Working From Home Setup Guide: Beyond the Basics

You've got the desk. You've got the chair. You're technically "set up" for working from home. But if you're still fighting tangled cables, squinting at your screen, and looking unprofessional on video calls, there's room to improve.

Here's the stuff that actually makes a difference.

Cable Management That Actually Works

Nothing screams "amateur setup" like a nest of cables. And it's not just aesthetics - tangled cables collect dust, make cleaning harder, and get in the way.

Under-Desk Cable Tray

The single best investment for cable management:

• Mounts under your desk
• Holds power strips, adapters, and excess cable
• Keeps everything off the floor
• Makes vacuuming possible again

Cost: £15-30 for a good one

Installation: Usually just 4 screws into the desk underside

Cable Bundling

For the cables that do need to be visible:

Method	Best For	Cost
Velcro ties	Bundles you adjust often	£5-10
Cable ties	Permanent bundles	£3-5
Cable sleeves	Long runs (desk to floor)	£8-15
Cable clips	Along walls/desk legs	£5-10
Spiral wrap	Very long cable runs	£5-10

Desk Grommets

If your desk doesn't have cable holes:

• Drill a 60mm hole (standard grommet size)
• Insert plastic or metal grommet
• Route cables through cleanly

Takes 10 minutes if you have the right tools.

The "Behind the Monitor" Trick

Monitors hide a lot. Position your power strip and excess cables directly behind your monitor - instant tidy desk without any installation.

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Monitor Setup

Height Matters More Than You Think

Wrong monitor height = neck strain, headaches, fatigue.

The rule: Top of the screen at or slightly below eye level.

Most people sit with monitors too low, looking down all day. Not good.

Solutions by Budget

Solution	Cost	Pros	Cons
Books/boxes	Free	Immediate	Looks temporary
Monitor riser	£20-40	Storage underneath	Fixed height
Monitor arm	£30-100	Fully adjustable, frees desk space	Needs sturdy desk
Wall mount	£20-40	Clean look, no desk footprint	Fixed position

Dual Monitor Setup

If you use two screens:

• Same height - match the top edges
• Same angle - both slightly angled toward you
• Primary centered - if you have one main screen
• Side by side - if you use both equally

A dual monitor arm keeps things aligned and adjustable.

Distance

Arm's length is roughly right. If you're leaning forward to read, either:

• Move the monitor closer
• Increase font/scaling in settings
• Get your eyes tested (seriously)

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Desk Organisation

The "Everything In Reach" Zone

Your desk surface has three zones:

1. Primary zone (arm's reach without moving) - keyboard, mouse, current work
2. Secondary zone (arm's reach with slight movement) - phone, notepad, drinks
3. Reference zone (requires leaning/turning) - reference documents, rarely-used items

Most clutter problems happen when zone 3 stuff creeps into zone 1.

Vertical Storage

Free up desk space by going up:

• Monitor shelf/riser with storage underneath
• Pegboard on wall for frequently used items
• Magnetic strips for small metal tools
• Floating shelves within reach

Drawer Organisers

The "chuck it in the drawer" approach doesn't work. Dividers and small containers keep drawers usable.

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Lighting for Productivity (and Video Calls)

The Natural Light Problem

Natural light is great for mood and energy. It's terrible for video calls and screen glare.

Ideal setup:

• Window to the side (not behind you or behind your screen)
• Blinds to control intensity
• Supplementary artificial light for cloudy days

Task Lighting

A desk lamp isn't optional if you work with any paper documents:

• LED is best (no heat, energy efficient)
• Adjustable arm lets you position precisely
• Colour temperature control is a bonus (warmer for evenings)

Video Call Lighting

Looking washed out or shadowy on calls?

Problem	Solution
Dark face	Add light source facing you
Harsh shadows	Diffuse the light (softbox, lampshade)
Uneven lighting	Add second light source
Backlit (window behind)	Close blinds or add front light

A ring light or LED panel (£20-60) positioned behind your monitor works wonders.

