{"id":3275,"date":"2024-03-19T15:13:10","date_gmt":"2024-03-19T12:13:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.space-design.pro\/?p=3275"},"modified":"2026-10-31T23:27:16","modified_gmt":"2026-10-31T20:27:16","slug":"home-office-design","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.space-design.pro\/en\/home-office-design\/","title":{"rendered":"Home Office Design: A 10-Point Checklist"},"content":{"rendered":"\r\n

Working from home has become routine for many people, and a kitchen table or sofa quickly stops being a comfortable workplace. Good home office design<\/strong> helps you focus, protects your back and eyes and separates work from rest. We have put together a checklist to help you plan a home office \u2014 from choosing the spot to lighting, acoustics and storage.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Home office design checklist<\/h2>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
\"Home<\/figure>\r\n\r\n\r\n

1. A dedicated place to work<\/h3>\r\n

Home office design starts with a dedicated spot, even if it is just a niche.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Ideally, the home office is a separate room with a door. If that is not possible, a niche, part of a bedroom or living room, a glazed balcony or the space under the stairs can work. The key is to separate the work zone visually with shelving, a partition, a wall colour or a rug.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

\"Home<\/figure>\r\n\r\n\r\n

2. Natural light<\/h3>\r\n

Good home office design places the desk so daylight falls from the side.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

The desk is best placed perpendicular to the window so light falls from the side and does not cause glare on the screen. Sitting with your back to the window is unflattering on video calls, while facing it tires the eyes. Roller blinds or Venetian blinds help control the light.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

\"Bright<\/figure>\r\n\r\n\r\n

3. Ergonomic furniture<\/h3>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

A desk deep enough for the monitor to sit at arm’s length and a chair with adjustable height, backrest and armrests are the foundation of good health. A height-adjustable desk lets you work standing for part of the day. The top of the monitor should be roughly at eye level.<\/p>\r\n

For healthy remote work, see the EU-OSHA telework tips<\/a>.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

\"View<\/figure>\r\n\r\n\r\n

4. Artificial lighting<\/h3>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Besides general lighting, you need a desk lamp or a linear light above the desk. For video calls, even light from the front that does not cast harsh shadows is important. Neutral colour temperature helps concentration during the day; warm light helps you relax in the evening.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

\"Bedroom:<\/figure>\r\n\r\n\r\n

5. Storage<\/h3>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Documents, equipment, stationery and cables need a home: closed cabinets, mobile pedestals, shelves above the desk and cable organisers. The fewer things on the desk, the easier it is to focus.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

\"Floor-to-ceiling<\/figure>\r\n\r\n\r\n

6. Sockets and equipment<\/h3>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Sockets, USB chargers and a network cable should be brought right to the desk. This is best planned during renovation so you do not run extension leads across the room. Cable trays under the desktop hide the wiring.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

\"Detail<\/figure>\r\n\r\n\r\n

7. Acoustics<\/h3>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

A rug, curtains, upholstered furniture, bookshelves and acoustic panels reduce echo, which matters for online meetings. In a noisy home, sealed doors and wall sound insulation help.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

\"Desk<\/figure>\r\n\r\n\r\n

8. A video call background<\/h3>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Think about what colleagues see behind you. Bookshelves, a painting, plants or a calm textured wall look professional and are not distracting.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

\"Kids<\/figure>\r\n\r\n\r\n

9. Plants and personal items<\/h3>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Plants lift the mood, and a few personal objects make the space pleasant. Just avoid cluttering the desk with decor.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

\"Desk<\/figure>\r\n\r\n\r\n

10. A boundary between work and rest<\/h3>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

After work it helps to close the office: with a door, a sliding partition or a fold-away bureau. This makes it easier to switch off mentally.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Colour and materials in a home office<\/h2>\r\n

Calm colours and natural materials keep home office design from feeling corporate.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Calm neutral colours \u2014 beige, warm grey, muted green or blue \u2014 support concentration. Bright shades work better as accents. Natural wood on the desktop or shelves adds warmth, and matt surfaces avoid glare. For the floor under the office chair, choose a finish that can handle castors or add a protective mat.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

A home office in a small apartment<\/h2>\r\n

In a small apartment, home office design is mostly about built-in solutions.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Without a spare room, custom solutions help: a desk built into a wardrobe niche, a windowsill turned into a worktop, a fold-down desk or a bureau with doors. A work zone can be placed in the bedroom, but then it should be possible to hide it in the evening. A small office on a balcony needs insulation, sockets and good lighting.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

A home office for two<\/h2>\r\n

When two people work from home, home office design needs two workstations and some acoustic separation.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

If two people work from home, place the workstations so they do not disturb each other during calls: desks back to back, separated by shelving, or a second workstation in another room. A long shared desk along the window looks great, but simultaneous online meetings require good acoustics and headphones.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Common mistakes<\/h2>\r\n

These are the mistakes that most often spoil home office design.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n