Simple Home Office Ideas for Online Teachers

If you’re an online teacher with a home office where you can sit down and focus, half of your job is already done. But is your home set-up truly pulling its weight during your working day? 

These are a few simple ideas to consider that prioritize organization, comfort, and efficiency to make sure your home office always means business. 

Creating the right space

Online teachers need as few distractions as possible. That means your space should ideally have a door you can close to pets, family members, or housemates. While your commute is far shorter than most, you still need to establish some form of separation between your home and work life. 

In addition to this, good lighting is a must. You’ll want to avoid glare on your screen, so think about whether you have enough natural light in the day to do the trick, and if you’ll need to invest in desk or floor lamps. 

You shouldn’t forget your background, either. This is what your students will be seeing every lesson. For young students, that could involve creating something engaging and colorful to pop on the wall behind you. Adults, meanwhile, may prefer something neutral, professional, and clutter-free. 

Choosing the right furniture 

While a bad workman blames his tools, a good online teacher knows the value of having high-quality furniture in their home office. Ergonomic risk factors for remote workers are very real, but they can be easily addressed with a few adjustments to your working space. 

Your desk is your first port of call. If you have the space and the budget, an adjustable standing desk could be a good solution. Not only can they help improve your posture, but they can reduce the strain on your neck, shoulders, and back. For smaller office spaces, a standard computer desk is also fine, but remember to take breaks to move around. 

Next should be your chair. Aim for one with adjustable seat height, as well as neck support and armrests. Remember that the top of your monitor should be at eye level, so if you can’t achieve that with your desk, you can do so with your choice of desk chair or other accessories such as monitor stands. 

Essential technology 

In case you are planning to teach languages, among the classic tips for teaching English online, you need to have a stable and strong internet connection. Your lessons depend on it, so make sure you choose a reliable provider and the connection reaches your home office. It’s also good to have a backup solution if there are any service disruptions, such as being able to use your phone’s hotspot. 

Do some research too on the best laptop or desktop for the job. If you need to run many different applications simultaneously, you may need to splash out on a newer model that will be up to the task. 

Don’t forget your headphones, either. Your audio quality should be excellent for your lessons, which can be accomplished by acquiring a headset with a microphone attached or high-quality headphones from trusted brands. 

Organization tips 

A tidy room equals a tidy mind, so keep your workspace as clutter-free as possible. To do that make packing away what you’ve used during your working day your final task once you’ve finished teaching. This will help you establish a routine that allows you to enter your home office every morning, ready to work. 

As an online worker, it can be easy for the various technologies you utilize to pile up on or around your desk. To avoid creating a tangled mess of cables, ensure everything has its place. For example, you could purchase headphone stands, a charging station, and even cable ties. 

Where practical day-to-day organization is concerned, an erasable to-do list for your wall is another great idea. This can help you stay on top of the other tasks you need to do as a teacher beyond running your lessons, such as planning your lessons, marking homework, and responding to emails. 

Give that extra touch 

Soundproofing your home office is an extra step you can take that will be much appreciated by your students – and no, it doesn’t have to break the bank. By furnishing your space with rugs and curtains you can help limit the possibility of any noisy interruptions such as doorbells or passing sirens outside. 

You may want to make sure your space is equipped for every season too, which means having fans or heaters to keep the room at a good temperature while you teach. The more comfortable you feel, the better you’ll be able to focus during your lessons. 

It’s equally important to be prepared for any unexpected disruptions that could arise at home, such as needing repair work done or choosing to redecorate your office. In this case, you should get familiar with the different virtual backgrounds you could use to prevent your students from getting distracted. 

Budget-friendly tips 

Don’t let cost stand in the way of creating a functional home office. There’s no reason why the furniture you have in other parts of your home, like dining room chairs, can’t be repurposed for use during your working day. So long as it’s comfortable for long bouts of sitting, you’re good to go.

Additionally, you can opt to thrift. Check out online marketplaces, as well as second-hand shops to find affordable furniture and accessories that will help kit out your working space so you’re ready to teach in no time.  

If you’re feeling extra creative, and have some spare time on your hands, you could even consider upcycling or revamping some older furniture, like a worse-for-wear desk, to get it back into working action. 

Ultimately, your home office doesn’t have to cost the earth. There are a lot of simple ways to guarantee your comfort and maintain your professional reputation as an online teacher. All it takes is a little thought and some creativity. 

For more ideas, check out Kukun’s blog on home improvement resolutions for 2024.

Read more: Make your student apartment feel like home

Written by Billy Guteng. August 21, 2024

Billy is a content writer for Kukun. He was born in France, and has lived in multiple cities around the world ever since. He loves art, design and architecture as well as construction and real estate.