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Acoustics and Noise

Reducing Echo

Hard surfaces reflect sound, making you sound echoey on calls:

• Add rugs/carpet
• Soft furnishings (curtains, cushions)
• Bookshelves (books absorb sound)
• Acoustic panels (if you want to go pro)

Reducing External Noise

For video calls:

• Use a headset with noise cancellation
• Position desk away from household noise sources
• Draught-proof the door (stops sound leakage too)

For focus work:

• White noise machine or app
• Noise-cancelling headphones
• "Do not disturb" signal for family

Sound Dampening a Room

If you're regularly on calls and household noise is a problem:

Solution	Effectiveness	Cost
Draught-proofing door	Medium	£10-20
Heavy curtains	Medium	£50-200
Rug on hard floor	Medium	£30-200
Acoustic panels	High	£50-200
Bookshelf on shared wall	Medium	Varies

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Ergonomics Checklist

After thousands of home offices, here's what I see people getting wrong:

Chair Height

• Feet flat on floor (or on footrest)
• Thighs parallel to floor
• No pressure on back of knees

If your desk is too high for this, consider a footrest rather than raising the chair.

Desk Height

Standard is 72-75cm. But standard doesn't fit everyone:

• If you're tall, you might need higher
• If you're shorter, keyboard tray can help
• Sit-stand desks let you adjust to perfect height

Screen Distance

• About arm's length
• You shouldn't be leaning forward
• Text should be readable without squinting

Keyboard and Mouse

• Keyboard directly in front of you
• Mouse close to keyboard (not miles away)
• Wrists neutral (not bent up or down)
• Consider a wrist rest if you type a lot

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The Professional Touches

Background for Video Calls

What's behind you matters:

Good backgrounds:

• Bookshelf (looks professional)
• Plain wall with minimal art
• Plants
• Tidy, curated space

Bad backgrounds:

• Unmade bed
• Messy kitchen
• Laundry
• Toilet visible through open door (I've seen it)

If you can't control your background, blur it or use a virtual background.

Sound Quality

Your laptop mic is probably terrible. Options:

Solution	Quality	Cost
Headset with mic	Good	£30-80
USB microphone	Very good	£50-150
Wireless earbuds	Good	£50-200

Webcam

Laptop cameras are improving but still often mediocre:

• External webcam (1080p minimum) - £40-100
• Position at eye level (not looking up your nose)
• Check lighting before important calls

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Common Home Office Problems (and Fixes)

"My back hurts after working"

Usually: chair too low, screen too low, or leaning forward.

Fix: Raise chair until thighs parallel to floor. Raise screen until top at eye level. Check you're sitting back in your chair.

"I get headaches"

Usually: screen too bright, wrong distance, or poor lighting.

Fix: Reduce screen brightness. Check distance (arm's length). Add task lighting so you're not relying on screen light only.

"I look terrible on video calls"

Usually: backlit (window behind you), no front lighting, webcam angle.

Fix: Face the window. Add a light behind your monitor. Raise webcam to eye level.

"I can't concentrate"

Usually: facing distractions, too much noise, or poor boundaries.

Fix: Position desk facing away from household activity. Use noise-cancelling headphones. Establish "office hours" with family.

"My desk is always messy"

Usually: no system, too much on surface, or wrong storage.

Fix: Clear everything off. Only put back what you use daily. Find homes for everything else. Tidy for 5 minutes at end of each day.

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The "One Day Office Upgrade" List

If you've got a day to improve your setup:

Morning:

• Install cable tray under desk
• Bundle and route all cables properly
• Install monitor arm or adjust height
• Position desk lamp correctly

Afternoon:

• Add shelf or storage for reference items
• Organise drawers with dividers
• Set up proper video call lighting
• Test audio setup and improve if needed

End of day:

• Clear desk completely
• Put back only daily essentials
• Do a test video call to check appearance

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Need help setting up your home office? From desk assembly to cable management to monitor mounting - I can get your workspace sorted in one visit. Call 01392 964094 or get a quote.