A well-designed workspace can help you work more efficiently, focus more intently and ultimately perform better.
But if you’re anything like me, you probably don’t know exactly what you need to do to create a dream desk and workspace setup.
I know for me, I didn’t.
In fact, it was a disaster of trial and error.
Like many of you,I’ve been working from home for a long time now, so I’ve seen my fair share of different setups and figured out what works and what doesn’t work.
So I decided to put together this guide to show you the under-the-radar details that are an essential part of designing your dream desk setup & workspace.
You’ll learn what you need to consider before you start buying furniture, what types of furniture you need to buy and even how to set up your office space to maximize productivity.
Here are 15 tips on how to design your dream desk.
Real quick: before we get too far along here, if you want to get more great ideas for your gaming room or home office and connect with other home office hackers to make your space the best join my free private Facebook group, Home Office Hacks here.
1. Get rid of clutter
You may think that you don’t have much stuff on your desk, but there’s actually a lot of clutter. Every single item in your workspace affects your ability to focus.
Get rid of everything that doesn’t serve any purpose. Clean out your desk every week. Make sure you’re using items that are useful and functional.
Clutter is one of the biggest distractions in any room. And clutter is everywhere.
It starts with piles of papers on your desk. Then it moves onto bookshelves, file cabinets, and drawers. The problem is that clutter takes up valuable real estate in your home and office.
So, take a step back and evaluate where your clutter comes from. Are you storing too many things? Do you have too much stuff?
If you answered yes to either question, then you need to clean out your house and office.
Start by throwing away anything that doesn’t serve a purpose anymore. This could include old clothes, outdated magazines, and unused items.
Next, organize everything else into categories. For example, throw away old bills, junk mail, and expired coupons. Put these items into a box labeled “junk” or “coupons.”
Finally, donate any items that don’t fit into your categories. Donate clothing to charity or sell them online.
Once you’ve cleaned out your house and organized your office, you’re ready to create a beautiful, clutter-free space.
2. Create a comfortable environment
When designing your perfect workspace, consider creating an open environment. An open environment allows you to see what’s going on around you. It makes it easier to collaborate with others and helps you focus on your tasks.
To create an open environment, remove any furniture that blocks your view. If you have a window, open it.
In addition, use natural lighting whenever possible. Natural sunlight provides a calming effect and reduces stress levels.
Make sure your desk area is ergonomic. An ergonomic chair helps you maintain proper posture and reduces back pain.
Choose a desk height that allows you to sit up straight without slouching. A computer monitor should be positioned at eye level.
Better still is to choose an adjustable standing desk that will allow you to alternate between sitting and standing.
3. Use a filing system
You can use a simple filing system to keep track of your files and documents, but it’s important that you have an organized filing system so you don’t get lost in the clutter. If you’re using paper files, you’ll need to label each file with its contents.
For digital files, you can use labels or tags. These are great because they make it easy to find specific files.
Use a filing system to organize papers and files. This will allow you to find what you need quickly.
Create folders for each project or task. Put related documents together in one folder.
4. Add storage
Add storage shelves or drawers to your desk to store your supplies.
Accessible tools to provide ample storage will reduce clutter, and help you stay productive. You may also want to add a small table next to your desk if you work long hours.
Consider adding a file cabinet or shelf unit to hold paper files. These units come in different sizes and shapes, allowing you to customize your workspace.
There are some fantastic accessories available from vendors like Grovemade that provide elegant and awesome solutions to unique storage needs for your home office.
5. Organize your desktop
Organizing your desktop will save you time and effort.
Keep important papers near your keyboard. If you use an electronic calendar, display it on your screen so you can see it easily.
Put important documents in a binder or file folder.
Designing your own office space can be challenging. There are many factors to consider such as ergonomics, functionality, and aesthetics.
6. Think About Ergonomics
The goal of ergonomic design is to create a comfortable environment for human workers. This means designing furniture that supports movement and provides proper support for arms, shoulders, wrists, neck, back, and legs.
When designing your home office, think about the following:
- Is there adequate lighting?
- Are there any obstacles blocking your view?
- Is there adequate ventilation and circulation?
- Can you reach the items you need easily?
- Is your chair comfortable and fit you properly?
- Do you feel comfortable in your workspace?
7. Consider Functionality
Functionality refers to how well the equipment works. For example, do you need a computer that allows you to type quickly and accurately? Or would you prefer one that requires minimal effort?
Consider these questions when choosing your office equipment:
- What tasks will I perform most often?
- Will this equipment be used for multiple purposes?
- How much storage space does my equipment require?
8. Choose Furniture That Fits Your Space
It’s important to choose furniture that fits your space.
For instance, if you plan to use a desk that has wheels, make sure the floor is smooth enough to accommodate them.
If you’re considering a laptop stand, ensure that the height of the table is appropriate for your height.
If your workspace is small, check out resources on how to make the most of your small office space and find the right kinds of furniture to fit.
9. Consider Functionality
When you’re looking at creating your dream desk setup, you may not need all the things that Ali Abdaal needs on his desk or in his work area.
Or you may need MORE.
Your dream desk setup and workspace should draw inspiration from those amazing home office tours you see online, but be customized to fit your specific needs.
Consider these questions when choosing your office equipment:
- What tasks will I perform most often?
- Will this equipment be used for multiple purposes?
- How much storage space does my equipment require?
10. Choose Furniture That Fits Your Space
It’s important to choose furniture that fits your space.
