Best Home Office Desk Placement - Which One Suits You the Most?

Many remote workers wonder where is the best place to put their home office desks. People starting their work from home experience for the first time might make hasty decisions, investing some money in redecorating only to realize that their home office desk placement isn’t working out. 

Fortunately, simply moving the desk around might solve the issue. If you’re finding it hard to focus and work efficiently, look through the article and find out about home office desk placement considerations and the best positions there are. 

Things to Consider When Deciding Where to Place Your Home Office Desk

When you’re planning where to place your desk, there are several things you can consider. Some people prefer having a nice view. Others value not having many distractions. Desk size, room view, and room design are also things that can influence your decision on where you place your desk. 

Desk Size

Comparing the desk size to that of your room can help you determine the best placement for it. For example, if your desk is on the larger side, it might be a good idea to place it in the center of the room. Meanwhile, if it’s a bit smaller, you can even consider getting another one and placing them opposite to each other. 

This placement can give the room a sense of balance while giving you more options if you ever need the extra space. It’s a good choice for people who have more than one person working at home or for those who home-school multiple children. 

Still, remember that many things influence your ideal office desk size, including your height, build, budget, and space available. It’s better to sort out your home office desk layout with that in mind instead of selecting a desk that may be better for the room’s design but worse for your comfort. 

If you haven't gotten one, a safe choice would be a standing desk for a home office, as some are easy to assemble, move, and come with many features.

Room View

Having a better view of the room can help you feel less confined while working, and there are numerous ways to go about it. For example, you can have the desk facing the entryway, as it’s a broadly accurate guideline in several home office desk layout ideas. However, some would prefer having an outside view, placing the desk in front of the window.

This position is an easy way to give yourself some peace of mind by enjoying the scenery. Sunlight can also positively influence your mood while helping you create a productive work environment.

Although having a great view from the room is enticing, many designers opt for a different home office desk layout. After all, if you’re someone who gets easily distracted, having a direct view outside might put a dent in your productivity as you may see everyone passing.

Room Design

Besides home office desk design, the room’s design may occasionally determine the best home office desk placement for you. Where the windows are, how much lighting there is, and how many built-in storage space options there are things that influence the ideal desk position.

If your office has several built-in storage containers in a nook area, placing a corner standing desk there not only complements the overall design but makes the most of these features.

Likewise, if you only have a large office standing desk in your room, it’s a good idea to place it directly underneath light fixtures. It makes your home office feel centered and gives you helpful working light without the need for a lamp.

Also, the position of the room’s electrical outlets might significantly impact your overall design. If you have a desktop computer and other equipment you need to connect, it’s essential to have a home office desk layout that prioritizes being near outlets.

While some people may use extension cords, most offices would end up looking worse for wear without proper cable management. On the other hand, some rooms do have conveniently placed outlets in the center.

As the home office desk layout might occasionally match the room design of some offices, it might be good to look through some office design concepts to gather some ideas before setting up your desk.

Lighting

The home office lighting design and quality can impact your mood and well-being. Poor lighting from light fixtures, whether dim or harsh, can cause stress, eye strain, and fatigue.

Furthermore, the best type of lighting you can have in your home office is natural sunlight. Some studies advise that natural light and views can reduce stress and anxiety while improving mood, morale, and focus.

Regular exposure to daylight helps your body maintain its internal clock (circadian rhythms) as well. This influences your sleep, energy levels, and the brain’s serotonin release, which is a hormone that modulates mood, well-being, and happiness.

For these reasons, it’s good to place the desk somewhere you can get a healthy dose of sunlight. However, if anything stops you from having that home office desk layout, you can take brief walks outside whenever you have a break as an alternative.

Another thing you can consider is the position of light sources. While daylight is ideal, the next best option is a uniform light that lets you work without squinting and doesn’t cause glare on your monitor’s display.

Sitting with your back to the window isn’t the best idea unless you have curtains or shades. Similarly, avoid placing your desk in front of the window because having an intense backlight might make reading challenging.

What Are the Best Home Office Desk Placement Options?

As mentioned, finding a place free of distractions should be your priority. For example, your work can significantly slow down in a full household as things quickly get chaotic. A spare room is ideal for setting up an office, but the bedroom might be the next best option if you don’t have one.

Keeping office supplies and equipment within arms reach is also important, as it can influence your workflow. After all, placing your desk somewhere that makes you move around too much can be detrimental to your productivity. If you have to use your phone often, keep it close. Do you frequently use a printer in your home office desk design? Keep one nearby and have a steady supply of paper at hand.

It’s important to note that having a dedicated home office desk placement is essential for your mindset. Using your office for something other than working can affect your concentration. If you avoid doing that, you can get things done quickly and efficiently as you accustom your body to work the moment you sit down.

Nonetheless, it doesn’t matter whether you have a corner standing desk, a vintage table, or a folding desk. There is a place you can make them all work. Here are some options for the best home office desk layout:

Next to the Bed

Placing your home office desk next to the best can be significantly comfortable in some ways but distracting in others. In this position, the desk may also double as a nightstand if it’s close enough to the bed’s head.

