How to Set Up Your First Home Office

If you’ve fallen in love with the WFH life, than you know how important it is to have the right kind of home office. It’s where you’ll go to focus. It’s where you’ll turn your goals into reality. It’s where you’ll execute some of your best ideas. The key to unlocking the benefits of this space is setting it up properly. Home offices run the gamut of small corners in existing rooms to large, dedicated studies. If you aren’t sure where your office should fall on the spectrum, or how to furnish it, you should keep in mind what you really need. Make the set up easier by starting with the basics.

Where is the Best Place for Your Home Office

Home offices usually find themselves in one of three places, according to Jena Hall, American Furniture Hall of Famer, Designer and Creative Strategist. “The kitchen is the nerve center of the home. The family room or a spare bedroom will also work,” Hall says.

Kitchen – “New homes are commonly built with open floor plans. Following this trend, people who renovate their older homes often take out walls to open up the space – usually the wall between the kitchen and dining or the kitchen and family room,” Hall says. “Since modern families no longer do the majority of their entertaining in the dining room, getting rid of these walls makes the dining table a more accessible surface. When the kitchen-dining room space is opened up, the dining table now becomes a possible homework station, study center, or place to entertain.”

Hall goes on to discuss alternate kitchen work surface options. “Some kitchens include built-in desks. These surfaces are sometimes equipped with drawers and offer enough space for desktop computers. This is a step up from the dining table-kitchen counter work surface. Should you have enough space after opening up your dining room and kitchen, you can always add a small desk if your kitchen doesn’t have one built-in. Adjustable height desks from Twin Star Home™ make great office workstations and can double as a bar when entertaining.”

Family Room/Den – If you don’t have enough space for your own office, the family room might be another good option. “Multipurpose furniture helps transition the family room from lounging to working and back again. TV stands can also be used as accent cabinet for extra files or office supplies. You can place your printer on an open shelf or unused surface,” Hall advises.

Spare Bedroom – For those of us with more space, converting the spare bedroom into a dedicated office is perfect for accomplishing daily and long-term goals. “Since it’s likely you will be sitting for a long time, make sure your desk is aligned with your seating height and posture needs,” Hall says. It’s just as important as getting the right chair. An ill-suited desk will keep you from getting work done, the antithesis of your goal.

How to Choose the Perfect Desk for Your Home Office

Depending on how you work, the desk is presumably where you’ll make all those high-level decisions and crank out important projects. Before picking out your desk, keep the following points in mind.

• Are you sharing the office? You may want to have separate desks or share a partners desk, such as the Uptown Loft™ Command Central Desk from Twin Star Home. These desks have programmable settings, so everyone can have customized height preferences with a push of a button.
• Do you want a more modern design? Consider a Writing Desk with a warm oak finish and black metal framing.
• What kind of surface do you need? Glass tops are much easier to clean than wood, making them more kid friendly and dry erase compatible.

How to Choose Storage for Your Home Office

They say with a clear space, you will also have a clear mind. We think it’s valuable not to feel overwhelmed with too much clutter on your desk, especially if you are a creative soul. The only items you need at an arm’s length away is what you reach for frequently. Anything more, and your workspace could become too cluttered, causing you to lose focus.

• Filing cabinets – store all your documents in hanging folders and label them so you can get to what you need quickly. Jena Hall suggests using the closet for dated document storage. “As much as we’d like to go paperless, there are some important documents that you can’t get rid of. Keeping a filing system in your closet keeps these papers safe and separate from your day-to-day work. A well-organized home office will help you find everything you need at a moment’s notice, thus allowing you to work more quickly and efficiently. “A place for everything and everything in its place,” says Hall.
• Bookcases & bookshelves – anything you want displayed can go directly on the shelf. Organize these items in baskets if you need them to be concealed. Tall storage solutions let you use the vertical space and are great for small home offices.
• Credenza – keep office supplies out of the way and add another surface. You can place it behind you, or even use it as a return.

How to Get the Right Lighting for Your Home Office

It goes without saying that you can’t work efficiently without good lighting. Natural light is better than artificial light because it decreases energy consumption and promotes workplace satisfaction and effectiveness. If natural light isn’t enough or the sun has set on your work session, use LED lights to supplement natural light.

Reporting on research from Human Spaces, Work Design Magazine states, “proximity to natural elements, such as greenery and sunlight, are associated with a 15% increase in improved well-being and creativity. We need both daylight and darkness to regulate our sleep patterns and for our overall health and well-being.” Using natural light when you can will benefit you, your utility bill, and has long-term impacts on your health.

How to Customize Your Home Office

To make the most motivating and inspiring place to work, you’ll need to customize your home office to reflect your personality. Make it a warm and welcoming space.

“If you’re unsure how you’d like to decorate your office, you can always start with essential pieces, finished with your favorite accent color,” Hall says. Once you have your desk, chair, and storage set up, you can add décor pieces. When it comes time for you to update your office, you can easily swap out the décor and refresh the look. You can even bring in a little greenery by adding your favorite plants.

Depending on your space, you may not have a great view, but there are ways to overcome that. “If you don’t have a view, add a picture or a mural,” Jena Hall recommends. “Keep photos nearby and add knick-knacks to your office that make you smile. It’s one of the most important rooms in the home, so treat it that way.”

Don’t Stop Here

Feeling inspired to design more than your home office? Don’t stop here! Subscribe to our newsletter and get inspirational ideas for your kitchen, family room, master bathroom, and so much more!