Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Protection built in.

Meet the Other Phone.
Protection built in.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Chat

Join the discussion and chat with other Mumsnetters about everyday life, relationships and parenting.

Original poster

What's your home working set-up like?

67 replies

DolphinaPD · 28/04/2022 13:52

Just because I'm nosy 😆

I just started wfh this week. I've got a garden table with a table cloth over it for now 😂 and my laptop on a box. My chair is a bit high for the table 🙄

Hopefully I'll sort it out to a proper desk with extra monitors and a keyboard by the end of next week.

I'd also like some nice stationery and desk accessories so I'll check out the shops pound shop on the weekend I think.

OP posts:
balalake · 28/04/2022 18:11

Large screen in the corner of the lounge, my Mac, a chair and space for a cuppa. All of which were there before the pandemic.

dangermouseisace · 28/04/2022 18:27

I have no space...its a bit tight. I have a desk squished in a corner of the living room with a spinny chair. I was provided with a laptop but after a whole load of aching requested monitor keyboard and mouse too. I bought my own laptop stand as I was sick of balancing it on books for online meetings. I've got some nice Eleanor Bowmer bits to cheer my space up.

There are wires everywhere and I DEFINITELY don't have a clean desk policy.

Hugasauras · 28/04/2022 18:31

I have my own office. Three monitors and keyboard/mouse plus ergonomic chair and large L-shaped desk. DH has same setup in his office. I do some design work so can't easily work from a laptop without any peripherals, only in emergencies!

Ferntastical · 28/04/2022 18:31

I've also wfh for a few years so actually have one of the bedrooms set up as as an office, with a desk, monitor, office chair and sofa in there. (The dog sleeps on the sofa most the time but occasionally I sit on it for less formal calls or when dialling in to a 'losten in only' type of presentation.)

The desk is especially nice, as my Dad made it for me recently - he's such a great woodworker and it's made to my specifications. I really love it!!

Hugasauras · 28/04/2022 18:32

We do have a large summerhouse with power that will one day be one of our offices when we get round to it. Probably mine. It needs some insulation for the winter though.

Ferntastical · 28/04/2022 18:34

Just because I am super proud of my Dad for building this desk, here's a pic....

What's your home working set-up like?
Libertaire · 28/04/2022 18:38

Work provide my laptop, keyboard, mouse & monitor. I have a desk and my own proper office chair set up in my spare room. The chair is important: yes it cost me a couple of hundred pounds, but that’s a small price to pay for not getting a bad back from sitting on dining chairs all day.

Bluesheep8 · 28/04/2022 19:41

@Ferntastical

That desk is incredible!

PandemelonFelon · 28/04/2022 19:51

AMAZING DESK!

I have envy. Does he do this for a living?

Original poster
DolphinaPD · 28/04/2022 20:10

Ferntastical · 28/04/2022 18:34

Just because I am super proud of my Dad for building this desk, here's a pic....

That's beautiful.

OP posts:
Snowiscold · 28/04/2022 20:15

I work from the dining room table, with a proper office chair. I have a PC and two screens. The table is pushed against the wall. There are dividing doors between the living and dining room. Normally I keep them open, but if I’m on video call, I close them.

Ferntastical · 28/04/2022 20:16

Thank you all for your nice words about the desk. He's retired and never did this for a living, but his dad (my Grandad) was a woodwork teacher and so he learned from him. It's been a lifelong interest but more so in later years when he's had the time and space to practise.

He has made me bits of furniture in the past (a foot stool and a side table) but nothing on this scale. He worked on it for about 4-6 months.

It definately makes working more enjoyable!!

Gufo · 28/04/2022 20:17

Dining table and laptop for me for the 3 days I WFH - v envious of some lovely sounding offices on this thread. Work's solution to non-office chairs and monitors is to go into the office more often - I'd rather save the hour each way commute and fuel costs.

Allmyarseandpeggymartin · 28/04/2022 20:41

@Ferntastical Thats gorgeous

Ive got a desk pushed up against the wardrobe in the spare room, we’ve got a double bed in there and have frequent visitors so can’t get rid of it.

Luckily the wardrobe only has winter coats and the suitcases in it. The room is beautiful though, it’s a light dusky pink with gold and green accents - loads of plants and candles.

We've got an actual study that DH has been cockblocking for the last 2 years and we could fit my desk in as well but I think we’d drive each other up the wall.

MeridasMum · 28/04/2022 20:57

I invested in a treadmill and standing desk which I use for certain work activities (I read a lot of reports at work and can do this and walk at the same time.

