As technology continues to advance, more and more people are choosing to work from home, at least some of the time. Innovative communication tools enable you to collaborate with colleagues and accomplish tasks without being in the same physical location.

Another plus is that you’ll be spared from the lengthy and expensive commutes. Not to mention that you no longer have to get distracted with water cooler talk or office politics. Of course, you’ll need to create the ideal workspace where you will get things done.

The perfect home office setup varies according to your needs or specifications. We recommend that you start with the basics, then build on the design and decor from there. Here is a list of essential items that a productive workspace must have.

A dedicated space

You need a spot that’s exclusively for working. The sofa in front of the television doesn’t count. Neither does a chair at the dining table, especially because it’s close to the refrigerator! If possible, your workspace should be closed-off from the rest of the house so you can focus on your job.

If you’re like me and you don’t have a spare room to convert into an office, allocate a corner of the living room. Put up a cabinet or anything that will serve as a barrier between your workspace and the rest of the area. In this way, you’ll have some privacy.

A comfortable desk

Selecting a table is more complicated than you think, especially if you’ve always left that decision to your employer. First, consider your home office’s logistics, primarily its layout and size. A compact desk with a keyboard tray should fit a narrow space but still be able to hold your laptop nicely.

You’ll also want to think about whether you want to spend more time standing than sitting. Some places offer height-adjustable sit-stand desks, although they aren’t as popular in Southeast Asia as they are elsewhere. Perhaps you even prefer squatting on the floor so a coffee table might be suitable for your needs.

An ergonomic chair

If you’ve decided against standing or squatting while working, you’ll need a comfy chair to go with your desk. A standard swivel chair already provides the right lumbar support to prevent postural problems like back pain. However, a quality chair of decent quality or design will cost a pretty penny.

A dining chair will do if you place a seat cushion. Add a pillow for your back and make sure the chair is of a comfortable height. You don’t want your legs hanging off the edge, but you don’t want your knees to be bent at an awkward angle either.

A nice lamp

Working from home doesn’t mean you’ll be spared from early mornings or late nights. If anything, you’re likely to have those kinds of shifts. Avoid straining your eyes too much by adding warm, layered lighting. An architect lamp balances out the window light and reduces contrast.

Replacing the bulb in the overhead fixture is a good idea too. An LED bulb with a daylight temperature of 5,000 kelvin is better for performing tasks compared to a warm white color with 2,700 kelvin. This’ll be cheaper than buying a new lamp too, although you also have to consider the use of the rest of the area.

A few peripherals

It’s hard to use a desktop computer when you don’t have a mouse or a keyboard. It’s a different matter when you’re using a laptop, which comes with these devices by default along with a webcam. In this case, what’s considered an essential peripheral may be a printer or a scanner.

You must definitely buy a good-quality headset either way. The built-in microphone and speakers often leave much to be desired. Besides, you don’t want the person you’re on a call with to hear a lot of background noise.

You wouldn’t want the people you’re living with to know what’s being discussed during your meetings as well.

A backup battery

Blackouts don’t often happen when you live in a major city. Even so, it pays to be prepared in case they do occur. You very well can’t tell your employer that you’re unable to finish your tasks and that they should just deal with it. Just say goodbye to your job by then.

An uninterruptible power supply or UPS not only keeps your system running but also protects your computer from damage. Depending on the size of the UPS unit, it provides a buffer from a few minutes to an hour. A portable generator is necessary if you need electricity for longer periods.

A cooling appliance

Regular days in the tropics are hot and humid, unless you live in the mountains or by the beach – in which case, we envy you! It’s hard to concentrate when you’re sweating buckets so make sure you have something to keep you cool. An air conditioner would be marvelous to have but expensive.

An electric fan works just as well when paired with an exhaust fan. Remember to keep your windows open to let the natural breeze in. An air cooler is said to offer better quality of air compared to an AC unit and it doesn’t cost as much. You’ll need a steady supply of water for it though.

Conclusion

Now that you have the basics covered, you’ll be able to proceed to the decorations. Stimulate your mind with inspiring art or a scented candle. A houseplant helps boost energy levels too. Combining these with the essentials above, you’ll have a productive home office.

Want to do more now that you have a dedicated workspace in your house? Maybe you don’t even have an online job yet. Remote Workmate is able to assist you with that through our job listings. We’ll connect you with remote employers who are looking for capable workers like you!