Setting up to work from home

[Maggiethecat]

Worked from a home a bit over the past year but just accepted role that will be initially all wfh until eventually some kind of hybrid.

Am going to set up in a room not much used by rest of family although it wont be exclusively for my use.

What are the things that have made your wfh set up more convenient/ comfortable - whether placement in the home or equipment purchased?

Biggest desk you can comfortably fit, I just bought the IKEA lack style one it was only about £40 but follows the H&S recommendations for employers desk size. Comfortable chair and I bought a monitor so I could have a dual monitor set up. Do a dse at work to get what you need for foot tests etc if required.

Decent sized monitor, I have a monitor stand so its at the correct height. WFH you can have things like a white board or cork board, I make use of these.

My standing desk sits on top of my normal desk, so its flexible, but you need to make sure the desk is big enough. I actually only use it a couple of times a month, but on those days I would find it really hard to focus sitting down.

I also have a fit ball and a stepper, and a yoga mat in the room, so if I want a couple of minutes away from the desk I can do that.

Some nice pictures on the wall.

A green plant that is good for oxygen and hard to kill, like a spider plant.

I’ve just been made aware of a bit of software that prompts you to do a very short set of some specific exercises every once in while. I think it sounds really good

Large wall clock, so I don't lose track of time.

Summer - desk fan.

Less important now, but in winter - decent lighting. I also use an SAD lamp some mornings.

Also antibac wipes to clean the desk and keyboard etc. at the end of the week.

I've wfh'd for a few years!

Desk and proper chair. Enough plug points or extension cable. Do you need docking station, double screen, dongle for headphone usb etc

Decent size desk with storage. Proper chair with plenty of adjustable parts. At least two screens (or a laptop on a riser plus a second screen). Separate keyboard and mouse (so not using laptop keyboard and mousepad). Additional lighting. Whiteboard really helpful. Headset for the phone. Footrest can be useful too.

2 screens and a really good chair

A door that shuts.

Placemarking to learn tips too.

I did a few months WFH, but no zoom calls and other than the odd phone call, I was never actually seen on a call! Starting a new job next week which may require regular video calls!

A mirror, Good lighting (the ring ones make me look alive), good slippers or warm socks and a blanket I never realised the luxury of a warm office until I moved into my home office without a radiator.

@Eleoura

Placemarking to learn tips too.

I did a few months WFH, but no zoom calls and other than the odd phone call, I was never actually seen on a call! Starting a new job next week which may require regular video calls!

Multi USB hub has also been useful.

A cat (I want one)

Some helpful tips here!

I'll do it in the front (more formal) living room that's not used a lot but conscious that it means I'll now be limiting its use. I'll try to set things up so that it does not scream office iyswim.

Other options are the back living room adjoining kitchen where communal pc is (everyone has a laptop so not essential to keep for family use) but I think I would be interrupted by kitchen sounds etc.

Last option is block construction garage at the end of the garden that is used for storage and which could be cleared but it is not plumbed for heating and will be cold in the winter.

Need to see how to make this work!

No idea why I quoted PP!

A mat for under your chair if it has wheels as it wears the carpet.

@Coogee

A door that shuts.

🤣 🤣

I have a proper work sizes corner desk with cable channels and power sockets installed so everything is setup very tidy. Only cost £50 2nd hand off Gumtree.

An extra monitor is a must. A monitor stand/pole that you clamp onto the desk is good to get your monitor at the right height /depth and free up desk space. They are reasonably cheap from Amazon..

Comfy office chair.

Shelves, we have an ikea Billy bookcase with extra shelves so there are slots to tidy away plastic folders/notepads/laptops etc.

Good lighting.

If possible position desk up so your back is facing a wall for zoom calls.

My office isn’t big, but I spend all day in it so invested in 2 desks in an L shape so one area is for zooms (with nice view through the window, tidy area and always fresh flowers), then when not on Zoom I turn round to the business end with big monitor, stationery racks, pro printer, and a section for putting together packs of legal docs, weighing machine for postage etc.
White leather chair and furniture.
As pp have said, invest as much as you can afford on the chair (it’s all tax deductible)

Biggest desk or table you can fit into the space
Adjustable office chair - not a dining chair
Chair mat - to enable the chair to move more smoothly if you have carpet in your office
Footrest
Two monitors (same size) on adjustable risers
Headset and stand
Ergonomic keyboard
Mouse
Mouse mat
Fan
Art on walls - put pictures on the wall behind you for Teams meetings. Put your favourite art work where you can see it and enjoy it.
Cork board for a calendar and phone numbers etc
Plants
Clock
Extension cables with as many sockets as you can manage
USB charging point
Phone charging point
Radio
Smart speaker

Make sure you are either facing or are adjacent to a window so you can have fresh air and a view.

Make sure you chose a room that is as far away from the kitchen so you get a walk when you make tea/coffee etc.

A door that closes when you have meetings and for you to shut very firmly at the end of your day.

Depends what you do ? Wfh doesn’t equal office work.

What do you need from a space?

I detest desks and do all my paperwork from the sofa and all my video calls standing up and walking around.

Have your back to something you want others to see when Skyping.

Nothing too personal. Backgrounds do fail sometimes and people can see what’s really behind you! Pants drying on the airer. A bunch of embarrassing and messy crap on bookshelves. Your pet snake in its tank scaring your boss and putting everyone off their work chat…