Planning & Checklists
Home Office Planning Guide
Updated 3 min read
The short answer
A productive home office has five elements: a desk at the right height and depth, storage for current work within arm's reach, storage for reference work within the room, lighting that reduces eye strain, and cable management that keeps the workspace clean. The desk is the centrepiece — start with the desk dimensions and build everything else around it.
Desk sizing guide
| Use | Minimum width | Recommended depth | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Laptop only | 900mm (36") | 500mm (20") | Minimum for a functional workspace |
| Laptop + monitor | 1200mm (48") | 600–700mm (24–28") | Most common home office setup |
| Dual monitors | 1500mm (60") | 700–800mm (28–32") | Wider desk required for two screens side by side |
| Desktop + writing space | 1500–1800mm (60–72") | 700–900mm (28–36") | Generous workspace for creative work |
| Executive / shared | 1800–2400mm (72–96") | 800–1000mm (32–40") | Large desk for multiple tasks or two users |
Storage planning
- Within arm's reach (0–600mm)
- Pens, notepads, current project files, phone, charger. A shallow drawer or a desk-top tray handles this. The goal is to keep the desk surface clear while keeping essentials accessible.
- Within the room (600–2000mm)
- Reference books, active project files, printer, supplies. A bookcase, filing cabinet or built-in shelving within a few steps of the desk handles this. The goal is to get up once per hour, not once per task.
- Archive (beyond the room)
- Completed project files, tax records, rarely-used reference material. These can go in a closet, a basement storage area, or off-site. The goal is to keep the office clear of historical clutter.
- Cable management
- Plan cable routing before the desk is built. A grommet hole in the desk surface, a cable tray under the desk, and a power strip mounted under the desktop keep cables invisible. The difference between a clean desk and a cable mess is 30 minutes of planning.
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Ergonomic specifications
- Desk height
- Standard desk height is 720–760mm (28–30 inches). This works for most adults when paired with an adjustable chair. Standing desks should adjust from 650mm (seated) to 1200mm (standing). The wrong desk height causes neck, back and wrist pain.
- Monitor position
- The top of the monitor should be at or slightly below eye level, at arm's length from the face. A monitor arm allows precise positioning and frees desk space. A monitor that is too low causes neck strain; too high causes eye strain.
- Chair clearance
- Allow 800–1000mm of clear space behind the desk for the chair to roll back. A desk pushed against a wall with only 300mm behind it forces a cramped seating position. If the room is narrow, consider a wall-mounted desk or a desk oriented perpendicular to the wall.
- Natural light
- Position the desk perpendicular to a window, not facing it or with it behind you. Facing a window causes contrast glare; a window behind you creates screen glare. A side window provides natural light without these problems.
Answers
Frequently asked questions
- How big should a home office be?
- A functional home office needs a minimum of 3m × 2.5m (10 × 8 ft) to accommodate a desk, chair, and storage. A comfortable office is 3.5m × 3m (12 × 10 ft) or larger. If the office doubles as a guest room, plan for a murphy bed or sofa bed that does not interfere with the desk area.
- Should my home office have a door?
- Yes, if possible. A door provides visual separation (closure at the end of the workday), acoustic separation (phone calls, video meetings), and thermal separation (heating/cooling an unused room). A pocket door or sliding door saves space in small rooms.
- What lighting is best for a home office?
- A combination of natural light (side window), overhead ambient lighting (dimmable, 3000–4000K colour temperature), and task lighting (desk lamp, under-shelf LED). Avoid overhead-only lighting — it creates shadows on the work surface. Dimmable overhead plus a desk lamp is the minimum.
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