Designing Your Best Work-From-Home Space

June 20, 2022

Whether you’re working from home or just want an area for getting things done, having a dedicated workspace is one of the best ways to keep you focused on the task at hand. When crafting your space, it’s critical to plan for an area that will create the healthiest environment for both your work and your body. Below, we’ve outlined a number of creative ways to design your best workspace in your new Reside Living apartment home.

A light-colored wooden desk holds a laptop, a smartphone on a stand, a pen holder, and a small vase with flowers.

Let in the Light

Never underestimate the power of good lighting in your work environment. It often has positive effects on both your mood and focus, and ideally, having enough indirect light will brighten your desk so you can read and finish whatever needs to be done. Having natural light can transform the ambience of your workspace. Positioning your desk off to the side of a window is one of your best bets, as having the window behind your desk can create a strong glare on your computer screen. If a glare is the issue, you can try diffusing the outside light with shades or curtains in order to see your screen better.

Your choice in artificial lighting is also key here. It’s ideal to have sufficient overhead lighting to illuminate your space and easily see your work, whether that be from a strong ceiling light fixture or a desk lamp. Try to opt for warmer white lighting, as cooler tones can be harsh on the eyes. If using a desk lamp, it’s also best to place the lamp off to the side to not end up with competing light sources. If you create an environment with sufficient ambience and task lighting, you can cut down on eye strain and reduce any work-related headaches.

A silver laptop, a desk lamp, and small potted plants sit on a white desk in front of a bright window.

Make Your Space Your Own

Unless modernism is your style of choice, adding extra decor to your workspace is a great way to enhance the feeling of your home office and express your personality. You can do this any way you want, whether that’s using a pretty mug as a pencil holder, putting up artwork on the walls, or keeping your favorite plant on the corner of your desk. You can even try hanging shelves around your desk to hold books or other knick knacks.

While decorating your space is fun, it’s also important to keep it clutter-free. This will not only have a positive effect on your mind, but it will keep your room looking cohesive and tidy. Investing in vertical file folders on top of your desk or in a drawer is handy for keeping papers in your reach while also ensuring organization. Having a wastebasket off to the side can help with easy clean-up, and drawer organizers can keep pencils, pens, and all other office tools in their place.

A workspace with a laptop, a globe, a picture frame, a notebook, and a small shelf with figurines on a white wall.

Invest in a Comfy Chair

Having a chair that properly supports you is critical to avoid injury after prolonged computer use. It will also keep your posture in check and help aid any neck or back strain. When choosing your desk chair, opt for one with an adjustable height so you’re not crouched over your desk or struggling to reach your computer. A chair with rolling wheels will also help with comfortable movement around your workspace, and having an arm rest is preferable for support as well. Finally, choose a chair that provides proper cushioning so you can ensure your comfortability throughout the day.

A wooden office desk with a laptop, mouse, and office supplies next to a light gray ergonomic chair by a window.

Upgrade Your Computer Set-Up

Crafting a workspace that has gadgets other than just your laptop is more beneficial than you might think. Adding a large monitor on the side of your desk can transform your productivity levels and allow you to see more than double the amount of documents than just your laptop alone. Having a monitor is especially helpful if you often need to reference multiple documents at one time on your computer over the course of the day. When looking straight ahead, your eyes should be at a height of 25% to 30% below the top of the screen. This way, you keep your shoulders level and minimize the amount you hunch over–you might need to purchase a riser to achieve this height. We also recommend 25- to 27-inch monitors with high screen resolution to avoid eyestrain and make the most of your workspace.

In addition to a monitor, a well-fitting headset is a good investment for those working in a shared space. This allows for less noise to leak into online conference calls, and with a noise-proof headset, will eliminate auditory distractions for you to get your best work done. Earbuds are also a solid alternative to a headset, but make sure you are comfortable with them for long-term use and that the mic quality is up to par.

A workspace with a computer monitor, laptop on a stand, and a trash can, set against a wall with photos and notes.

Creating a dedicated workspace is an extremely valuable addition to your home. Not only is crafting an organized and functional atmosphere beneficial to your productivity levels, but it’s also beneficial to your health and body. Our team at Reside understands the importance of this, and we hope this guide has provided you with helpful insight to design your best work-from-home space.

Need more inspiration? Reside Living offers contemporary and renovated studio, one, two and three-bedroom apartments across Chicago. Learn more about our available apartment homes and see how your new workspace can fit in after viewing our community galleries and floor plans.

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