Everything you need to know about setting up a home office
- A dedicated workspace, even a small one, is essential for working from home in good conditions.
- Four requirements define it: comfortable seating, the possibility of privacy, storage, and designer office furniture that complements your décor.
- An entire room is not necessary: small spaces can also be used to set up a home office.
- Place your desk near a source of natural light, with your back to the window, to prevent reflections on the screen.
- Many working people would like to work from home between one and two days a week.
Why create a home-working space at home?
Because the hybrid model of working on-site and remotely means rethinking this area of the home. A dedicated workspace, however small, allows you to work comfortably, withdraw for video conferences, organise your day with storage, and maintain a cohesive décor thanks to designer office furniture.
For many of us, teleworking, or remote working, takes place at home. Working from home has become a fully established way of working and living in society: avoiding lengthy commutes and fatigue, and finding a healthy balance between professional and personal life. Many working people would like to work from home between one and two days a week. Working on-site remains a key part of the working world, but remote working is now part of the landscape.
As you will have understood, the hybrid model of working on-site and remotely, or full-time remote working, means that we have to rethink this area of our home in an entirely new light and take the time to set up a home office.
What are the 4 criteria for a good home-working space?
A home-working space must meet four conditions: comfortable seating, the possibility of privacy, suitable storage and furniture that complements the room’s décor. These four criteria apply whatever space is available, from an entire room to a simple corner of the living room.
It is essential to create and organise a dedicated workspace, however small, that allows you to:
- work comfortably (beware of back pain),
- withdraw when necessary for video conferences or tasks requiring concentration
- have everything you need to organise your working day (such as storage, drawers or shelves, in greater or lesser numbers depending on your work)
- avoid completely ruining your décor by choosing designer office furniture that is both comfortable and functional!
How do you set up a home office? 10 practical tips
Setting up a home office means creating a truly practical, ergonomic and attractive workspace, including in a small flat. The starting point is choosing the room, followed by its orientation, lighting, the desk itself and the chair. Here are the ten points to address, in order.
Gone are the days of the family desk that sometimes became a bit of a dumping ground, where bills, the youngest child’s school notebook, supermarket discount coupons and a few paper clips piled up in a trinket tray. The watchword is this: organise a genuine workspace that is practical, ergonomic and, of course, attractive, especially if it is visible to everyone! Nothing is more unpleasant than having a mountain of sticky notes on your desk, papers lying around and cables left neglected...
The fact is that we do not necessarily have a separate room in which to set up our office. Flats, particularly in large cities, often do not offer enough space for a room entirely dedicated to remote working. And small spaces should not be overlooked—quite the opposite.
1 - Choose THE right room for your workspace
This is, of course, the first criterion to consider: where will I set up my desk to work or work remotely? While the ideal solution would be to set up your desk in a quiet, dedicated room rather than in a thoroughfare, we all know that this is not always possible.
Consider rooms such as the bedroom, living room or perhaps an entrance hall or vestibule, which may be ready to accommodate you and your desk. If you also need to supervise homework, think about moving away from temptations such as the television or games console, as well as places of rest that are too tempting, such as your wonderfully soft sofa, which will not be your back’s friend when you are working! Save your sofa or bed for essential breaks and rest periods when working from home.
2 - Consider orientation when arranging your office
Avoid overly dark areas whenever possible. Your desk should ideally be placed near a source of natural light—a window, door or glass door—to make the most of this light, which we can so easily lack when facing our screens.
A little tip: sit with your back to the window so that reflections from the natural light on your screen do not disturb you. We do not talk enough about lighting when setting up our office, even though it is essential.
3 - Don’t forget artificial office lighting
It is quite possible that we will have to work without daylight, particularly in the evenings from November onwards. At that time of year, visibility is already reduced by 5 pm. And there is nothing worse than working solely by the blue glow of our screens.
Let’s take pity on our eyes and retinas and light our workspace with a beautiful lamp, whether an architect-style or floor lamp, for stylish, contemporary décor. We spend more and more time in front of our computer screens, so it is extremely important to pay attention to the brightness of our workspace.
4 - Choose your desk according to your needs
To choose the right desk, ask yourself this simple question: what is the actual purpose of your desk and how do you work? Do you use a simple computer, a graphics tablet, a drawing board, or do you have lots of paper files to store? Do you take notes, have a landline phone or need to supervise homework at the end of the day?
