Home office: 5 Tips for creating your perfect workspace

by Ann Marie Damashek, GRI, CBR, SRES 12/03/2023

Remote work has changed the way someone might set up their home office. Where we had a desktop pc, we now have tablets. Desks and tables once had to be tucked away in a room to avoid noise, now we use noise-canceling headphones. Instead of filing cabinets overflowing, we now concern ourselves with video quality.

But even though the technologies of the average workday may change, some facets will remain the same, especially when it comes to initial setup.

Here are five quick and simple ways to set up a quality work environment in your home:

Internet service

One of the most important aspects of any office is the internet service. Home offices are no different.

Ensure that you can have service hooked up in your designated office area. If not, you’ll need to make sure wherever your internet connection hub is, you have a Wi-Fi router securely connected to your internet modem. It should have a long range, so it reaches every aspect of your home.

Office equipment

You don’t have to wait to set up your internet connection to get the office equipment you need. Standard pieces include a computer (desktop or laptop), monitor stand, keyboard setup with mouse or trackpad and a good set of speakers or headphones.

These items are key to setting up your home office. Equipment such as a paper shredder or all-in-one printer can also add an extra layer of ease to your workspace.

Office atmosphere

Your atmosphere can be set by honing in on a few key elements: location, lighting and detachment from the rest of your home life during working hours.

For example, make sure you set your home office up in an area that is logistically sound for your day-to-day activities. If you enjoy taking a walk during your lunch break, make sure you have an uninhibited path to explore, such as a garden trail. Likewise, if you require a clear separation from your home life and work life, try relocating to a room that doesn’t get much use.

Lighting can be adjusted, regardless of location. However, it’s great to use natural light as a means of maintaining a schedule and giving yourself a good routine. You’ll also want to keep a good task light handy for video meetings, as good lighting can affect video quality during meetings.

Ergonomic office furniture

Finding the perfect lighting and location are excellent places to start when designing your home office. Once you’ve determined the two, try finding the perfect office furniture to match.

For desks, make sure you find one that’s a comfortable height for your daily work. You may also want to find a desk that can fit nicely into a corner, as to keep areas open and free. Under-desk storage is also a great way to keep the clutter down.

Adjustable seating is also a valuable addition to a home office. With a plethora of different seating types and individual seating requirements, it’s best to find one that can accommodate a stationary day-to-day workload but can either transition to a more mobile or ergonomic position as needed.

Small items like trash cans or recycling containers can also add to the atmosphere and ease-of-use in your home office.

Work-life balance

The last thing you’ll need for your home office is a great reminder to start and stop your day. Add a clock or a few reminder alarms on your devices that tell you when to start your workday and when to take breaks. It’s also important to know when to stop for the day, since working from home can create a productivity vortex that takes up more than your average workday.

Be sure to set reminders for yourself to take breaks throughout your day and change the environment you’re in by exploring other parts of your home or just outside. Using some of your downtime or breaks to do a few household chores may also help minimize your weekend stress by whittling down your to-do list.

Regardless of your ideal work environment, using these tips to help get you started is a great way to master your space and make it work for you.

About the Author

Ann Marie Damashek, GRI, CBR, SRES

Ann Marie Damashek has always been a natural at helping people prepare their homes for sale. She started out with a successful business selling goods for people on eBay. "Nine times out of ten they were hiring me because they were down-sizing,” Ann Marie says. "So I decided to get my license. I said, ‘Might as well sell their house too.’” The transition was a smooth one and for nine years she’s had a thriving full-time real estate business that allows her to marry her entrepreneurial spirit with her passion for helping others. With an office in Larchmont, New York, she serves all of Lower Westchester County, with her primary market in the Sound Shore region. The majority of her business is "sphere of influence” with former clients referring her to friends and family. A gifted communicator, Ann Marie quickly builds trust and rapport with her clients by being both thoughtful and responsive; she understands that during the purchase or sale of a home, a quick response time is crucial. "I am very accessible,” Ann Marie says. "I always make time for my clients. They can call me, text me, email me up until 10 o’clock at night and I will respond. I’m available on weekends. I get back to people very promptly. I’m very customer service-oriented.” Her clients appreciate her professionalism, passion and enthusiasm and as a result her repeat and referral rate continues to grow each year. While selling real estate is serious business, Ann Marie knows that at times humor and a moment of levity can be a relief to clients. While she has a laidback and easygoing personality, she can be assertive when needed on her clients’ behalf. She loves being of service to them, and the continually changing nature of the work keeps her engaged and fulfilled. "It’s never boring,” Ann Marie enthuses. "Every day is different. That’s probably what I like most about it. But I also enjoy helping people sell or buy and educating them about the process. I love helping them achieve their goals.” This ethic of service has resulted in well-deserved recognition. Ann Marie has received the Westchester Magazine Five Star Real Estate Agent Rating four years running, in 2015 and 2016 she was the #1 agent in her office, and she’s a Zillow 5-Star Premier Agent. To keep in touch with former clients, Ann Marie sends cards to mark special occasions or reaches out via email. To market her listings, Ann Marie uses Multiple Listing Services (MLS), as well as Listingbook.com, a service that allows both agents and their clients access to MLS data. She also uses a Facebook business page and ads to boost new listings or promote upcoming open houses. "That drives a tremendous amount of traffic,” Ann Marie says. She also uses the most popular real estate websites such as Zillow and Trulia. A strong believer in giving back, Ann Marie sits on the Board of Trustees of her church and is involved in a variety of social justice projects. She’s affiliated with Furniture Sharehouse, a furniture bank for Westchester County, which collects and distributes gently used furniture free of charge to those in need. "I love it on so many levels because as a realtor, it’s helps my sellers downsize through charitable donations. I like the environmental aspect of it as well. And it helps people who truly need things.” She’s also involved in Impact 100, a women’s philanthropic giving organization. In her free time, Ann Marie enjoys gardening, traveling, and spending time with family and friends. For the future, Ann Marie wants to continue expanding her business and developing her brand, and she someday hopes to grow a strong team. But her main goal is to stay in the real estate business, helping her clients to achieve their dreams.