Do you spend a lot of time in your home office? Have you ever asked where is the best desk placement? Find how to boost productivity with this simple move.
In the years leading up to March 2020, a home office was more of a "nice to have" than a necessity. On a work-from-home day, you might check your messages from a more comfortable location than your desks, such as the kitchen island, the couch in the living room, or even your bed.
However, with remote employment and virtual schooling becoming the standard for families across the United States, the home office has become one of the most important, and wanted, spaces in the house. To ensure that your office worksproductively as you do, design it with a few basic ideas in mind.
The first thing to ask when building a home office is, "Where should I put the desk?" Considering that the desk is the most important piece of office furniture, desk placement should be the most crucial aspect of the design process!
Things to Consider When Deciding the Best Desk Placement
There are different aspects to consider when deciding where to set your desk. Some people prefer a good view, while others prefer to be free of distractions. The size of the desk, the size of the space, and the design of the room all have an effect on where the desk should be placed. Here are some recommendations and tips to get the feng shui fluids flowing at your desk in order to attract good luck and happiness in your job and life.
Desk View
Working from home with a lovely view may help you feel less limited. The desk should generally face the entryway door, although some people prefer to have a good view and face the outer window, which may be on the opposite side. This definitely makes it easy to take a mental break from your work by looking out the window. Sunlight can improve your mood and contribute to a more pleasant work atmosphere.
Place up against a window
Whether you have an L-shaped or straight desk, you may wish to position it near a window. Almost all workplace desks are placed against windows on walls. A window location will provide you with the benefits of a more peaceful workspace.
When working, you won't always be able to go for a walk outside. However, if your workstation is next to a window, you will get a similar sensation. You can view what's going on outside your window while also soaking up some sunlight. This will not only result in a more fun and peaceful working atmosphere. With your workstation facing a window, regular sun exposure can provide additional benefits.
A study conducted by Cornell University researchers discovered a link between office workers' health and their level of exposure to natural light. Researchers concluded that when office workers were routinely exposed to natural light, they were 84% less likely to suffer from headaches and blurred vision.
According to other studies, exposure to natural light enhances productivity. Office workers who situate their desks near a window are more productive than their colleagues who do not work near a window. Sun exposure is well-known to be beneficial to one's health. It enables your body to synthesize vitamin D, which is essential for several metabolic functions. Simultaneously, sun exposure reduces stress levels. These impacts may account for the sun's capacity to boost productivity. To witness for yourself, position your desk near a window where you can soak in the sun's rays.
Desk Size
Evaluating your desk size in relation to the size of the room will also aid in determining the optimum placement. If your desk is larger, it might be better suited to the center of the room. If the desk is small and you need numerous desks, try building two small ones on each side of the room.
This will help to balance the area and provide more options if you require additional desk space. This is beneficial for people like us who have numerous persons working from home or a home school setup with multiple children.
Room Design
The overall desk arrangement in an office or room can be influenced by space design and layout. Windows, built-ins, and even lighting should all be considered.
In our office, we have built-ins that serve as a wonderful nook for a smaller desk. We placed the smaller desk in the built-in bookcase area and the larger desk on the opposite wall because we have two desks, one for Henry and one for me. This allowed the light fixture and window to be placed in the center.
If you just have one larger workstation in the room, positioning it right beneath the light fixture is always a good idea. This will make things appear more centered and will also provide additional light for your workspace.
Measure Before Moving
Take measurements before moving your desk, no matter where you intend to put it. High-quality desks are quite heavy, making them difficult to move. It is possible that your desk will not fit if you move it without first taking measurements. As a result, you'll have to move again while looking for the correct place.
Before moving your desk, take measurements to ensure that it will fit. Begin by deciding on a location for your desk. Take measurements of your desk next. You must determine the length, depth, and height of your desk. You can then compare these measures to the measurements of the area where you want to put your desk. If the space is enough, move your desk to another part of your home office.
Some desks include a hutch. A hutch is a tall arrangement of cabinets or shelves that rises from the surface of a desk. If your desk contains a hutch, pay special attention to its height.
Access to Power Outlets
If you want to use a computer at your desk, as most office employees do, locate it near a power outlet. Computers, with the exception of laptops, must be connected to a wall outlet to function. Of course, power cords have a limited range. You won't be able to use your computer if there isn't a power outlet nearby.
Remember not to run electrical cords around your home office. What's the harm in stringing power cords from one side of your home office to the other? Aside from being an eyesore, it also poses a safety risk. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), "slips, trips, and falls" account for more than one-fourth of all nonfatal work-related injuries.
Power cords from computers, printers, fax machines, and other equipment may cause you to trip and fall if they are run throughout your home office. You could trip over an exposed power cord, leading you to fall and harm yourself. Place your desk near an outlet where you can conceal the power cords for a safe workspace.
Distance to Door
Avoid setting your workstation far away from the door in a large home office. You'll most likely be entering and exiting your home office several times every day. You'll have to walk your workstation to the entrance if you want to get food or take a break. If you have a spacious home office, you will naturally spend more time walking back and forth to your workstation.
Of course, you shouldn't put your workstation so close to the entrance that it interferes with its functioning. If your desk is too close to the door, it may not be fully open. Your home office will appear and feel crowded with a partially obscured door. To avoid this, leave enough space between your desk and the door to fully open and close it.
If your home office is small, you don't have to be concerned about the distance between your desk and the door. A little distance between the desk and the door might save you merely a few steps. If your home office is vast, however, positioning your workstation near the door will limit the amount of unneeded walking. Ensure enough space for the door to open and close completely.
