items, some of which haven’t seen the light of day in months. Now is the time to get your hands on some drawer organisers and separate items out.

• However, if you spend a lot of time working at your laptop, this can lead to back and neck ache over time.
• To have an effective home office, buy a screen and a good mouse and sit or stand by an office table.
• If you’re the creative type, you could make your own divider by attaching three panels of MDF together using hinges then decorating with stylish wallpaper.
• Any easy way to do this is by zip tying them together and tucking them out the way.