How to set up your home office

For modern employees, working from home has become the norm. Whether you like a break from the office a few days a week, or you’re fully staying at home, designating space to get work done is key for productivity. Setting up a functional home office allows you to customize your workspace to your own needs—and turn the time you’d normally spend commuting to the office into time for you.

Pick a quiet room

Find a part of your home that’s calm and quiet. If you have an extra bedroom that you can turn into a home office, great! If you live in a shared home, maybe your personal bedroom can double as a home office, or you can take over a corner of a shared living room. Regardless of the type of workspace you have access to, try to set up shop in a room that gets little foot traffic so that you can avoid interruptions.

Add comfortable furniture to your workspace

If you have a dedicated room for your home office, you can go all out when it comes to customization—a desk, office chair, lighting, etc. If you’re sharing your office space, prioritize your desk surface and you chair. Make sure you’re setting up a workspace that positions your laptop and keyboard at a comfortable height and select a chair that promotes healthy posture.

Since you’ll likely be spending a lot of time at your workstation, investing in accessories like an ergonomic keyboard and a laptop stand can help ensure that you’re practicing healthy habits and not creating long-term health issues for yourself. Your company may even be able to help pay for these vital pieces of work equipment, as they’re necessary for your function.

Equip yourself with flexible tech

Depending on your situation, you might have different tech needs. For someone who often brings their device on the go, the Surface Pro 9 gives you the flexibility and battery life of a tablet with the performance of a laptop. Are you a designer or animator? The Surface Laptop Studio 2 acts as a flexible canvas, which is great for taking graphic work on the go. For those looking for a customizable experience, the Surface Laptop Go 3 lets you choose from a range of sleek colors, all with the same 720p HD camera, 12.4” touchscreen, and built-in versatility—all at under 2.5 lbs.

Make adjustments and find what works

After working from your home office for a few weeks, you’ll quickly learn how to improve your space to better meet your needs. Do you take frequent video calls on Teams and want a more professional presentation? Try adjusting your lighting and your positioning in the room. Do you like to feel more relaxed while scrolling through emails first thing in the morning? Add a comfortable reading chair or couch to your office where you can take a break from your desk.

Logging on is that much more is exciting when you know you’re doing it from a space that’s comfortable and customized to meet your needs. Whether you embrace a hybrid-work situation, or if you plan to stay remote for your career, taking the effort to design your home office can optimize your workflow and make your workdays go by smoothly.