A Guide to Setting Up A Home Office For Remote Work.

It is no longer news that most people now work from home as many organisations have been forced to embrace remote work due to the global Coronavirus pandemic. While some entrepreneurs/freelancers are already familiar with the concept of not working in a corporate workspace, a handful of newbies are currently struggling. They are either falling asleep too often, snacking consistently, or just not able to get some work done. Before anything else, you might need to consider if you will be needing this home workspace just in the meantime (till the world is safe again) or, on a long-term basis. Determining this will help you know to what extent you will be acquiring the needed items and decoration for a conducive home office. Let’s also add that it helps you define your budget. Well, we have broken things up for you.

5 Areas of Consideration When Setting Up A Home Office

Choosing A Space

A major decision you really can’t run from. Let’s get real, there’s not so much work you can do in the comfort of your bed, or with your family in the living room watching their favourite Soap Opera. You need some level of privacy to get into that work mode and eventually be productive. Depending on how large your home is, or how much space you are willing to dedicate, you could use an entire room as your home office. However, if that is not an option for you, there are many more places within your home that can absolutely serve your purpose. You could empty one of the closets in your bedroom, or check out areas like- underneath the stairs, a section of your dining table, the basement, attic, or just a portion of your bedroom. If you live with someone else and feel the need for some privacy, don’t worry about erecting a wall, you could buy some fancy room dividers or curtains. Also, it isn’t so economical to site your home office in an empty room (especially if it is for temporary use), because you’ll need more furniture and decoration to make the space look cool.

Furniture

If your normal work hours at the office is about 7-8 hours, there’s a likelihood that you will be working for longer hours as a remote worker since there isn’t any need for commuting or other office distractions. Your home office needs to be furnished with very comfortable chairs and a table/desk. Your table should be of the right height and large enough to accommodate your laptop, with more space for other items you’ll be using frequently. In addition, one could develop a bad posture or body pains as a result of sitting for long hours daily; for this reason, you should try using an adjustable desk to give you the opportunity to stand a bit while you work. The recommended type of chair for work purpose is those with 360-degree swivel base, armrest, adjustable height and backrest. Avoid using stools or other seats that will cause pain to your back.

Equipment

Your type of job will determine what equipment and stationery to get. For most remote jobs, you will be needing a functional laptop, notepads, pens, A4 papers, stapler, printer, scanner, Wi-Fi and router, surge protector, and more. At this point, it is also important to mention that you should make provision for alternative power supply to ensure work goes on even in the absence of electricity supply. Depending on how much power you need, there are several options, including power banks, spare batteries for your devices, UPS, generators, solar systems, inverters and more. Furthermore, it is expected that you will also need some form of internet connection. Before you patronise any internet service provider, find out which network works best in your area; you sure won’t love to encounter internet connection issues. 

Appearance

This is another vital area to bear in mind when setting up a home office. Don’t forget you are likely to hold online meetings with clients and colleagues via Zoom, Skype, or other collaboration tools. Your workspace shouldn’t look like a zoo or mental home; your home office design must project you as an organised professional that you are. Get yourself a lovely background (you can use fancy wallpapers or stickers), natural flowers, table lamp - for better lighting. Your space must be well lit with light sources that don’t endanger your sight and also energise you. The ventilation of your home office space shouldn’t be neglected. Avoid the window view if it poses as a form of distraction.

Organisation

Since it is your home, you should incorporate some form of organisation and orderliness to prevent cases of misplaced documents and invasion of your privacy by unauthorised persons. You’ll need organisational tools like cabinets with locks, drawers, files, and even cable clips to restrict wire cables from littering your space or causing one to trip. Being organised has a way of improving your productivity and output quality.

Now that you are aware of the necessary things to consider when setting up a home office for remote work, feel free to shop for some of the mentioned equipment and furniture on SellOff.ng. We’ll also love to see pictures of your home office, you can tag us (@selloffng) to such pictures on Instagram.