According to the BBC, more than 1.54 million people in the UK work from home for their main job.
This number is increasing each year and working from home is becoming more and more popular amongst people in the UK and worldwide.
Working from home is very different to working in an office, however it’s not all sitting around in your pyjamas all day and watching TV. If you want to have productive days and achieve your work goals, then you need to set up your home office to reflect this.
Have a look at our guide on the things you will need for your home office and how to set up the perfect home office.
What do I need for my home office?
If you are new to the world of working from home, or are just looking for some inspiration on how to become more productive or motivated, then the first thing you need to do is write a list of all the relevant things you need to complete your work.
A home office list might be as simple as a desk, a chair, and the essential gadgets, such as a desktop or laptop, and a phone. Depending on what kind of work you are doing, you might require other necessities in your home office. For example, you might need a printer, stationary, or a large work surface to work on.
Make sure your list reflects what it is that your doing. And remember that you can buy things as you need them, you don’t have to worry if you forget about certain items or if you don’t buy a big bulk stash of stationary.
How to set up the perfect home office
The first thing you need to do when you are thinking about setting up your home office is finding a good place to put your desk and work. This might be in a spare room, or it might be in a corner in your dining room or living room.
As long as you have enough space and your desk isn’t in a place where you will get easily distracted (such as overlooking a busy road) then you will have a great place to set up your office. But you may want to experiment with different locations in your house until you get it just right.
According to Joanne Williams for Sweetesthome, you also need to consider where you will be keeping important documents. Storing documents can be quite messy, so in order to stay on top of your organisation make sure you think about where you can put your documents and keep them safe.
The second thing you need to do is ensure you have enough light to work. You might find in summer that your home office doesn’t require additional light sources, however in winter, you might need to get a lamp or two.
The third thing you need to do is look at your list of equipment and invest in the right office supplies. You don’t want to scrimp on your laptop or chair because this might cost you more in the long run.
And finally, add your finishing touches that can help you stay motivated and productive. Such as a notice board, where you can write reminders for yourself, or add some colour and some photos to your desk.