You will be spending a full day at your desk when working remotely. So plan for functional and practical furniture: desk dimensions, the number of drawers and storage compartments, and the possibility of adding shelving above your desk. Your desk should reflect your working day. There are many designer furniture models that offer you a beautiful, functional and tidy desk: drawers, cable management—don’t overlook anything.
5 - Invest in a really good office chair
It can never be said often enough: a good office chair is essential for avoiding the back pain we so often suffer from after a potentially stressful working day. Here are some criteria to consider when choosing your office chair:
- take into account the height of your work surface and whether the height of your office chair can be adjusted,
- be aware of the physical pain you experience (back or joint pain) so that you can choose the right shape of chair back,
- consider how much time you spend in your chair so that you can choose the appropriate level of comfort and options (armrests, castors, headrest, etc.),
- take your body shape into account when choosing a comfortable, adjustable model,
- choose the base of your chair: castors if you move around a lot, or a fixed base if you need stability,
- and above all: keep moving! A sedentary lifestyle is not your best friend, either for your back or your circulation. Take breaks, go outside for some fresh air, walk down the stairs and go for a walk during your lunch break. Your back will thank you.
6 - Plan for connections and cables
Internet, a landline or mobile phone, a printer, a graphics tablet, headphones, chargers... Tripping over cables does not only happen to other people. Plan this part of your office layout carefully. It is certainly not the simplest part, since office equipment is such a major part of our working environments, but it is undoubtedly the least attractive aspect of our offices—one we would all like to hide as effectively as possible.
7 - Make use of your walls and the space above your desk
Your home-working space is not limited to your desk alone. Consider making use of the space in front of you or at the sides with beautiful shelves, a small wall-mounted bookcase or a storage unit. Why not add a mirror too, to give your workspace a greater sense of depth?
A workspace does not have to be soulless and lacking in charm. Many of us have a desk area integrated into our homes: it is up to us to make it welcoming and give it the décor it deserves.
8 - Clearly define your workspace
Where should you put your desk in a room? Define it with a strip of tapestry or wallpaper, with a rug, for example, or with a few plants in elegant planters.
If work is now part of your everyday environment, remember to give it clear boundaries, even symbolic ones. And if these boundaries can enhance your décor, why not? Have you also considered a beautiful room divider? Made of rattan or wood, you can make full use of it, for example by using it to create mood boards if you are creative, or to display your meeting notes.
9 - Add a decorative touch to your office
You will be spending time working from home, so pamper yourself and turn this space into a warm living area where you will enjoy settling in. Add a plant, a beautiful poster, or a pouf for your pet or to raise your legs.
Your well-decorated workspace will blend more naturally into your home, especially if it is visible to everyone. This new space will live alongside you, at your own pace, so make it welcoming and pleasant. Find more ideas in our selection of decorative objects.
10 - Give your break area as much attention as your workspace
When working from home, you need to make time for breaks and leisure, both for yourself and for the people who share your home and daily life. And as we said above, it is important to keep moving.
Were you a fan of table football with your colleagues? Play some thrilling games with your children, or invest in a multi-game family table. Were you the queen of coffee breaks with your colleagues? Make time for this kind of break via video conference, sitting on a cosy velvet chair with your favourite mug.
You are now fully equipped to set up this new living space in your home—the workspace we hope will be comfortable and reflect your personality.
FAQ: questions about home-working furniture
Which furniture should you choose for working from home?
A desk suited to the available space, a comfortable office chair to prevent back pain, and storage (drawers or shelves) sized according to your work. Maison Pavane favours designer office furniture that is both comfortable and functional, so that your workspace does not detract from the room’s décor.
How do you set up a home office in a small space?
A small space is enough to create a dedicated workspace. The essential thing is to meet the same four conditions as in an entire room: comfortable seating, the possibility of privacy for video conferences, storage and cohesive décor. Make use of the walls and the space above the desk with shelves or a storage unit.
Where should you place your desk in a room?
Near a source of natural light—a window, door or glass door—and with your back to it to prevent reflections on the screen. Keep away from thoroughfares and temptations such as the television, games console and sofa. A rug, strip of wallpaper or a few plants can clearly define the space.
How do you choose an office chair?
Check the height of your work surface and whether the seat height can be adjusted, the shape of the backrest according to any pain you may experience, the options (armrests, headrest, castors or fixed base) and whether it suits your body shape. And remember to move around regularly: a sedentary lifestyle affects your back and circulation alike.
How do you hide the cables from a home office?
Plan the cable routes from the outset: internet, telephone, printer, headphones and chargers. A desk equipped with cable management solves much of the problem. It is the least attractive part of a workstation—and the one you regret not having planned for.
