How to Make the Home Office Setup of Your Dreams
Thanks to ever-increasing internet speeds, remote work has become more and more accessible and viable for a large portion of workers. The COVID-19 pandemic accelerated the trend of remote work, with more Americans working from home now than have ever done so before.
Even if you don’t work from home all the time, a solid home office setup can be the difference between a productive, pleasant day and an uncomfortable grind. And with telecommuting gathering steam, the remote work revolution seems to be here to stay. The best time to create a home office is now, and Universal Storage Group is here with the expert tips and residential self storage you may need to make it happen.
Questions to Ask Yourself About Your Home Office
It’s fun to fully immerse yourself into a home project. Before you do so for your home office, however, you’ll need to ask yourself a few key questions. Every job has its own requirements, and your home office will need to meet those specific requirements.
How Much Space Do I Need?
Any home office should have enough space for your computer and a screen. Even then, how much space those things take up can vary widely. Consider: do you have a laptop or a desktop? Do you need two screens—or even three? What about a keyboard and printer? Don’t forget about writing space for your physical notes if that’s part of your workflow, either.
Do I Have Enough Electrical and Wire Availability?
Second, you’ll need to consider your electrical and internet needs. You’ll obviously need enough power for your devices! Find a space for your desk near a power outlet.
For best results, you’ll also want a wired ethernet connection as opposed to a wireless one. If you don’t have your home office near your router, you may have to make do. Otherwise, it might be worth it to try to install a wired home network.
How Much Privacy Do You Need?
Making important calls can get messy if your family or roommates can easily interrupt you. But if you don’t need much privacy, that opens your options—potentially to multiple parts of your home in the same day!
Overlooked Parts of a Good Home Office
Once you have your basics down, it’s time to move into some of the oft-overlooked parts that can take a home office to the next level.
Home Office Lighting
With backlit screens that are their own source of light, it may seem that lighting isn’t a big deal. But according to psychologists, the research is clear: better work lighting will lead to better work, thanks to a variety of factors.
Of course, that’s easier said than done. So, what will help make for the best home office lighting? Ultimately, it comes down to two main things: natural lighting and ambient lighting. The psychological benefits of sunlight are very well known. If possible, you should put your office in a space where there’s plenty of it.
But barring that, ambient artificial light is important, too. It can help reduce glare and reduce shadows, both of which strain your eyes.
Home Office Doors
Another thing that is often overlooked is your home office door. A good door can do multiple things. Not only can it block off or create visibility to the rest of your home, but it can also help insulate your home office from the rest of your home’s noises (and vice versa, if you regularly have excited or heated conversations with coworkers or clients).
Home office doors can also help in a different way: by helping you to create separation between your work space and your living space even in your own home. That’s because working in the same space where you live is a quick way to blurring your work/life balance and increasing burnout, which can result in stress-related health problems and decreased productivity.
Home Office Zoom Background
Chances are good that you’ve been on a Zoom call before, and chances are good that you’ve probably seen a messy space behind someone. Yes, Zoom provides the ability to upload a virtual background image or blur the space behind you, but nothing quite beats a real home office Zoom background.
Additionally—and this dovetails with the home office lighting suggestion from earlier—make sure the lighting in your office works with your Zoom calls. It’s easy to get washed out by bright lighting or make it seem like you live in a cave with dingy lighting.
How to Make a Home Office in a Small Space
What room should you put your home office in? Ideally, a bedroom that you’re not using is a great idea. Bedrooms are usually about the size for a good office, plus they already have a door and a window.
Not everyone has an extra bedroom that they can just use for an office. Many apartment residents are especially crunched for space. Consider the following solutions if you don’t have the space:
- Use a portion of your bedroom
- Put a small desk near your kitchen or eating area
- Portion off part of your basement with temporary walls
- Purchase multi-use furniture, like a futon, to help maximize space
Get Self Storage for Your Home Office Today
Self storage may not be the first thing you think of when it comes to a home office, but if you’ve got a small space, self storage could be the key to finally assembling the home office of your dreams. By putting seldom used or bulky items in your storage unit, you can clear up space in your basement or even make room in a bedroom or living room in your home. And with month-to-month leases and great prices, you won’t ever be locked into a long-term contract.
At Universal Storage Group, we have dozens of self storage facilities near you. Give us a call or rent your storage unit online today to get started!
