Whether you’re working from home or trying to find a new job, there can be benefits to having a home office.

By having a home office, you can increase productivity. Nicholas Bloom, Eberle Professor in the Department of Economics at Stanford University, gave a Ted Talk on whether remote workers are more productive. From his research, he found that remote workers made 13.5% more calls than in-office employees, which is the equivalent of almost a full extra day’s worth of work in a given week.

Working from home can help prevent the spread of diseases because you will not be in close proximity to your coworkers. If you are working from home, you will spend less time driving to and from work every day and be able to save money on gas.

Once organized, the garage can provide the perfect space for a home office. Here are a few tips to get you started on your garage to home office transformation.

Declutter

Like most homes in America, your garage is probably cluttered and the garage is the last place you would think to put a home office. To merge these two rooms, you will need to declutter and organize your garage. Go through the items stashed in your garage and decide what should be kept, thrown away or donated. Then organize what you have left by categories like auto, sports, yard tools and outdoor toys.

With effective garage storage solutions such as garage shelving, cabinets and overhead storage you can optimize your garage storage.

Now comes the fun part of actually setting up your home office.

Home Office Essentials

When you think of a typical home office, the basics like a desk, chair and computer probably come to mind. Of course, we will cover tips for getting the perfect desk and chair, but that’s just the beginning of creating a comfortable work environment. We will also cover other important home office aspects such as storage, organization, temperature and lighting.

Desk & Chair

If you’re going to sit for several hours a day, you’ll want it to be as enjoyable as possible. Your desk should have enough room for all of your office supplies: a laptop or computer, keyboard, mouse, headphones, sticky notes, pens, etc. Desks with a little more depth can make organizing easier and more convenient. Corner desks can also provide a great solution if you don’t have a lot of space.

Investing in a sturdy office chair will be a game-changer. A chair should have a good backrest, head support and adjustable armrests. Your chair should be at a height so your feet are flat on the floor and your knees are at about a 90-degree angle. Amazon has a great selection of office chairs to maximize comfort.

Storage & Organization

Staying organized in your home office will help you stay more productive and be less stressed. Based on your work needs, the drawers or cabinets in your desk may not be enough. A bookcase can be a good place to store extra books and binders, and cabinets can provide great storage for extra office supplies.

A filing cabinet can organize documents and keep them safe and protected. Finally, don’t forget to double-check your surroundings to make sure they are clean and not distracting, especially during video calls.

Temperature & Lighting

It can get pretty warm in the garage so working there may feel more like you’re working in a sauna instead of another part of the house. Consider adding a fan or AC unit to keep it cool. If there is a window in your garage, consider opening it to create airflow. If you live in a cooler climate, you can add a portable heater to warm up the space or install insulation to the garage walls. Learn how to add insulation to the garage walls here.

Windows can also create a great source of natural light. If more lighting is required, add a lamp. A lamp can be placed near a spot with a power outlet and an extension cord can be used to plug in your electronics.

If you don’t have an outlet or a window, no problem! Simply use a battery-powered stick-on light. These lights are easy to operate and produce light without the need for electricity. Some have built-in magnets that can stick to any metal surface, while others just need double-sided tape to stick to any surface. Most of these battery-powered lights turn on by pressing the lens.

You can customize your home office space by painting the garage walls, adding decorations or hanging artwork on the walls. Customizing your office space will create a work environment that will leave a clean looking background for Zoom meetings. Impress your boss with increased productivity while working from home and follow these tips to help you create the most ergonomic home office in your garage.