8 tips for creating an outdoor office at home

With the sun shining and temperatures starting to climb, why stay cooped up inside all day? Whether you have a pint-sized balcony or a sprawling backyard, moving your at-home office outside offers a welcome change of scenery that’s good for your physical and mental health.

[Photo Credit: alexbrylovhk]

Here are eight tips to help you create a comfortable, functional, and weather-proof outdoor office at home.

1. Set up a workstation
An open-air office calls for outdoor furniture that’s both comfortable and practical. Muskoka chairs and hammocks might be great for weekends, but your posture is sure to suffer over the course of a workday. Set up a workspace with a sturdy wooden or metal table that won’t rust over time and an ergonomic chair with supportive seat cushions (including a lumbar pillow) in weatherproof fabrics that will stand up to dirt, water, and sun exposure.

2. Add some shade
Hours in the direct sun aren’t good for your skin, or your computer equipment. Hot temperatures can drain the battery life of your devices and may lead to overheating and long-term damage. Use curtains, an oversized umbrella, or awnings to create some privacy and provide much-needed shade to protect you and your tech from the sun’s harsh rays.

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3. Power up your tech
Whether you’re working on a tablet, laptop, or with multiple monitors, your outdoor office needs a power source to keep your electronics charged and ready for whatever your workday throws at you. If possible, locate your alfresco workstation close to an outdoor outlet. Alternatively, run an exterior extension cord or purchase a portable power station that you can use to juice up throughout the day.

4. Reduce the glare
Computer screens can be hard on the eyes and are especially challenging to see in a sunny setting. Squinting at an overexposed screen for hours on end can lead to eyestrain and headaches – not to mention wrinkles! Protect your peepers by investing in an anti-glare cover for your laptop screen or computer monitor, which can help significantly reduce the glare.

5. Give your Wi-Fi a boost
Depending on the location of your Internet router, your outdoor wireless signal might not be reliable or strong enough to support video streaming and conference calls. If your backyard is a bit out-of-reach, give your bandwidth a boost with a Wi-Fi range extender or a mesh networking system.

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6. Keep the bugs at bay
Working in the great outdoors means sharing your workspace with flies, ants, mosquitos, wasps and other annoying insects. Ward off unwelcome co-workers with citronella candles or mosquito coils and use a desk fan to create airflow that’ll keep pests at bay. If your outdoor space if particularly buggy, consider screening in your workstation with mosquito netting.

7. Decorate your workspace
Decorative accessories can define your open-air office and make it feel like an extension of your indoor living space. An outdoor rug, lanterns, vibrant throw pillows, and colourful hanging flower baskets will create a welcoming environment and make a beautiful backdrop for your video calls.

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8. Build a permanent outdoor office

If you’re going to be working remotely for the foreseeable future, consider investing in a prefabricated office shed or weatherproof pod for your backyard. These innovative, eco-friendly structures can be customized to suit your needs and provide homeowners with a compact and convenient indoor-outdoor workspace to use for the long term.