My living situation for my upcoming graduate adventure is currently in flux but no matter where I end up living, I’m making myself an in-home office so I need suggestions… I haven’t used a desk in YEARS so I’m out of the loop.
-I need a desk chair. A really comfy chair. I don’t want real leather but no other restrictions.
-I need some that either elevates my laptop or suggestions for a monitor (or some other suggestion). I don’t want a desktop but I can’t keep hunching over my laptop.
-Similarly, any other suggestions for other back-saving things.
Any other office goodies that you guys have and love?
I would want a chair with arms. And I would want a desk deep enough that I can sometimes push my laptop back and have papers/books/whatever in front of me with the laptop accessible, but not front and center.
GOOD lighting - even if you don’t want it fully light.
Consider desk placement - I may not want a window in front of me, but one to the side to glance out of might be nice.
A spot for a mini heater by feet gets good use in the winter.
Stackable bins or standing slotted file thingy for files or in/out box kind of thing.
Bulletin board or something to the front of side for posting important notes, a calendar, that kind of thing.
Houseplants are nice! We have five of them in our home office.
I like having my printer RIGHT next to my computer, so I can just reach over to take copies off of it.
We have a water cooler that we love, but that might be too much for you! We’ve just found that we drink a lot more this way, instead of having to go to the kitchen all the time.
We had a Keurig, but it broke.
My biggest problem is getting distracted on the internet. Like now, I should be working on something else. I really need to get a handle on this!
Consider a desk that converts to a standing desk. So much research now as to benefits over sitting all of the time… Also second facing a window. It is really important to change your focus and not stare at a computer all of the time. There are chairs with web type backing and with arms. They give good circulation and back support. But you want to be able to stand too. Some people like the new walking desks but they are expensive.
Our Dd will be using a work table, not a desk. It will be a rectangle shape and will be able to hold her laptop, and printer. She will have a bookshelf next to it. And a good desk chair…the nice ones that have a ventilated back…and are comfy.
Agreed, abasket. My kitchen counter has been my desk for the last few years.
For those recommending standing desks- how flexible are they in terms of height? The ones I’ve used in public spaces have all been a bit too short so I still have to slouch (I am 6’0").
Romani-my work got me a desk chair from Costco that is all mesh, both the back and the seat. It cost only $80 and it is by far the most comfortable desk chair I’ve ever had, other than the $800 Herman Miller one that is similar I once had at a much cushier job. I find the arms a little high for my taste, and they are not adjustable, but I am very short. They ARE such that you can lift them out of the way, and that is what I do. The chair itself is adjustable. But seriously, it’s a fantastic chair.
I can’t recommend anything else because my “desk” at work is a table sawed in half and bolted to the wall and at home it’s a near-free thing I got off Craigslist and I DO use a desktop computer on it.
There are plenty of H-M chair knock-offs on the market. As sseamom says, some a very comfy. I would also recommend a standing desk that easily converts to a sitting desk. Here are some standing desk recommendations and cheap at home “hacks”:
Definitely, definitely get a docking station for your laptop and two monitors. If you’ve never had this set up, you will be amazed how much more efficient you will be with dual monitors. You can find monitors cheaply on Craigslist. I am very tall, too, and even on the highest setting the monitors are not high enough, so I set them on make-shift risers (in my case, ugly plastic storage bins turned upside down, which is a long-standing “temporary” solution.
You may see if you can find a Herman Miller Aeron chair on Craigslist. They really are significantly more comfortable, especially for tall people. I plan to get an adjustable stand up desk at some point, but I haven’t done it yet.
I haven’t figured out a keyboard set up that works for me yet. My keyboard, which sits on my desk is way too low. And my knees don’t fit under my desk
Make sure the desk doesn’t have a pull out keyboard tray. We tall people don’t need those!
I like having a pinboard surface next to my desk where I pin up stuff that inspires me visually. None of it has anything to do with my work but I like having a constantly changing collage of images.
Br rigorous about throwing out paper. You can store almost everything electronically, doing away with the need for extensive file storage.
Buy office supplies that bring you joy! Check out the pen thread for inspiration. Even among inexpensive disposable pens, there is likely one that will likely feel better in your hand.
PS if your workplace has a formal telecommuting program, they may pay for some ergonomic equipment in order to help prevent work-related injuries. You might see if your department has an ergonomic specialist who can evaluate your current work place set up and make suggestions to accommodate your tall frame. Even if they won’t pay for similar adaptations at your home, it may be worth paying for.
Final thought: if you plan on winning the lottery any time soon, you might want to fantasize about a treadmill desk. They are really catching on as the cool home office equipment in my neck of the woods. I’d love to try one but I’m definitely too cheap to actually buy one. (Plus my home office is way, way too small).
You might be surprised … Universities often have more progressive policies regarding this kind of stuff than other workplaces.
But, putting the ergonomics aside, definitely check out a dual monitor set up – with the biggest, flattest monitors you can afford. It is like a magic productivity booster, or some kind of super-sonic IQ booster.
I have spent most of my life working from home—first as a student, then as an academic, and then running my own consulting business. My biggest recommendation is that you have a workplace with a door that closes. One that you can go to when you want to work and LEAVE when you want to separate from work. That, more than anything else, has been the secret to a productive work-at-home environment for me.
You really need to consider how you like to work and be honest with yourself. The most perfect desk in the world won’t be good if you don’t want to sit at a desk. Consider what you like in your current work space. Big table top to spread out? Do you want a bunch of drawers for supplies or are you an “out of sight, out of mind” person ? Need to work with a bunch of books nearby? Maybe a portable table top which you can plop next to the couch or a chair would work for you. I’d go to IKEA and check out the options. And then look beyond your normal desk chair–my D’s work chair is from IKEA but not a traditional desk chair.in the least. My favorite desk chair has pneumatic lift and wheels. I have an office but tend to work in the kitchen–more like command central. The only desk I ever really loved was a door on blocks–I upgraded to a 6 foot folding table.
If working from home is part of your employment, often employers would pay for phone and internet connection, which could be $100/mon. They would also provide you with a laptop instead of a desktop.
I needed to raise my monitor to reduce neck strain. $5 shelf board at Home Depot and a few bricks. Put felt on the bottom brick so it wouldn’t scratch the desk.
I love having a window – looking outside helps me focus when I am thinking. However – look at the angle of sunlight in the room at various parts of the day. I have to close the blinds til @ 11am because of glare on the monitor.
I like a rack for manila folders on my desk – easy to organize and see/grab when needed. (This is a 20th century artifact…)
Set up backup resources – external hard drive, in the cloud, or both. USE THEM REGULARLY.
