One of the most significant effects of the COVID-19 pandemic is the shift to the work-from-home (WFH) setup. Companies had to adopt this type of work arrangement to continue amidst community lockdowns and home quarantine orders from the government. This meant that employees had to continue working away from the office and set up a home office instead.
If you’re one of those who also transitioned to telecommuting, you’ll know that it’s not as easy as it seems.
While working from home affords you certain conveniences like fewer commutes (you may still be required to report to the office every so often) and reduced food or transportation expenses, you also need to think about creating a work area where you’ll feel comfortable.
After all, home is supposed to be your personal space, not your workplace.
Here, we list the equipment, furniture, tools, and design ideas that you could use to have an effective work setup at home.
1. Determine the right size you need
Your work area can be as small as to accommodate just an office table and a chair, or it can be bigger to have enough space for items like a drawer organizer or file cabinet. It all depends on the nature and demands of your work. It can help you decide on another crucial aspect, as you’ll see in the next section.
2. Choose the location of your office
Once you know how much home office space you’ll need; you now have to visualize where you can set up your workstation. If it’s just a small office, then a corner on the ground floor of your home should be enough.
However, for a larger workstation, you’ll probably have to free up one of the rooms you have, such as the guestroom, storage area, or family entertainment room. Whichever location you choose, try your best to keep it separate from the goings-on around your home so that you won’t have to deal with too many distractions.
3. Stay connected online
Since you’re working from home, you need a reliable internet connection service to be connected with the rest of your team. Some internet service providers offer bundled packages like internet and cable TV, so check if it’s something you can avail of.
Needless to say, the most important factors to consider are the download and upload speed, plus the type of internet plan you should get depending on how much data you typically consume.
4. Have the complete set of equipment
Lack of good office equipment can affect your daily productivity. Coordinate with your human resources department for the complete set of equipment and office furniture that you’ll be needing, such as a computer, printer, table, chair, cord extension, and so on.
It may be a good idea to have a personal laptop aside from the computer provided by the office so that in case the latter breaks down, you’ll have a ready replacement unit.
5. Aim for both functionality and style
Wouldn’t it be nice to work in an office that you can style to your liking? Perhaps you can add plants to your space for some color and a touch of nature. Or maybe you have a nifty corner for a coffee brewing machine to get you through those days or nights when you have to perk yourself up with a good cup of joe.
Having the things you love around your home office can help provide a lighthearted mood, so you’ll remain motivated while working from home.
A good home space for working
Going back to the office may not be happening anytime soon, but you can always use this time as an opportunity to create the perfect space for a work-from-home setup.
