Setting up a productive home office

Trades Union Congress (TUC) estimates put the number of people working remotely from home was around 1.6 million in 2017, driven by technological advancements making it easier to do so and the trend for flexible working.

Thanks to advances in software and digital working, accounting is increasingly a profession that can be done from home – as a practice owner or a remote worker. And according to research, home workers feel more productive at home than in the office.

But if you’re serious about working from home and achieving greater rates of productivity, whether to get your new business off the ground in style or to justify flexi-working to your line manager, it’s worth taking a close look at your home-working environment.

A complementary working environment

The home is full of distractions – family or friends wanting a chat or vacuuming around you; TV box sets you can’t switch off; fridges to open umpteen times a day; searching for the perfect place to work – bedroom, living room, kitchen or garden shed; the quest for the most comfortable chair in the house – couch or armchair, bed or hammock?

For this reason, a first step to establishing a good home-working routine is to pick a complementary working environment. A room you can call your office is best. If space does not permit, then an area of a room that you can call your own, somewhere you can mark as your ‘office territory’.

Once you’ve located your home office space, it’s time to think clearly about what you need in your office. Morgan Stewart Interiors’ Andrew Morgan, who has 30 years’ experience in the commercial and home office design industry, suggests asking yourself the following questions:

• What are the dimensions of the office or the office space?
• How is the space be used, i.e. Is it shared with others in the household? Does the space have a second purpose, such as a guest bedroom?
• Will the user have clients or colleagues visit? If so, do they require a separate meeting space from the desk?
• Does the proposed space have its own entrance?
• Where is the power and data within the space?
• What type of electronic devices are to be utilised, i.e. how many computer screens? Are any of the screens laptops?
• Where is the light coming from?
• What are the storage requirements?
• Does the user have any health issues to be taken into account, bad back etc?
• How many hours per day, per week will the user work at the desk?

What makes a good home office?

There is no one size fits all, but this is an opportunity to make a space that 1) reflects your needs as a business owner/remote worker, and 2) reflects you as a person, so get creative.

“The most important point to remember is that this is the user’s office, and unlike in most commercial offices the choice of how and when you work is the user’s own, this gives much more opportunity for the user to utilise furniture and finishes that would not normally be available to them,” says Morgan.

Morgan believes the most important factor is functionality with an understanding that this must reflect the individual’s particular circumstances regarding size and type of space available.

“It must be a comfortable space in which to operate, with all the elements working together, the technology must be easy to connect, to link to the power and data (Wi-Fi), with the correct amount of light onto the desk and onto the screen.”

Within this is the office chair deserves real attention, given you’ll be sitting in it for many hours a day. Your chair should match your frame and ergonomic specifications, just as your bed should match your desire for comfort and a good night’s rest – don’t scrimp here, it could lead to health problems warns Morgan. “All office chairs are not the same, quality ergonomic chairs are more expensive but will provide you with many years of comfortable and pain-free working – saving a fortune at the osteopath.”

Expert help?

Not always a reality given cost and requirements, but if you’re setting up a home office for your new business or you expect to work almost strictly remotely, seeking expert input could be a good idea. “When I need my accounts audited or advice on tax, I go to an accountant and it seems logical to me that when you need your office designed, go to a company that is an expert in that field,” says Morgan.

An expert will have access to latest technology, innovative furniture and advances in design; you could even have furniture built bespoke to your requirements. They may also be able to save you money in the long run.

Neil Johnson is a freelance business journalist who contributes regularly to trade publications and member organisations, covering employability, recruitment, business trends and industrial analysis.