Home office layout ideas
A good home office layout starts with two things: where the window is and where the door opens. Put the desk so daylight falls from the side, keep the chair zone clear, and fit everything else around that.
Start with the window
The best spot for a desk is usually at right angles to the window, so light comes from the side.
- Desk facing the window: nice view, but the bright window behind your screen makes it hard to see, and on video calls your face is lit well.
- Window behind you: glare on the screen and a dark face on video calls. Avoid it if you can.
- Window to the side: the usual best choice. OSHA's computer workstation guidance says to place the monitor at right angles (perpendicular) to the window.
Home office layout with a window
For a room about 10 x 10 ft with one window:
- Put a 60 x 30 in desk against the wall next to the window, so the window is on your left or right.
- Leave about 36 in behind the desk for the chair.
- Put shelves or a cabinet on the wall opposite the desk.
- Keep the path from the door to the chair clear.
Home office layout for 2 people
Two desks fit in a room about 11 x 10 ft or larger.
- Side by side on one wall: easiest for sharing a printer and cables. Needs a wall at least 10 ft long for two 60 in desks.
- Facing walls: each person faces their own wall, which cuts distraction on calls. Needs about 11 ft between the walls (two 30 in desks plus two 36 in chair zones).
- L-shape: one desk on each of two walls that meet at a corner. Good for a square room.
If you both take a lot of calls, face away from each other and add a rug and curtains to soften sound.
Home office layout with a standing desk
A sit-stand desk needs the same floor as a fixed desk, plus a little space for the frame and cables when it rises. Leave a few inches between the desk and any shelf or window sill above it, and make sure cables are long enough for the full height. See our desk setup guide for desk and monitor heights.
Home office layout with a couch or daybed
A couch or daybed lets the room double as a guest room or a reading spot.
- Put the couch against the wall opposite the desk, so it is out of the camera view on video calls.
- A typical three-seat couch is about 72 to 84 in wide and 32 to 38 in deep. Leave about 18 in in front for legs.
- A twin daybed takes a twin mattress, which is about 38 x 75 in, plus its frame.
- If the room is small, a daybed along the window wall keeps the desk wall free.
Standard home office size
There is no official size for a home office. As a rough guide:
| Room size | What fits |
|---|---|
| 6 x 6 ft (closet or nook) | One desk and chair, wall shelves |
| 8 x 10 ft | One desk, chair, a cabinet |
| 10 x 10 ft | One desk, storage, a small armchair |
| 11 x 12 ft or more | Two desks, or one desk and a couch |
These sizes are our own planning estimates based on common furniture sizes.
Quick checklist
- Desk at right angles to the window.
- At least 36 in behind the chair.
- A socket near the desk, so no cables cross the floor.
- A light for the wall behind your screen and a lamp for paper work. See office lighting.
- Plan it to scale first in the free office layout planner.
Frequently asked questions
Where should I put my desk in a home office?
Usually at right angles to the window, so daylight comes from the side. OSHA's workstation guidance recommends placing the monitor perpendicular to the window to cut glare.
How do you lay out a small home office?
Put the desk on the wall next to the window, leave 36 in for the chair, use the walls for shelves, and keep a clear path to the door.
Can two desks fit in a small home office?
Yes, in a room about 11 x 10 ft. Put them side by side on a 10 ft wall, or on facing walls if you want privacy on calls.
Should my desk face the wall or the room?
Facing a wall cuts distraction and keeps the room behind you on camera. Facing the room feels more open. Either works if the window is to the side.
What is a standard home office size?
There is no standard. About 10 x 10 ft fits a desk, storage and a chair comfortably; 6 x 6 ft is enough for a desk nook.
