How to Set Up an Office in Your Garden or Backyard

Jun 8, 2020

Working from home? Here's how you can top up your daily dose of vitamin D, get close to nature, escape from the rest of the family, and get all your work done all at the same time.

One of the many perks of working from home is having the freedom to work outdoors.

That is, if you have the outdoor space and the weather that allows you to do so.

Nevertheless, here are some things to consider when setting up an office in your garden or backyard.

Extend your WiFi

Of course, it goes without saying that it's important to stay connected whilst you're working.

Business tools such as Horizon Collaborate and Microsoft Teams can really help with this.

But you may also need to keep an eye on your home WiFi and whether it reaches your outdoor space.

One solution is a simple WiFi extender, which takes the signal from your main router and passes it on to a wider area. You’ll usually lose some speed as this happens, but it should be enough for standard online work like web browsing and checking emails.

 

Stay powered up

It's vital you stay up and running at all times, especially if you have people (like your boss!) checking up on you from time to time.

If you’re buying a new laptop to take outside, prioritise battery life: low-powered processors and small screens are in, discrete graphics and huge hard drives are out.

There are also portable battery packs (just like you may have for your smartphone!) available to charge up your laptop.

 

Get the right office equipment

Dragging your full-sized office desk outdoors may not be the most practical idea.

It may be a good idea to consider equipment such as a comfortable chair and table to use while working from your garden or backyard.

If you’re not using a table, get a sturdy and reliable laptop desk that keeps your body well positioned and your posture as straight as it should be.

Your laptop desk may also have room for your phone and mouse.

 

Stay alert

While being out in your garden may be great, it's also important to be aware of what's going on inside your home.

A video doorbell will ensure you don't miss deliveries.

The likes of Google, Ring, and Arlo offer indoor and outdoor security cameras for keeping an eye on any room or any of your pets or kids while you’re outside.

 

Work late

Summer evenings are beautiful and brilliant for working outdoors.

Why not add some smart lighting or music to help you enjoy your time working?

Yes, you're working from home. And yes, it's not always fun. But it's not a prison sentence, and so it's important to keep smiling and carry one!

 

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