Beware of a Middle-of-the-Room Placement
Some home office employees set their desks in the center of the room. In other words, rather than placing their desks against a wall, they situate them in the middle of their home office. Placement in the center of the room like this can work, although it frequently presents ergonomic issues.
First and foremost, there's the issue of electrical lines in the middle of the room. All power and data connections are concealed when positioned against a wall. Power wires can be routed through the back of your desk and directly into a nearby wall socket. Placement in the middle of the room requires you to run wires across your home office, which causes a safety issue.
Placing your desk in the center of your home office may reduce the amount of room available for an office chair. Desks must have room for a chair. They may include a hole in the middle for your legs and feet, but you'll still need enough space in front of the desk for an office chair. As a general guideline, your office chair should have at least 2 to 3 feet of clearance.
If you set your desk in the center of your home office, you may not have enough space to comfortably use an office chair. The chair may technically fit, but you may struggle to pull it far enough in front of your desk to sit properly. The front of the desk may be too close to a wall to allow enough space for your office chair.
When using a middle-of-the-room arrangement, you also risk disturbing your home office's normal walking pathways. Home offices, like all indoor rooms and spaces, have pedestrian paths. These are the normal routes you use when entering, leaving, and moving around your home office. Most walking paths run through the center of the room, and home offices are no exception. Placing your workstation in the center of your home office provides an obstacle. You'll have to zig-zag your way around the desk instead of strolling straight through the center of your home office.
Check the Flooring
When deciding where to put your desks, consider the flooring in your home office. While the majority of home offices have a single type of flooring, others have two or more. If your home office has two types of flooring, you must find a suitable location for your desk.
An office chair's wheels may damage hardwood floors. The majority of casters are not designed for use on hardwood floors. Rolling your office chair around on hardwood floors may cause scratches or dents. However, while certain wheels can accommodate hardwood floors without destroying them, most office chairs do not have them. These wheels are available separately. You must purchase these and then install them on your office chair. You can read Are gaming chairs worth it and should I buy a gaming chair? - 2022 Guide to learning more about new trends in gaming/office chairs.
Carpet flooring provides a more comfortable all-around surface for your workstation and office chair. The carpet, unlike hardwood and laminate floors, is resistant to scratches and dents. You may even roll your office around on carpet floors by purchasing a mat. Chair mats are flat, rigid plastic coverings meant for workplace chairs. A chair mat on the carpet in front of your desk provides a hard surface for rolling your office chair.
Evaluate Lighting
Don't put your workstation in a corner that's hard to see out of. The use of natural light can be maximized by positioning your workstation such that it faces a window. By naturally lighting your workspace, sunlight can help you save on electricity. Sunlight is not reliable enough to use as your primary source of lighting.
The sun might be up, but if you have to work some overtime at an early hour or after midnight, you can't rely on this.There is no assurance that the sun will shine even during the day. On certain days, the sun shines brightly, but on others, the sky is overcast. Therefore, you'll have to rely on desk lamps and other forms of artificial lighting. A constant ability to work is guaranteed by the availability of artificial lights.
It's likely that the light in your home office comes from a single source high above the desk. Your desk doesn't have to be right beneath the light, but it should be in a well-lit location.
To improve the lighting at your workstation, you may want to add a lamp.A separate lamp can be placed on the side of your desk as an alternative. The light output of floor lamps is greater than that of table lamps, but they also require more floor space.
Tips for Creating Good "Work" Energy, according to Feng Shui
The feng shui of a room can be drastically altered by the desk's color and construction. Of all the materials that may be used for a desk, a hefty and solid brown wood desk would be the most stable and suitable. Think about your aesthetic preferences before making a purchase; you have to be happy working at the desk.
Desk Color and Material
Incorporate the colors and materials of the five elements into your life based on the energies you want to attract. Glass desks are not advised for good feng shui. They are brittle and may pose problems in your professional life.
- Earth element for stability and grounding (Wood or painted wood)
- Metal element for efficiency and clarity (Metal or painted wood)
- Water element for networking and flow (Metal or painted wood)
- Wood element for growth and activity (Painted wood/composites)
- Fire element for inspiration and fame (Painted wood/composites)
- Feng Shui Objects for the Desk
Keep your desk neat and tidy for efficiency's sake, but don't worry too much if things become a little messy from time to time. Clutter can be a sign of activity and progress so long as things are moving and your desk isn't gathering dust. Indeed, a desk with nothing on it is quite "yin," or empty of vital energy. You'll be able to tell whether the chaos indicates growth or has reached a plateau.
Managing the mess on your desk every day requires a consistent routine. Spend some time at the beginning or conclusion of your workday tidying up your workspace. Cleaning off your desk is like cleaning off your mind. This includes filing documents, stowing away clutter, etc. Rearranging the items on your desk is a metaphor for your active effort to put your ideas and mind in order.
To attract diverse energy, place some feng shui-inspired artifacts on your desk. Here are several examples:
- A living, green plant to encourage growth. Make sure it's properly sized and chosen for the light and space available at your desk;
- Fluorite is one of our favorite stones. It is extremely useful for concentration and intellectual growth;
- A ceramic mug that you adore, with a stable base that is difficult to knock over. This summons earth energies associated with self-care and stability. Use the cup frequently and maintain it clean;
The location of your desk is important. After all, you'll be spending the majority of your time there. You must choose the correct location for your desk to guarantee that your workdays are comfortable and productive. Finally, your workstation placement must meet your demands as an individual. This is typically the first large piece of furniture in the office. After you've determined the best desk layout for you, you can begin arranging the rest of your room to create the ideal workspace!