This home office desk layout makes it easy to work or do anything else the moment you roll out of bed. However, it’s crucial to be mindful of two things, getting enough sleep and avoiding distractions. Having your desk next to the bed makes it enticing to get a quick nap, but it can quickly mess up your sleep cycles.

Pros of Placing Desk Next to the Bed

• It's comfortable and easy to access.
• The desk can double as a nightstand.

Cons of Placing Desk Next to the Bed

• It can be distracting and detrimental for unorganized people.

Opposite the Bed

It’s ideal to leave at least two feet of space around your bed’s sides and foot to make it easier to access. However, if you have some room to spare, you can consider placing your desk opposite the bed. After all, putting the desk against the wall opposite to it gives you many home office and desk decor opportunities.

Having a visually alluring home office desk design can make it easier to stay inspired, focused, and productive. You can hang framed artwork, use floating shelves, or place some indoor plants. The latter can be highly advantageous as many studies have found they can help prevent fatigue during focus-demanding tasks.

A murphy bed makes space even more trivial. Once your bed is in an upright position, your bedroom becomes a proper home office. Overall, keeping your desk opposite to one helps you create a natural division in your room without resorting to dividing curtains and screens to generate artificial spaces.

Pros of Placing Desk Opposite the Bed

• This home office desk placement divides your bedroom naturally.
• It's easy to decorate.

Cons of Placing Desk Opposite the Bed

• If you don't have enough space, it can feel constricting.

By the Window

A desk in front of the window can be a great home office desk design idea considering that sunlight can improve your well-being, reduce stress, and maintain your circadian rhythm. However, as previously mentioned, it can be distracting if your area sees plenty of pedestrian traffic. 

Fortunately, it becomes a non-issue if you live in an apartment high enough. Some might find the changing weather patterns distracting, but it’s probably the best home office desk placement if you don’t mind it.

Pros of Placing Desk By the Window

• It lets you enjoy plenty of natural light.
• It improves your mood and helps you maintain your internal clock.

Cons of Placing Desk By the Window

• This placement can be distracting for people living in heavily traversed areas.

Against the Wall

If you’re setting up your desk against the wall, consider placing it in a way you can face away from it as it lets you avoid feeling restrained. Also, avoid having your back facing the room entrance. Sitting throughout the day in such a position can give way to feelings of isolation. 

Regardless, you can get creative with this home office desk layout. For example, you can set up your desk against the wall to have a view of the rest of the room. It’s also an excellent position if multiple people need to work side-by-side as it is the one that makes the most efficient use of space.

Pros of Placing Desk Against the Wall

• Many home office desk layout ideas make the most out of this placement.
• It's ideal in cases where multiple people have to work next to each other.

Cons of Placing Desk Against the Wall

• Depending on where you put your desk, you might feel isolated.

Hidden Away in the Closet

This home office desk placement is more of a novel one, but it’s ideal for those who don’t have much space available. Depending on where the filing cabinet is, you may even be able to use your bed as a chair. Once you finish up your tasks for the day, you can take the desk out of the way and lay down quickly.

Pros of Placing Desk Hidden Away in the Closet

• It's incredibly efficient when it comes to space.
• It may let you use the bed as a chair, depending on where the closet is.

Cons of Placing Desk Hidden Away in the Closet

• You lose a storage option.
• It limits your decoration capabilities.

In the Corner

Home designers dislike placing desks in corners because Feng Shui principles recommend against it unless it’s in the southwest corner. However, most people don’t mind it as much. Keeping your desk in the corner does isolate you a bit, but it’s also the best position to minimize visual distractions. This desk placement is optimal for small L-shaped desks, which give you plenty of space to set up some plants and decorations to liven up the area a bit.

Pros of Placing Desk In the Corner

• This position makes it easy to focus on the task at hand.
• Corner desks make excellent use of the space.

Cons of Placing Desk In the Corner

• This home office desk layout might make you feel isolated.
• Feng Shui principles recommend against it, with some exceptions.

At an Angle

This home office desk layout is another that has many possibilities. After all, if you don’t restrict yourself to walls, corners, or windows, the desk setup ideas become endless. 

Having your desk at an angle that lets you see into another room or has a sight of the door can make you feel less isolated. Depending on how you place it, you can also make excellent use of artificial and natural lights while avoiding screen glare.

Pros of Placing Desk At an Angle

• This home office desk layout lets you get creative with its positioning.
• It makes you feel less isolated in most cases.

Cons of Placing Desk At an Angle

• Rooms that don't have much space can't use this home office desk layout.

The Bottom Line

There are many home office desk layout ideas and considerations. They mostly revolve around placing your desk where it feels more comfortable, has good lighting, and doesn’t have too many distractions. 

Every option has its ups and downs, and some might be better than others, depending on your desk size and room design. Regardless, you can create a space where you can comfortably work with these placements, so check them out and see which one is best for you.