Here are some helpful hints for setting up your home office.
The Ideal Desk Height
Your office desk should ideally let you type on a keyboard with your arms and hands roughly parallel to the floor, your feet flat on the floor, and your legs fitting comfortably under the desk when sitting.
If your desk doesn't support this posture, you can invest in a keyboard tray, get a footrest, put the desk on risers, or simply try adjusting your chair's seat height.
Adjustable-height desks allow you to switch between sitting and standing mode.
Ergonomic Chairs
After your desk, your office chair is the most important piece of office furniture, especially if you sit in it for long work sessions.
Here's what to look for in an ergonomic office chair:
Lumbar support: The curve in the back of the chair should support your lower spine, following the natural curve of your lower back.
Seat depth: Chairs that fit your body will allow you to sit comfortably with your lower back against the lumbar support while also leaving an inch or two between the back of your knees and the seat.
Chair height: You should be able to adjust the height of the chair so your feet are flat on the floor or on a foot rest.
Arm rests: Armrests should be at the proper height so your shoulders aren't hunched and you can keep your arms parallel to the floor.
Material: Some people want a mesh chair because they tend to get hot in other types of chairs.
Proper Monitor Placement
How you set up your monitor matters too.
Keep your monitor or laptop screen between 50 and 100 centimetres in front of you. If the monitor is too far away, you might be forced to lean forward and no longer have back support. Too near and your eyes have to work harder to focus. You should be able to read all text comfortably while maintaining proper posture. If text is too small, zoom in.
Make sure the top line of the screen is at or below your eye level. If the monitor is too high, you'll be forced to strain your head, neck, and back. At the same time, your downward viewing angle to see the entire screen shouldn't be greater than 60 degrees.
Don't tilt the monitor more than 10 to 20 degrees. More than that and objects on the screen might be difficult to read.
Place the monitor perpendicular to windows. This will help avoid eye-straining glare.
