Since I set up my own office at home to run my various business arms from, I’ve figured out a few things. This includes what I need accessible to me on my desk, what I need in the office itself and in turn, what doesn’t belong in here. In this blog post I’m going to run through some of my favourite small home office ideas.
SD Card Reader
One of the most important things on my desk is my SD card reader. I use so many different cards to capture video and move files around between devices. Having one easy to access multi functional reader is important to the work flow that I am now used to. Having a card reader might not be for everyone but if you use a variety of cards you can get readers which will take all different types. It makes work move quicker and it’s always there, plugged in and ready.
Decent Speakers & Headphones
I spend a lot of time listening to music, or editing content which includes audio. I also launched a podcast which I edit each week. Having some decent speakers allows me to enjoy a relaxing and stress busting playlist in the best quality. I found this helps me work and concentrate, instead of music with lyrics and more upbeat. The stress playlists I use are available on Spotify and I thoroughly recommend them. I use headphones when editing and when doing online video calling so having something which is comfortable whilst providing clear audio is key. I go for over the head ones instead of in-ear purely because of comfort. You don’t need to spend a lot to have decent quality audio either. You can even listen to podcasts that will aid your rest and sleep. If that sounds of interest to you, visit here for more information.
A Basic Printer
You might think that you don’t need a printer. I thought that my office space could do without one. Yet the reality of the situation is that I ended up needing to print off more than I thought. I settled on a basic black and white toner printer. It came with an official toner cartridge but you can buy much cheaper compatible toner on eBay. Whilst it’s only black and white, it is enough for documents and letters. Anything else like photography I would send of to be printed professionally anyway.
Decent Chair
Your spine and posture are so important. If you’re sat at a desk for the majority of the day, you need to be comfortable but also supported. Investing in a decent chair which offers support is the best idea in the long run. You don’t want to be sitting in a position which is damaging your back. There is so much unnecessary back pain in the world of office work and having a decent chair which will support you properly will help avoid that.
Desktop Computer
I found that only having a desktop computer is one of the most important on my list of small home office ideas. This means that to do work I have to be in the office. I cannot easily pick it up and bring it into the home. Having an office at home, there are many distractions and there needs to be boundaries between work life and home life. When you start bringing a laptop into the home those boundaries are blurred. If you’re in the office, you’re doing work. If you’re not, it’s family time.
You should also look to create a space that you are happy spending time in for up to 10 hours a day. This includes artwork that inspires you, decent lighting, and maybe even Engineered Wood Flooring for that complete look and feel.
Having things in place to take care of your health, aid your productivity and help you create a work life balance is so beneficial. Set up your workspace with these small home office ideas and you’ll be able to focus on your work.
