Shopping checklist
Set up a home office
Half day · Easy · 8 steps
Materials
| Done | Item | Quantity | SKU | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Surge protectorPlug it straight into the wall | 1 or 2 | Ask | ||
| LED A19 bulbsDaylight for the desk lamp, soft white for the room | 1 pack | Ask | ||
| Shelf bracketsSpace them to land on studs | 2 per shelf | Ask | ||
| Oak shelf board | 1 per shelf | Ask | ||
| Hollow wall anchorsOnly where a bracket can't hit a stud | 1 pack | Ask | ||
| Cable ties | 1 bag | Ask | ||
| Mini blindMeasure the inside of the window frame | 1 per window | Ask | ||
| Felt padsFor desk and chair legs on tile or wood | 1 pack | Ask |
Tools
- Stud finder
- Drill/driver
- 4 ft level
- Tape measure and pencil
- Screwdriver
Before you start
- Don't plug a power strip into another power strip or into an extension cord. Overloaded strips are a common cause of house fires.
- Anchor tall bookcases and file cabinets to a wall stud so they can't tip over, especially with kids in the house.
- Check for wires and pipes before drilling. Stay away from the area straight above and below outlets and switches.
- Don't run cords under rugs or across walkways, where they can be damaged or trip someone.
- A desk and boxed furniture are heavy. Lift with your legs and get help on the stairs.
Prices are current as of printing and may change. Bring this list to the counter, or call (928) 669-9254. If we don't have it, we can order it.
Set up a home office
Turn a spare room or a corner into a workspace that's comfortable for a full day: safe power, good light, a desk set to your body, and shelves that stay on the wall.
- Time
- Half day
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Category
- Around the House
- Steps
- 8
Before you start
- Don't plug a power strip into another power strip or into an extension cord. Overloaded strips are a common cause of house fires.
- Anchor tall bookcases and file cabinets to a wall stud so they can't tip over, especially with kids in the house.
- Check for wires and pipes before drilling. Stay away from the area straight above and below outlets and switches.
- Don't run cords under rugs or across walkways, where they can be damaged or trip someone.
- A desk and boxed furniture are heavy. Lift with your legs and get help on the stairs.
Step by step
- 1
Pick the spot
Choose a space near outlets with a door you can close if you take calls. Set the desk so a window is beside you, not behind the screen or behind you. West-facing windows bring hard glare and heat in the afternoon here, so plan on a blind if the desk faces one.
- 2
Plan the power
Count what you'll plug in: computer, monitor, lamp, printer, chargers. Plug a surge protector straight into a wall outlet, and don't plug one power strip into another or run the setup off an extension cord. If you need more outlets than the room has, have an electrician add one.
- 3
Set the desk and chair to fit you
Adjust the chair so your feet sit flat on the floor and your knees are about level with your hips. Your elbows should bend about 90 degrees with your forearms level when you type. If the desk is too high for that, raise the chair and use a footrest.
- 4
Position the screen
Put the monitor about an arm's length away, with the top of the screen at or slightly below eye level. With a laptop, raise it on a stand and use a separate keyboard and mouse so you aren't hunched over it all day.
- 5
Light it right
Use an overhead light for the room and a desk lamp aimed at your work, not at the screen. A daylight LED bulb (around 5000K) gives crisp task light; soft white is easier on the eyes for the rest of the room. Hang a blind to cut glare on the screen.
- 6
Hang shelves on studs
Find the studs with a stud finder and mark them. Screw shelf brackets into studs wherever you can; where a bracket lands between studs, use hollow wall anchors rated for the load. Check each shelf with a level before you set anything on it.
- 7
Manage the cables
Bundle cords behind the desk with cable ties and run them along the wall, not across the floor where someone can trip. Leave some slack so you can pull the desk out, and label the plugs so you know which is which.
- 8
Keep the equipment cool
Leave a few inches of space around computer and printer vents, and keep electronics out of direct sun. On summer afternoons a sunny room in Parker heats up quickly, and heat shortens the life of computers and batteries.
Pro tip
Sit at your new setup for a full morning before you hang anything. You'll find out where your hands actually reach for things and where the glare hits, and the shelves go up in the right place the first time.