• Contact us
  • About us
  • Digital edition
  • Online archive
Saturday, July 12, 2025
Cumberland and Westmorland Herald
  • News
    Councils ask for planned mayoral election to be postponed

    Councils ask for planned mayoral election to be postponed

    Leo Group owner completes epic cycling challenge for MND research

    Leo Group owner completes epic cycling challenge for MND research

    Support for Penrith Mountain Rescue Team after charity box stolen

    Support for Penrith Mountain Rescue Team after charity box stolen

    Inspiring Penrith teacher Dawn Coates retires after 26 years

    Inspiring Penrith teacher Dawn Coates retires after 26 years

    Use it or lose it: Urgent appeal for people to get on the bus

    Use it or lose it: Urgent appeal for people to get on the bus

    Penrith’s Enterprise Hub plans start to take shape

    Penrith’s Enterprise Hub plans start to take shape

    Nurturing Eden school praised by Ofsted

    Nurturing Eden school praised by Ofsted

    Inflation and the impact on savings

    Inflation and the impact on savings

    Celebrating Alston’s heritage heroes

    Celebrating Alston’s heritage heroes

  • Sport
    Success for fighting squad

    Success for fighting squad

    Penrith skipper Nicky Burns calls on team to keep winning

    Penrith skipper Nicky Burns calls on team to keep winning

    £100,000 target for new changing rooms extension

    £100,000 target for new changing rooms extension

    Medal success for Upper Eden tug-of-war team

    Medal success for Upper Eden tug-of-war team

    Eden man competes in Hyrox World Games

    Eden man competes in Hyrox World Games

    Double national triumph for Stuart Robinson

    Double national triumph for Stuart Robinson

    Patterdale’s Eden Eagles make history

    Patterdale’s Eden Eagles make history

    Penrith teen crowned British vault champion

    Penrith teen crowned British vault champion

    Penrith gymnasts represent North of England in finals

    Penrith gymnasts represent North of England in finals

  • Obituaries
  • Nostalgia
  • Online archive
  • Buy Photos
  • Buy your paper
  • North Lakes Living
No Result
View All Result
Cumberland and Westmorland Herald
  • News
    Councils ask for planned mayoral election to be postponed

    Councils ask for planned mayoral election to be postponed

    Leo Group owner completes epic cycling challenge for MND research

    Leo Group owner completes epic cycling challenge for MND research

    Support for Penrith Mountain Rescue Team after charity box stolen

    Support for Penrith Mountain Rescue Team after charity box stolen

    Inspiring Penrith teacher Dawn Coates retires after 26 years

    Inspiring Penrith teacher Dawn Coates retires after 26 years

    Use it or lose it: Urgent appeal for people to get on the bus

    Use it or lose it: Urgent appeal for people to get on the bus

    Penrith’s Enterprise Hub plans start to take shape

    Penrith’s Enterprise Hub plans start to take shape

    Nurturing Eden school praised by Ofsted

    Nurturing Eden school praised by Ofsted

    Inflation and the impact on savings

    Inflation and the impact on savings

    Celebrating Alston’s heritage heroes

    Celebrating Alston’s heritage heroes

  • Sport
    Success for fighting squad

    Success for fighting squad

    Penrith skipper Nicky Burns calls on team to keep winning

    Penrith skipper Nicky Burns calls on team to keep winning

    £100,000 target for new changing rooms extension

    £100,000 target for new changing rooms extension

    Medal success for Upper Eden tug-of-war team

    Medal success for Upper Eden tug-of-war team

    Eden man competes in Hyrox World Games

    Eden man competes in Hyrox World Games

    Double national triumph for Stuart Robinson

    Double national triumph for Stuart Robinson

    Patterdale’s Eden Eagles make history

    Patterdale’s Eden Eagles make history

    Penrith teen crowned British vault champion

    Penrith teen crowned British vault champion

    Penrith gymnasts represent North of England in finals

    Penrith gymnasts represent North of England in finals

  • Obituaries
  • Nostalgia
  • Online archive
  • Buy Photos
  • Buy your paper
  • North Lakes Living
No Result
View All Result
Cumberland and Westmorland Herald
No Result
View All Result
Home Property

Working from home

by CWH
6 January 2023
in Property
A A
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

There’s no denying that the changes to our work patterns in the last few months will have a major effect on the way we work going forward.

Many of us have been working in a makeshift ‘study’ (ie on the kitchen table).

Rightmove report that over a quarter of people who were not planning a move before lock-down are now entering the market – and unsurprisingly, a study is a priority on their wish list.

Both my other half and I have been working at home for a few months, writes Catherine Watson, of Bert & Wills, and with no dedicated room we can use as a study, we’re camped out in our kitchen/family room.

