Making your home office work: aesthetics and rituals with Lucy Feagins

Executive overview

Working from a dining table feels like a compromise — because it is. The challenge is creating psychological separation between work and home life when they share the same physical space.

Two levers matter most: ritual (setup and pack-down bookend the day) and aesthetics (your environment signals your mindset). Ergonomics is the non-negotiable baseline; joy is what makes it sustainable.

The environment you create at home is now your professional presentation — treat it accordingly.

The setup and pack-down ritual

• Unpacking your workstation each morning acts as a cue to shift into work mode
• Packing it down signals the end of the workday and the start of home life
• Keep the ritual fast: store everything except a large monitor in one designated crate or box
• A crate from a homewares store works; the key is one box, one purpose

Matching your work setup at home

• Replicate what you use at the office — don't compromise on screen size or peripherals
• An ergonomic chair is boring but essential; sitting on a bad chair all day compounds fast
• IKEA has solid ergonomic chair options at accessible prices
• Vintage Eames desk chairs offer quality ergonomics without the new-price premium
• Steelcase is worth exploring for those willing to spend more

Bringing in natural light

• Orient your desk to capture window light where possible
• A full-length mirror placed opposite or beside the window reflects light and views into your sightline
• If you sit with your back to the window, position the mirror in front so you catch the view behind you
• Natural light shifts throughout the day — use it to mark the passage of time

Supplementing with artificial light

• Overhead downlights are the harshest option; avoid relying on them alone
• Add one or two lamps (desk, floor, or table) to layer light sources and control mood
• Multiple light sources let you adjust warmth and intensity as the day progresses
• Philips Hue strips along a windowsill can simulate a more natural light gradient
• For beautiful lamp options: Cult, HAY, and Good Company (Melbourne); look for paper or fabric shades for diffused, soft light — Gubia lamps are a recommended example

Adding joy and personalising the space

• Fresh flowers on the desk — even weekly — make a noticeable difference
• A painting or artwork on the wall behind you serves double duty: personal joy and Zoom backdrop
• Plants or objects you love, positioned in your sightline, help sustain energy across the day
• Your backdrop in video calls is now part of how you present professionally — curate it deliberately
• Don't only think about what's in front of you; think about what others see behind you