Setting Up a Work-From-Home Corner in a Small Flat
You do not need a spare room. You need the right chair, the right light and about four feet of wall.
Most home setups fail for the same three reasons: the chair is a dining chair, the screen is too low, and the only light in the room is behind you. All three are fixable in an afternoon.
The chair comes first
If you sit for more than three hours a day, this is the one place not to economise. Look for adjustable height, a back that supports the lower spine, and a seat edge that does not press behind your knees. Armrests are useful only if they sit level with your desk.
Screen height and light
- Top of the screen roughly level with your eyes -- a laptop stand and a separate keyboard do this cheaply.
- Light from the side, never from directly behind you on a video call.
- A power strip mounted under the desk keeps cables off the floor.
Finally, give the corner a boundary -- a rug, a shelf, anything that says work happens here. In a small flat that separation does more for concentration than any gadget.