Tell me about your home office features

[Newoffice]

I'm going to be returning to work shortly after maternity leave, and I'm looking to decorate and kit out my home office to make working from home a bit more pleasant.

I no longer want a plain desk with a white wall to stare at. I'm thinking bright and colourful wallpaper with some nice pictures and shelving on the wall.

Can you please tell me what technology you have, or decor, or office related wall items (I'm thinking standing desks, mini whiteboards, wireless headphones, A3 notepads etc) you use that you feel improves your working day? Or makes your office less of a grind to spend time in?

Thanks in advance

bump

I have a walking pad that I use when I’m on teams meetings that don’t need my camera on. Going to get a stand up desk to use with it too.

Monitor arms so I can have 2 large monitors without their stands taking up loads of the desk. Couldn't work with just one screen.

Wireless headphones, mouse and keyboard to remove clutter.

Ergonomic chair.

Alexa for background noise.

Well lit if not naturally lit. When WFH first came in I was set up facing a wall in a north facing room. Felt very cold, dark and depressing. Now in the study which get lots of sun, transformational.

I have something like this pinned to the wall in front of me

https://amzn.eu/d/aTfS4T5

I don't use white boards and certainly no idea why you'd need an A3 sized notepad for most jobs?

Standing desk, yes I have one but never remember to use it.

I have a SAD lamp to make the room really bright, but it's behind my screens so it's diffuse and not in my face.

Two screens on a monitor stand, laptop is closed and on a prop in front of me to be opened with the camera at face height for Teams meetings - no cameras off for us.

I'm probably in the minority, but my home office is in the corner of our snug which has corner bifold doors so I really enjoy the doors open, stepping outside for fresh air etc so I'd say choice of room to use is really important.
I've also got a moveable desk which o find great so I can have the desk standing / high enough for me and my comfort

I have a SAD lamp to make the room really bright, but it's behind my screens so it's diffuse and not in my face.

Similarly, I have full spectrum lighting / daylight lighting which is much easier on the eyes. especially in winter. But I do have it on a dimmer so I can go bright or less bright as I like.

I am fortunate that I overlook countryside, but there is research that shows that plants or "green views" are relaxing in offices, to the extent that they advise, if you don't have real greenery, get some plants and pictures of greenery.

I do have an office upstairs, but have never used it. I sit at the dining table because we have bifolds and I have a lovely view of the garden, bird feeder etc. We don't have kids, so its not like I need to clear the table daily. I also like being close to the kitchen for a drink/snack when needed.

I have 1 large monitor in addition to my laptop. It depends what you do all day. If I had to make private calls all day, I'd be in the office, but as I don't, I love being down stairs.

No particular tech. But it’s important my office is nice to be in, some things that make it so:

Sofa with comfy cushions and a throw blanket

electric blinds

neom diffuser and scented candles

Alexa

lots of plants, art, photos and books

window boxes on external sills so I always have flowers

I also have a big pin board that i put all sorts of memories on: bits from friends, postcards, trinkets, photos tickets etc. I would never have anything so cluttered in rest of house but really makes me smile in my office

My office is in my living room, so it’s already a very nice environment that’s full of paintings and throws and carpets etc. I have the house to myself in the daytime so I don’t get distracted. I have a big comfy office chair that I can sit cross-legged on, some shelves with some of my favourite books and plants, a laptop on a stand, and a wireless keyboard and mouse. I also have really nice notebooks because it makes checklists more fun 😁I’m next to big balcony doors that I always have open (even in winter) with a view over the rooftops.

Thank you for all of your suggestions!

I'm going to invest in a second monitor, I really like the idea of just having my laptop to open and close for meetings only, rather than rely on it for emails.

Wireless keyboard and mouse sound like a good idea too.

Also love the idea of plants/pinboard/pictures!

My dh has started to wfh more so when we renovated he upgraded himself from the small cupboard (it was literally 😂) to our fourth bedroom.

He has two large monitors on his desk, a leather admiral chair which he finds better for his back (it reclines slightly) and the printer within arms reach. He got a piece of dark glass from somewhere to sit on his desk, makes cleaning it much easier he says. He had a mesh system installed so our wifi is consistent through the house, we have very thick, solid walls & doors, our wifi was struggling and our landline still does in certain areas.

He also has a tv on the wall above him which he puts on occasionally.

He's positioned himself so he can look out over the garden, there are large trees around us. He puts the dog's bed in there too so when I go out the dog "goes to work" with him 😂

There is a double bed in there and fitted wardrobes and when he was setting up his wfh area I did suggest he has the whole room but he likes having everything as it is. I call it the Money Room instead of home office.