We recently agreed that we needed to get a better solution in place to redress this issue. We needed something that was temporary for him, but more permanent for me…and Ikea came to the rescue, although it was not without its challenges.

As a cost-effective solution, Ikea offer a great range. We opted for a central set of drawers, a 1.2m long worktop each and trestle legs in grey.

As Ikea had limited delivery slots we had to collect from Gateshead, which was fine, except the legs weren’t in stock. A second trip was needed last weekend. The cost was under £100 for the items (but arguably more with the two lots of travel!)

My top things to consider if you’re looking to set up a dedicated office space:

  • Choose the right room. Ideally this will be away from the hustle and bustle of the house or a busy outdoor road; try to avoid being close to a noisy kitchen and children’s play areas. We didn’t have a spare room so have incorporated the desks into our kitchen/family room.
  • Choose a comfy, ergonomic chair – provides lower back support, promotes good posture and helps alleviate back pain.
  • Figure out what you need for storage and shelving. Do you need space for a printer and drawers for suspension files?
  • Choose a room with natural light where possible, however when you’re working at night, or have no windows in your study, try to have a few lighting options such as ceiling lights, floor lights and lamps to suit the work you are doing. Do not have your screen facing direct sunlight.
  • Temperature – too hot in summer and too cold in winter doesn’t add to a great working environment. Open a window where possible and if not, get a fan to circulate the air. If it’s too cold, there are some good portable heaters on the market. If you get a heater that uses propane, ensure that you are always stocked up on fuel; providers like Discount Propane may be of help in this case.
  • Clean and tidy. Does what it says on the tin. A tidy office will help you to stay focused mentally and adds to a sense of calm.
  • Personalise the room. Add a picture you love, or a motivational statement that gets you fired up. If you hold meetings (see point 8) try not to over personalise your study with hundreds of family photos and the kids drawings!
  • Meetings – keep the room clean and tidy and not over cluttered; display your professionalism. If you have client meetings either in person (not that normal anymore) or online, no-one wants to see a chaotic room with paper everywhere and dirty coffee cups.

Related Posts

194 new homes for Penrith set to be given go-ahead
Property

194 new homes for Penrith set to be given go-ahead

17 March 2024
In pictures: Eden mansion on market for £3 million
Property

In pictures: Eden mansion on market for £3 million

15 March 2024
Eden farm on market for £1.15m – complete with red squirrels
Farm and Countryside

Eden farm on market for £1.15m – complete with red squirrels

11 March 2024
Shap Wells hotel could be yours for £2.95 million
Property

Shap Wells hotel could be yours for £2.95 million

14 March 2024
400-year-old Temple Sowerby pub on market for £350,000 is sold
News

400-year-old Temple Sowerby pub on market for £350,000 is sold

16 February 2024
Dockray’s Royal Hotel sold to new owners
Property

Dockray’s Royal Hotel sold to new owners

24 January 2024
No Result
View All Result

Stay connected

Facebook Twitter Instagram

Most popular

Success for fighting squad

Success for fighting squad

11 July 2025
Lake District mountain rescue volunteers called for missing man searching for lost phone

Lake District mountain rescue volunteers called for missing man searching for lost phone

7 July 2025
Use it or lose it: Urgent appeal for people to get on the bus

Use it or lose it: Urgent appeal for people to get on the bus

11 July 2025
Nurturing Eden school praised by Ofsted

Nurturing Eden school praised by Ofsted

11 July 2025
Looking back to 1986

Looking back to 1986

11 July 2025
Celebrating Alston’s heritage heroes

Celebrating Alston’s heritage heroes

11 July 2025
Cumberland and Westmorland Herald Logo

33 Middlegate
Penrith
Cumbria
CA11 7SY

Phone: 01768 862313
Email: news@cwherald.com

Registered in England as Barrnon Media Limited. No: 12475190
VAT registration number: 343486488

Explore

  • News
  • Sport
  • Farming
  • Property
  • Obituaries
  • Nostalgia
  • Your view

Useful links

  • Contact us
  • Photosales
  • Online archive
  • Buy your paper
  • Digital edition
  • North Lakes Living
  • Advertise
  • About us

Follow us on

© Barrnon Media Limited 2025

Terms & Conditions / Privacy Policy / Cookie Policy

This website and its associated newspaper are members of the Independent Press Standards Organisation
Review Your Cart
0
Discount
Add Coupon Code
Subtotal
Total Installment Payments
Bundle Discount
Checkout

 
0
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • News
  • Sport
  • Obituaries
  • Nostalgia
  • Online archive
  • more
    • North Lakes Living
    • Buy Photos
    • Buy your paper
    • About us
    • Contact us

© 2020 Cumberland & Westmorland Herald