We can’t stop you from working in the dark, but we can tell you how lighting can impact your performance. As we move between brightly lit and dark areas, our eyes automatically adjust by opening or closing our pupils to allow light to enter. Light is then interpreted by two photoreceptors – rods and cones – with the latter responsible for light sensitivity. When it gets dark, these cones increase sensitivity at the cost of image detail.

Here are 12 tips on how to set up a home office that maximizes your performance. While there are many challenges that come with working from home, a well-designed home office tips office will make it easier. You’ll get a place where you can focus and be productive, without having to leave the comfort of your home.

How to Choose the Right Equipment for Your Home Office

Choosing comfortable and ergonomic furniture for your home office isn’t a luxury choice. You’ll be spending a lot of time in that office, so well-designed and ergonomic furniture is essential for your health and overall well-being. In addition to its health benefits, having a home office with natural lighting will help you reduce your energy consumption because you’ll need to use artificial lighting less often. To avoid damaging your eyes, you’ll want to introduce as much natural light as possible. If you’re nowhere near a window or skylight, it’s time to invest in more artificial light; lamps. If you’re fortunate enough to have a dedicated room for your office, that room probably has walls that go all the way from the floor to the ceiling and solid doors that close.

Shelves and cubbies aren’t the right solutions for all of your storage needs, though. Sometimes there are sensitive documents that you can’t leave lying around the office—especially if it’s in a shared space. Brown advises people to “invest in lockable file and storage cabinets,” when there are things you just don’t want to risk losing. Setting up your home office in a place with natural daylight is a great way to help you feel more active and energized. It helps you maintain your levels of vitamin D— a critical nutrient that improves your sleep and helps you stay in a good mood. Because every setup will be different, we can’t give you a one-size-fits-all plan of attack.

Check your work from home insurance

While working from home gives you the freedom to work anytime you want, you’ll still want to maintain regular office hours if you want to maximize productivity. One of the best parts about a home office is that you can totally dictate its decor per your tastes. Good decor won’t just make your office space feel more inviting, it’ll also improve productivity. Some might prefer a relaxing couch while others might want a simple standing desk and a whiteboard. A recent study found that adults who get natural light sleep better (46 minutes more than those who don’t get natural light). Another study found that 40% of workplaces with natural light experience 3%-40% improvements in productivity.

If you have your own business and have clients coming into your home for meetings, keeping standard office hours also helps them know when you are available. The way you prioritize your wants and needs will depend on the space you have to work with, your own personal preferences, and your job role. For example, if you are a graphic designer, your must-haves may include enough desk space for multiple computer screens or a large table for sketching.