The perfect workspace – tips for your home office
Ergonomics, lighting, order: we’ve completely revised our 2018 guide and brought it up to speed for 2026. This way, your home office becomes a place where you enjoy working-and stay healthy.
A home office is more than a desk and chair. If you spend most of your week at this spot, its setup determines your back health, your focus, and ultimately your mood. The good news: you don’t need a fortune or a dedicated room. You just need the right dimensions, good light, and a little discipline when it comes to order. This guide walks you through every decision, from choosing the location to fine-tuning ergonomics.
- Pick a spot with daylight and a window; position the screen to the side of the window, not in front of or behind it.
- Adjust desk height so your forearms rest lightly and your elbows form about a 90-degree angle; ideal height is 68 to 82 centimetres.
- Keep the top edge of the screen just below eye level, 50 to 70 centimetres away, with your gaze angled slightly downward.
- Switch between sitting and standing whenever possible, every 20 to 30 minutes; aim for two to four hours standing per day.
- Treat order as a system, not a one-time tidy-up: fixed spots, closed boxes, and an empty desk at the end of the day.
The location decides before you buy the first chair
Whoever has the space sets up their workstation in a separate room. A closed door is the most honest concentration tool there is, because it keeps family, roommates, and your own guilty conscience outside. But most people don’t have that luxury, and that’s no tragedy. A quiet corner in the living area works just as well if you treat it consistently as a work zone and not as a dumping ground for laundry and mail.
What matters in both scenarios is the window. Daylight lifts your mood, stabilizes your day-night rhythm, and spares your eyes. Orientation is key: if the screen sits directly in front of the window, glare from behind will blind you. If it’s with its back to the window, brightness will reflect on the display. The best position is to the side of the window so the light comes in from the side. Fresh air is the pleasant bonus you get for free.
A home office that fits your body costs you one hour of setup and gives you a more relaxed neck every single day in return.
The desk: dimensions beat brand
Not all desks are created equal. Because it’s the most important piece of furniture in your workspace, it’s worth asking what you actually need before you buy. Do you work only with a laptop and need minimal surface? Should the desk have drawers for the clutter that otherwise litters the room? How does it fit the space without turning it into a traffic jam?
In the end, however, it’s not the design that counts but the height. The optimal desk height is reached when your forearms rest lightly on the surface and your elbows form roughly a 90-degree angle. For most adults that’s between 68 and 82 centimetres, depending on your height. A fixed desk at the wrong height forces your body into a posture you’ll feel in your shoulders every evening. If you have a choice, the height is the one place you shouldn’t skimp.
Sitting and standing: the underestimated lever
A height-adjustable desk is the smartest investment for anyone who spends long hours at their place. The point isn’t standing per se, it’s the switch. The German Social Accident Insurance puts it succinctly: standing can’t replace moving. If you stand all day, you merely trade back pain for leg trouble.
The trick is the rhythm. Ergonomists recommend switching between sitting and standing every 20 to 30 minutes, aiming for roughly two to four hours of standing spread across the day. Modern models with memory functions remember your favourite heights so the switch is one button press instead of a DIY project. It’s that convenience that decides whether you actually use the feature or leave the desk stuck in sitting mode.
The chair: where comfort meets aesthetics
Almost as important as the desk is the chair. For long stretches of focused work, padded, height-adjustable office chairs with lumbar support are the honest choice-even if they’re rarely pretty. If you’ve moved your workspace into the living room, you face the dilemma of ergonomics versus décor. A compromise helps: a sleek design chair for short sessions and calls, a proper office chair within reach for the long haul. There are now plenty of models that blend comfort and looks without turning your living room into a cubicle farm.
Screen and light: the details that save your neck
Screen position is the most underrated point. The top edge of the monitor should sit just below eye level, and the viewing distance should be 50 to 70 centimetres. Your gaze then drops slightly, at an angle of about 10 to 20 degrees, keeping your head relaxed. A quick rule of thumb: when in doubt, err on the side of too low rather than too high-an elevated screen over-extends your cervical spine and you’ll feel it after a few hours.
Light follows the same logic as ergonomics: a little planning saves a lot of grief. Daylight is the baseline; a warm desk lamp for the dark hours is mandatory. Indirect light from behind reduces the harsh contrast between the bright screen and the dark room that fatigues your eyes.
Order is essential – but as a system
Disorder costs productivity; it’s not just a cliché, but everyday reality. Constant searching means losing focus and time. Shelves, folders and closed storage boxes are the foundation, but they only work if every item has a fixed place. The real leverage comes from a small habit: leaving your desk empty at the end of the day. An empty desk in the morning is the most understated productivity boost there is-and it doesn’t cost a cent.
A few personal touches still belong there. A plant, a great picture, an object you love. Your workspace should feel like yours, not like a configuration screenshot from a furniture catalogue. If you’re drawn to Scandinavian style, the Scandi-style guide offers the right principles of brightness, clean lines and natural materials. And when it’s time to tackle the next room, take a look at the bedroom as your sanctuary of recovery, because good sleep is the underestimated half of productive work.
Quick Answers
▸How high should my desk be?
High enough that your forearms rest comfortably on the surface with your hands down and your elbows form about a 90-degree angle. For most adults that’s between 68 and 82 centimetres, depending on height. An adjustable-height desk takes the math out of it.
▸How often should I switch between sitting and standing?
Every 20 to 30 minutes. The goal isn’t to stand as long as possible, but to alternate. Over the course of a day, two to four hours spent standing is a good benchmark. The switch itself matters more than any single position.
▸Where should I position the screen if I’m sitting by the window?
To the side of the window, not in front of it and not with your back to it. Directly in front of the window causes glare; with your back to it, the brightness reflects on the display. At your side you get daylight without glare or reflections.
▸Do I need a separate room for a good home office?
No. A dedicated room with a door is nice, but a consistently defined corner in the living space works just as well. What matters is that the zone stays a work zone instead of becoming a dumping ground, plus the right height for desk and chair.
