If you’re still writing emails on the sofa and using your lap as a desk, we get it. The soft squishy cushions, the fuzzy blanket, the endless cups of coffee - it’s all so tempting!
However, whilst this cosy setup is fine for light work days and, let’s be honest, Fridays, it’s definitely not the best environment for everyday productivity and separating work time from free time.
Now don’t get us wrong. We’re not saying you should only work in an office, we believe people working and creating within their own spaces is only a good thing. But, when it comes to curating the perfect work-from-home setup, you (and your spine) deserve so much more than the couch.
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Why You Shouldn’t Work On The Sofa Every Day
1. It’s bad for your eyesight - the screen you’re working on should be positioned, roughly, at arm's length. If yours is resting right on your lap it's way too close which, over time, can lead to problems with your eyesight.
2. It wreaks havoc on your posture - tech neck anyone?! As if constantly looking down at your phone wasn’t bad enough, looking down at a screen on your lap for hours on end is a surefire way to end up with a severely achy neck and uncomfortably tight shoulders.
3. It doesn’t make for a good work/life balance - one thing the office does have over working from home is that it forces us to mentally and physically disconnect from our off-duty surroundings. When we leave the office, both our minds and bodies know we’re done for the day. This makes it so much easier to switch off and relax once you're through the front door.
Again, this doesn’t mean we’re suggesting you work exclusively at the office or start renting a coworking space. It does mean we’re encouraging you to create a separate working area within your home that’s only used for work. The only difference between working hours and time off shouldn’t be that your laptop has now moved from your lap to the coffee table. Trust us, you’ll end up feeling like you’re always at work.
So what’s the solution?
Image by Thought Catalogue
Identify What You Need From The Space
Nobody knows what you need in your WFH space better than you, so don’t design the area by the book. Instead, take some time to think through your typical workday and determine what you need to function at your best.
For example, working from home as an artist looks very different to remote work as a virtual assistant. Do you need a huge working desk and heaps of storage for craft supplies and packing materials? Or are you working on multiple screens requiring space for airflow and countless cables? Make a list of everything you want and need to work well and happily from home and build your desk area out from there. A space designed specifically to serve both you and your workload will instantly improve productivity and your state of mind.
Image by Ergonofis
The Optimum Layout For Your Home Office Furniture
Yes, we (and our backs) want the ideal ergonomic setup for our WFH spaces. However, we also want to feel confident, powerful, and ready to take on the day each time we arrive at our desks. With that in mind, we’ve put together the ultimate home office set-up using a mixture of ergonomics and fengshui to maximise your WFH space potential. As we said, we don’t all need the exact same setup, but if you work at any type of desk, these tips are universal!
Ergonomics
1. Lighting - Choose a space with as much natural light as possible but try to avoid facing the window. It might be tempting to gaze out into the distance between tasks but the harshness of front-on lighting, especially in the spring and summer months, can put a heavy strain on your eyes. Instead, position your desk with your natural light source to the side. This will distribute the light more evenly and reduce glare. If you need ambient lighting, opt for overhead lights instead of desk lamps to flood the area evenly with light. Desk lamps, whilst useful for intricate tasks, can force your eyes to work harder than they need to.
2. Chair position - A desk chair with a supportive back and armrests is essential. Adjust the height so that your thighs are parallel to the ground. Your lower leg should extend forward slightly with your feet resting flat, and comfortably on the floor. If that’s not possible with your desk height, use a footrest.
3. Screen height and distance - When sitting in your chair, your screen should be positioned at arm's length. Also, your eyes should be level with the top two inches of your screen. Tilt it down ever so slightly if that feels more comfortable to focus on.
4. Arms - Your arms should be bent at a 90-degree angle (or slightly more) and resting on the armrests of your chair. You should be able to comfortably reach your mouse and keyboard in this position so set them in place accordingly.
Image by Andrej Lišakov
Feng Shui
1. Put your back to the wall - If possible, we recommend positioning your desk so you can look out into the room as you work. According to Feng Shui, the solidness of the wall behind you and the ability to see the entirety of the room at all times provide support, security, and a sense of control.
2. Declutter the space and face the door - your office should be clean and free of clutter to maximise the flow of positive energy in the space. The idea is to free you from distractions and help you to focus on the task at hand. If you can, position yourself and your desk facing, but slightly off-centre from the door so you can see anyone who enters or exits the room.
Combining all of these ergonomic and Feng shui principles will put you in what’s called the ‘command position’. It’s designed to minimise surprises, increase productivity, and allow you to feel in control of your workflow.
Image by Standome
How To Create A Work From Home Space… With No Space
If the sofa, the end of your dining table, or the kitchen countertop are your only options for a WFH ‘office’ don’t despair. There are plenty of practical and exciting ways to make this space feel like one thing during the daytime, and another in the evenings.
Our favourite? Make your kitchen countertop a functional standing desk.
Maybe it’s a limited space thing, maybe it’s a not wanting to shell out hundreds for a work desk thing. Either way, repurposing your countertop as a standing desk is one of our favourite work-from-home hacks. Standing and working is better for your heart health, your posture, and even burns calories.
So, grab yourself an adjustable laptop stand and set it on the counter. Use the ergonomic tips above to position it at the right height, then stash it away in a cupboard at the end of the day.
If you’re working from the dining table or another frequently used surface in your home, invest in a storage system that lets you stow away your laptop, papers, and any other materials you use at the end of the day. If your setup is small, a simple lidded storage container may be all you need. Otherwise, consider a set of drawers or a small cupboard to keep things organised. Not being able to see your work things in the evenings will help define work hours from personal ones. It’ll also help you resist the urge to keep dipping back into work after 5 pm.
Image by Ella Jardim
Make It Personal
Once you have the setup down, think about ways to make the space your own. Add plants to stay connected to the outdoors. Bring in small trinkets like family photographs or a fun coaster to rest your coffee cup on. You can even hang or rest a beloved piece of artwork above or on your desk - anything that makes you smile and better enjoy the day!
Being able to make as many personal touches to your space as you wish is one of the biggest benefits to working from home so be sure to take advantage and make it feel like a happy and productive place to be.
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