Many of us waved goodbye to the office more than a year ago now and have been working from home ever since. However, for a lot of us that initially meant working from dining room tables alongside family members or sitting on the sofa, trying to find a moment's peace to concentrate.

Now, a new normal is in sight. But, as offices start to open up again, we aren’t all rushing back to our desks. Why? Because many have actually enjoyed the perks that come with working from home.

Not only do we not have the commute, but we also get to spend more time with our family. According to a survey by Legal & General, almost three-quarters of parents said they'd like to continue working from home and get some of the benefits of being a stay-at-home parent without giving up their career to do it.

But, with employees now planning to work from home either part or full-time, if you haven’t already, you need to make some changes to your WFH set-up because you can’t work from the sofa indefinitely.

So, with that in mind, here are 5 tips to help you create the perfect space for working from home:

Tip 1: Purchase a desk to fit the space

No matter how small your space is, desks come in all shapes and sizes, so you are sure to find one that will slot in perfectly. Firstly, it’s no good for you to be hunching over your laptop but also, this means you have a space where you work so that you can separate it from your home life.

If this is a room you can shut the door on – even better! But, if not, make sure you put everything away at the end of the day and especially on Friday night. Of course, you need a comfortable chair to go with that too.

Tip 2: Fill the space with plants

Plants have so many benefits – not only do they brighten the space up but according to Healthline, they also:

• Reduce stress and anxiety
• Sharpen your attention
• Boost your productivity and creativity
• Spark creativity
• Improve the air quality

Tip 3: Ensure there's plenty of light

As humans, we thrive in the light – much like our plant friends – so it's important your workspace has this as well. Try to set up in a well-lit room with plenty of natural light and if this isn't possible, consider buying a daylight lamp. These are also great for the winter months when the mornings start later and the nights draw in earlier.
Tip 4: Invest in sound-blocking headphones

If you need to focus but can't quite block out the noise of your neighbour who's decided to do DIY on a Wednesday afternoon or of someone's dog barking then noise-cancelling headphones are a great investment. Pick up a set with a microphone and you're sorted for meetings too where you can hear everything clearly and get your point across easily.

Tip 5: Check your screen is the right height

It's easy to strain your neck when working at a desk all day so ensure your monitor is placed at eye level. This may mean placing it on a stack of books or a riser to raise it up to where it needs to be. If you're working on a laptop, you may need to invest (or ask your workplace to send you) a mouse and keyboard that can be used on the desk.

Ready to make the most of working from home? These five tips will ensure you can work comfortably and productively until you can start getting back into the office.