3 Tips for Creating the Best Home Office Setup

Millions of Americans are calling home “the office” at least one day a week. About 18% of workers over the age of 16 worked remotely in January of 2024, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

The thought of working from home can be exciting–the high you get when you think about doing things on your own terms and schedule, while also enjoying the comforts of your own home. But things can go downhill quickly if your office is not set up for productivity.

Creating a great home office setup

Here are three things to focus on to build your ideal home office–and turn you into a hyperfocused hamster.

1. Start with ergonomics

Starting to work from home can be exciting, and in that excitement office furniture falls at the bottom of the priority list. However, the investment you make in a supportive office setup can pay dividends in health and well-being which translates into productive business hours.

A study by German researchers found that sitting too much is the new smoking–raising the risk of diabetes, heart disease, and even some cancers. An easy way to help offset some of this damage is to invest in a solid office chair. An ergonomic chair that is designed to support your back and neck can give you long productive hours during long workdays and easily can become the most important investment you'll ever make if your work involves sitting.

If you want to take your setup a step further, invest in a standing desk that goes along with your chair so you can make the transition between sitting and standing while working. This will make you really productive while keeping your body and health intact.

Also make sure that you have setup your monitor at proper angles so you don't suffer from cervical pain, also known as "text neck," which is caused by looking down or slouching for long periods of time.

2. Focus on lighting

I talked about how investing in office furniture is often at the bottom of the priority list, but when it comes to lighting, I can say that it rarely makes it to the priority list at all. Good lighting is extremely essential for your work space; poor lighting, however, can cause eyestrain and headaches.

Your work is important, but it shouldn't turn you into a Batman. Ideally you want as much natural daylight as possible; if your room has a window, it will provide the best balanced white light. If no daylight is available, a combination of general and task lighting will make up for it.

First consider what type of activities you perform in your work space; this may include reading, filing, working at a computer, etc. You'll realize that each task requires different light type and intensity. It's ideal to place your ambient lights on a dimmer switch, so you have the flexibility to adjust light levels depending on time of day and types of work you're doing. Supplement this with overhead fixtures to spread the light evenly.

The most effective lighting brings out the fullest quality of the colors illuminated. If lighting levels are too low, there can be negative psychological effects, including depression.

This remodeling guide will help you understand the science behind lighting in detail.

3. Don't Forget the Fun

Working from home doesn't mean you have to spend all the time working. If you do, you'll quickly burnout. Make sure to design your home office to be a creative, comfortable, and fun place. Here are few ways you can do to add life to your home office:

• Exercise ball–Sitting on chairs is old school and boring; get an exercise ball that will make sitting more fun.
• Social media cushions–Do you love social media? Make your office fancy with some props like funky cushions.
• Bean bags–Throw some bean bags in the corner of your office for relaxing.
• Basketball hoop–Attach a small basketball hoop to your door and practice some shots.
• Gaming and stereo setup–It's good to break the chain and listen to some music or play some video games. It's also a great way to make your office fun.

At the end, go with what makes you comfortable and takes you out of your comfort zone; but you also don’t want to get too comfortable. Aim to create a highly-functional and productive workspace that suits you best. I'll leave you with this highly-functional studio of Casey Neistat which will inspire you and push you to go for what works for you.