Making a home office that works for you

Thanks to everything that has changed in our lives as a result of COVID-19, one of the many new things that has come along for many of us is working from home rather than working from an office. This means setting up a corner of your home to be conducive to working, and this can be a challenge, especially if you are a tenant and therefore limited in the changes that you can make.

So I need a home office - where does it go?

First things first - you need to pick a room or an area of your home which can be set up permanently as an office. If you are going to be working from home long-term, a laptop on your couch isn't going to cut it - you'll just end up spending any money you saved by not setting up a home office at the chiropractor when your back starts to voice its complaints. Your home office should be as free from distractions as possible. In many cases, a home office may need to be part of the lounge, and this is where the creative use of room dividers and clever placement of furniture can separate off an area of space that will become your office.

Get a good chair and desk

Fact: you cannot be productive if you are uncomfortable. This may mean investing in a new desk or chair - and this is particularly important if the #WFH life is a permanent situation for you, rather than just for a few more months during #lockdown2020. A desk chair is not something that can be bought online - you are going to need to venture out to a shop, sit in some chairs and choose one that works for you.

Don't compromise on what you need

Another thing to think about if you're going to be working from home long-term is that it's not worth making sacrifices that are going to get in the way of your productivity. What this means for you will depend entirely on the type of work that you do - if there is a lot of paperwork involved in your job, it may mean investing in a filing cabinet - or asking your boss if you can take the one you used to use at the office home. Making sure that your internet connection is up to the job is another important task.

Getting the light right

Having good lighting is an essential element of being able to work effectively. In a home office within a rented home, lamps are a great way to achieve this, as they do not require making any changes to the home. Depending on the size and setup of your desk, a desk lamp or a standing lamp next to your desk can make all the difference. Make sure to position all lights correctly so that none of them shine directly onto your computer screen.

Do a quick background check

In order for you to create the required professional ambience on Google Hangouts or Skype calls, you're going to need to keep children's toys, dirty socks and other clutter out of the picture. Of course, if you're using Zoom, this is less of a factor, because you can pretend you are just about anywhere in the world by choosing your own background.

To find out more about what you may and may not do when putting together a home office in a rented home, contact the team from CSi Rentals. If you're thinking about making a move to a slightly bigger home in light of your new home office needs, you can browse the listings on offer.