Setting Up a Home Office You Will Actually Use

A home office does not need a room of its own. It needs a desk at the right height, a chair that adjusts to you and good light. Get those right and a corner of the bedroom works as well as a study.

The desk

Sitting, your forearms should rest level on the desk with relaxed shoulders, which for most adults means a top at 70 to 75 cm. An electric standing desk such as the Atlas moves from 65 to 130 cm, so you can change position through the day.

The chair

• Feet flat on the floor, knees at about a right angle.
• Two to three fingers between the front of the seat and the back of your knees.
• Lumbar support set at the curve of your lower back.
• Arms level with the desk, so your shoulders do not lift.

Screen and light

Place the screen an arm's length away with the top at eye level. Put the desk side-on to the window to avoid glare, and add a desk lamp for the evenings. Shelves within reach keep the desktop clear.