How to Create the Perfect Home Working Space

02/07/2021 | Share:

We all know that more and more people are working from home these days, for obvious reasons. Having your own ecommerce business will also allow you to work from home as well. For some, working from home (WFH) was the norm even before the outbreak of COVID-19. But as we (hopefully) edge ever closer to the end of the pandemic, it might be time to start thinking about changing your make-shift workspace into a proper home office. Here’s how to create the perfect home working space.

Designate space

No more using the kitchen table! Firstly, you need to designate some proper space for your new post-pandemic home office. Whether this is in a bedroom, spare room or the garden shed, you should ideally keep it separate from everything else. You don’t want to continue associating the living room or kitchen with your work. Whilst working in ecommerce or digital might mean you work around the clock, everyone needs time to switch off without your desk staring at you.

Get the furniture

Once you’ve found a suitable space, it’s time to invest in the right furniture. If you’re going to be working the majority of the day, it’s important that you are comfortable whilst doing so. It should also not be harmful to your health, mainly focusing on your posture and your eyes. This means that your chair and desk should be at the appropriate height.

Many desks and tables have adjustable height, usually through their feet, so you can align your keyboard and monitor properly. Your monitor should line up so that if you look straight ahead when sitting straight, your eyes are at a height of 25% to 30% below the top of the screen. This keeps your shoulders level and doesn’t hunch your back.

Good lighting

When choosing lighting for the home, it’s normally with the intention of lighting up the kitchen so you can see what you’re cooking or a dimly lit bedside light so you can wind down before sleep. You rarely buy lights for optimal working conditions. However, good lighting for a home office is really important.

First of all, you need to think about natural light during the day. The longer you can benefit from daylight, the better as studies have reported this makes people less tired and suffer from less eye strain. However, you also need to make sure you don’t overdo it on the sunlight. Glare from the bright sun or reflections can also make it difficult to work so consider how you arrange your home working space.

If you’ll be busy working on your ecommerce business into the night or maybe the early hours, you’re going to need to invest in appropriate lighting. We’d recommend LED bulbs so that you are also saving energy at the same time. Make sure that you aim your light at your workspace rather than at your screen to avoid glare. If you’ve got a lamp with an adjustable arm, this can help.

Regardless of how well-lit your home office is, you should be taking regular breaks from looking at your screen. The government recommends 5 to 10 minutes every hour.

Fast internet connection

Make sure that your office space has a sufficient internet connection, you’re an ecommerce expert after all! Even a home that usually gets a decent internet connection can struggle in certain areas of the home when it comes to WiFi. Depending on the strength of your WiFi, you may find that investing in an ethernet cable provides a much-needed improvement to your speed.

Add the finishing touches

And finally, some finishing touches to make the office a little more… you! A personalised office can really help with your work. In one study, researchers found that when employees feel a work area aligns with their self-image, it improves their sense of belonging. As a result, they’ll feel more comfortable in the space and more enthusiastic about their work.

You should add things to your office that you like, that make you smile or that improve your wellbeing. For example, if you’re a big Marvel fan, you could add some superhero-themed desk toys or decorations to your desk to add a bit of personality to it. Alternatively, you could add items such as plants, pictures or art to make for a more relaxed and pleasing work environment. Whatever helps you feel more comfortable whilst working.