We don't have a spare room/study so I also bought a lovely console table with drawers which is in the living room. In the morning, I add a dining chair, remove the plant and vase from the top and lay out my laptop etc which I keep in the drawers.

If DH and I feel like some company, we both work at the dining room table.

SwedishEdith · 28/04/2022 21:00

I've a cheapo Habitat fold-up table and office chair in the corner of our bedroom. Don't have space for a dedicated desk and, weirdly, don't think I could work from the dining table any more even though I used to do that pre-Covid. But it works for me - laptop, monitor and decent headphones. Have not missed a printer in 2 years. Envious of those with dedicated offices but definitely couldn't share with anyone else. I get annoyed if I'm on calls with someone and can hear their partner on another call. Keep having to stop myself from saying something about the noise.😊

reluctantbrit · 28/04/2022 21:18

DH - wfh since 2012. He has a separate office in the loft, tiny with just desk with extra monitor etc, shelves and printer.

I have a small corner desk in the spare bedroom, just fits my laptop, monitor, keyboard, mouse, headphone station plus a desk calendar.

behind me is a bookshelf with space fir cups and papers.

thanks to our stupid system just a laptop doesn’t work so the sofa is out.

RestingPandaFace · 28/04/2022 21:29

I have the boxroom as an office.

It has a small Habitat desk and a good chair (glass back) a Kallax unit behind me with books and all my crap in nice boxes, it’s gives a good background for calls.

Lots of plants, artificial ones so they don’t keep dying on me, and a Nespresso machine.

LaWench · 28/04/2022 21:35

We have a spare room that is our office. I have a good sized desk with loads of drawers, a sturdy and very comfy chair. My pc has 2 monitors and a tiny printer that is hardly used.

I face the large window. I love having being able to see the sky and our garden after years in dingy offices with little or no view.

TigerDroveAgain · 28/04/2022 21:43

I work from a room above the garage, which is separate from the house. It’s not perfect but I have two monitors plus my surface pro with its camera for zoom calls, a Dyson fan for the warmer months (have used it once this year but expect to have it going a lot soon), a decent chair and a security lock so I can leave papers out if necessary

CMOTDibbler · 28/04/2022 22:00

I have a sit/ stand desk, a kneeling chair, a wobble board to stand on, and monitors on arms, boom microphone, ring light on articulated arm. I'm not above working from sofa, or from bed if I don't have meetings or just need to be on audio.

TedMullins · 28/04/2022 22:07

It’s my sofa. I have a tiny London flat with no spare room and no space to put a desk. I could work at the kitchen table (I say kitchen, the kitchen/living area is one open plan room) but I prefer being comfy. It’s probably terrible for my posture but I like it. I go into the office twice a week though and I like the change of scenery. I can’t afford anywhere bigger and it wouldn’t make sense to move out of London as the commuting costs would be as much as my mortgage.

DameHelena · 29/04/2022 08:40

CMOTDibbler · 28/04/2022 22:00

I have a sit/ stand desk, a kneeling chair, a wobble board to stand on, and monitors on arms, boom microphone, ring light on articulated arm. I'm not above working from sofa, or from bed if I don't have meetings or just need to be on audio.

Your set-up is BOSS Grin
May I ask what you do to use a boom microphone? And what's a ring light? Scuse my ignorance.

I've thought about a sit/stand desk. I did buy a laptop stand so I can stand up to work (essentially a tray on longish legs), but never use it as I can only stand for quite short periods and CBA rearranging everything every hour or whatever.

burnoutbabe · 29/04/2022 08:47

My bed. Only downside is removing partner from it before I start 9am!

People get used to seeing a headboard behind me in video calls (and I am also a student abs usually only person to have a camera on in classes)

When studying I like to spread out all my textbooks and notes around me so always studied from bed, which just expanded to work when that went online.

I do have a very big support pillow/cushion. And a small bed desk for when doing video calls so camera is on line with my eyes. Though if called unexpectedly they get a view up my nose.

CMOTDibbler · 29/04/2022 10:13

@DameHelena I have to record sessions for various things, and I need a setup so that the sound and picture quality is as high as possible. I have a high def camera as well which is mounted into the centre of the ring light (literally a circular light source so the lighting is very even round your face) which makes me look up and into the camera nicely. Before I invested a bit more in my setup I was traumatised by having to look at what I had recorded, and knowing some of it will be knocking around for a long time was a great driver in trying to look more professional.
On an everyday basis I use a good noise reduction headset so everyone in the house doesn't have to listen. The sit/stand desk was through a second hand refurbished office equipment site and was very reasonable. The electric lift and having everything on arm mounts makes it really fast to readjust