For instance, if you plan to use a desk that has wheels, make sure the floor is smooth enough to accommodate them. If you’re considering a laptop stand, ensure that the height of the table is appropriate for your height.
Do you need a place to sit with clients? Make sure you get the right kind of furniture to create a professional setup in your home office.
Limited space?
To make a home office in a small space you need to get creative and maximize the available space effectively. When space is limited you can build your office vertically, make use of unused corners, mount your desk or shelves to hold office equipment to walls, or creating multiple functions for one area.
11. Use Color Wisely
Color plays a big role in creating a positive workplace. Bright colors such as red, orange, yellow, and green stimulate our brains and increase productivity.
But they also can have effects that we may not have anticipated – your color choice has to be right for you in your environment.
On the other hand, dark colors such as black, gray, and blue calm us down and reduce anxiety.
The best color for office walls is soothing while still boosting focus and aiding workflow.
Generally speaking, blues, greens, warm grays and whites, and tans are the best colors for promoting a calming influence in an office space.
Golds and yellows increase productivity, which is a must for home office walls.
Use color wisely to create a relaxing atmosphere.
12. Make Sure It Looks Good Too
Don’t forget the visual appeal of your office. Pay attention to colors, textures, and materials. Avoid using too many accessories. Instead, focus on creating a cohesive, attractive design.
When you work with a business to create a custom home office design, you should focus on adding your own personal touch to your space. Whether your home office is large or small, you can still make it your own by adding in your preferred personal style choices.
For instance, decorating the walls in your home office is a great way to add a personal touch.
I’m a huge fan of renaissance artist Albrecht Dürer. His work, the “Four Horsemen” is amazing and it would make an amazing wall decoration in any office. But you don’t have to just grab prints from medieval artists though – it can be a print from whatever art or artist is your favorite.
13. Invest In Quality Furniture
Quality furniture can improve your overall mood and help you feel more relaxed. It can also help you save money over the long run.
Consider investing in a quality chair and desk combination. These pieces should provide comfort and support, and they can last for years.
Look for ergonomic chairs that offer lumbar support and adjustable height options. They can also help you maintain good posture.
As an example getting the right chair for your office can make the difference between feeling like you want to stay at your desk all day versus wanting to take a break every hour.
The best office chairs are specifically designed and created for people to sit for long hours and have several adjustments for different body shapes, address back pain and discomfort, and height levels. They are primarily built to provide comfort during long working hours.
Going cheap when your health is at risk just isn’t worth it.
14. Consider Lighting
Lighting can affect your mood and concentration levels. Choose lighting that provides ample natural light, but don’t let it distract you from your work.
Try using dimmer switches to control the amount of light in your workspace. And if you want to add some ambiance, try adding a pendant light.
When it comes to home office lighting, your average desk lamp probably isn’t always going to cut it. Those of us who stare at screens all day know how damaging poor lighting can be to our eyes.
That’s why setting up a WFH office with good lighting is essential.
The right combination of lighting can really improve productivity and overall well being.
Consider all the different types of lighting you can put in your home office:
Desk lamps – These come in various sizes and shapes, including some that have bulbs designed specifically for working at night. They also usually include features such as dimmers and motion sensors.
Task lights – Task lights are perfect for illuminating small areas of your workspace. You might want task light over your keyboard or next to your printer.
Florescent tubes – Florescent tubes are inexpensive and easy to install.They can be harsh for some people on their eyes, but the technology has come a long way, so these could potentially be a viable option for lighting your home office.
Floor lamps – Floor lamps provide ambient light throughout your entire space. Some floor lamps even feature built-in fans to help circulate air.
LEDs – LEDs are becoming increasingly popular because they last longer than traditional incandescent bulbs. Plus, they consume far less energy. LED panel lights are typically used when filming videos, but they can also be useful for general illumination purposes. There are so many options here, this is a fantastic option.
Overhead lights – Overhead lights give off soft, warm light that doesn’t cause eye strain. This type of lighting is ideal for reading, writing, and other tasks where you spend time looking down at your screen.
Consider using LED strips instead of individual fixtures. The cost savings alone makes them worth it.
Video lighting – If you’re doing any kind of video conferencing – and who isn’t these days? – one thing to consider is getting the right light setup for video. Tungsten halogen lights produce bright white light, which is helpful for videography. However, they aren’t very efficient, meaning they require lots of power and you’ll likely need multiple units to get your setup right.
Additionally, consider using blue-light filters on your computer screens. If you wear glasses, you can also get blue-light filters on those, too. It helps!
15. Add Plants
Plants add beauty and freshness to any space. They also provide oxygen and improve air quality.
But did you know that plants can actually boost your mood? Studies show that plants can lower blood pressure and decrease stress.
Adding plants to your office can also help you feel happier. In fact, research shows that people who live with greenery tend to be happier than those without.
The best desk plants for your home office are going to be those that do not require direct sunlight unless your desk is in front of a big bay window. Natural sunlight is always best but some of the best plants for your home office can survive – and even thrive – in artificial light conditions!
Not only do they look great but they can improve the air quality in your office.
They can be used as decorative pieces, or they can provide you with some much needed greenery and oxygen.
These desk plants can add a pop of color and life into your space. You may even find yourself spending more time in front of your computer when there is something alive right next to you!
Next Steps
Want to join others who are creating the most amazing home offices and get more tips, tricks and hacks on how to make your home office the best it can be?
Join my brand new free private Facebook group, Home Office Hacks to connect with other home office hackers to make your space the best!
