Natalie Marshall—more widely known as Corporate Natalie—is famous for her comedic social videos that highlight the nuances of working in corporate America. She became a household name during the pandemic, as viewers resonated with her videos about adjusting to work-from-home life.

And while many of us are back in the office (at least some of the time), the WFH lifestyle isn’t going anywhere anytime soon. Natalie, who currently works from an office space in her bedroom, has become a pro at balancing it all, and now, she’s sharing her best home office tips with us. Whether you work from home full-time or a few days a week, Natalie’s advice can help you create an efficient (and tidy!) workspace in your home.

Choose The Right Spot

You don’t need to have a spacious room or dedicated home office space to create a functional work environment. Natalie—who routinely works from a corner in her bedroom—explains that size doesn’t really matter, as long as you can carve out a space that works for you. “You can create a home office nook anywhere in the house,” she says. “From corners and closets to nooks and rooms, don’t overlook spaces like the guest bedroom, attic, basement, or even the area under the stairs.”

Her top tip? Finding somewhere that’s free from distractions.

“I know it can be tricky to find the space, but as you’re thinking where you want to set-up shop, as much as you can I think it’s important to pick a spot away from distractions like the TV, roommates, kids, spouses, or whoever else you may be working from home with,” she says. “If you can, I also recommend a spot where you’ll have natural light. If you don’t have a space near a window, you can always consider purchasing a floor or table lamp. I currently live in the basement of my house, so I have quite a few ring lights!”

Prioritize Your Background

Wherever you set up shop, be sure to consider the space directly behind you—especially if you take a lot of video calls. “No one is going to know if your home desk is in the laundry room or under the stairs if you have a nice background,” Natalie says. “Think about an accent wall or some shelves or even a nice framed photo. You can also display items that reflect your personality or interests, such as books, photos, plants, or artwork—anything that represents you—and that can even help spark conversation at the beginning of calls.”

Stay Connected

Of course, functionality is just as important as aesthetics. When you’re designing a home office, whether it’s a tiny nook or full room, consider access to internet and outlets. “Nothing is worse than having poor internet connection while you’re on a video call,” Natalie says. “When you’re setting up a work space at home, test a couple of video calls to make sure the video and sound are working efficiently from that spot.”

Natalie says the ideal spot for your desk is next to an outlet—but you can make do with extension cords too, as long as you have access to a power source while you work. “Besides Wi-Fi connection, make sure your desk is near an outlet to ensure you can keep your computer charged throughout the day,” she says. “I also keep a phone charger and lamp plugged into the extension cord by my home desk.”

Stay Focused by Planning Breaks

When you’re working from home, it’s easy to get distracted by laundry, dishes, and things that need to be done around the house. Natalie says the key to staying on-task while working at home is having a solid plan for your day—and building in snack or lunch breaks to keep you sharp and focused.

“I always look at my calendar the night before and make sure I have a few breaks built in,” she says. “I try to get away from my desk for my lunch break, but I do frequently end up multi-tasking and having the infamous ‘sad desk lunch,’ which I don’t actually really mind.”

Planning ahead for breaks will make you less likely to get distracted by chores or tasks around the house, making you more productive during work time.

Add Functional Elements

Office supplies are a must for any home work space, but when you aren’t working in an actual office, these items can turn into clutter pretty quickly. Natalie suggests finding an organizational system that works for you, so your desk space remains as tidy as possible throughout the day. “I have an awesome organizer that helps me organize everything from chargers to pens and notebooks,” she says. “Knowing that everything is in its dedicated space saves me time and cuts down on the chaos when I’m really busy.”
She also recommends keeping a small speaker or music player on your desk. “Good tunes are a must when it comes to getting your work done,” she says. Whether you prefer soft instrumental music or loud pop tunes, you can create an environment that helps you focus best.

Make Space for Lunch

For some, working from home means a relaxing lunch break at the dining room table. But a recent consumer survey by the sustainably grown lettuce brand Little Leaf Farms showed that 76% of workers are consistently eating lunch at their desk—and despite all the sad desk lunch memes floating around the internet, 68% say they actually prefer it.

If the lunch hour is your designated email catch-up time, be sure to create space on your desk for your lunch without sacrificing the work essentials, like your keyboard, monitor, and planner.

“Being in the corporate world usually means running from one thing to the next all day long, so I try to choose a better-for-you lunch that keeps me going. I like having something convenient like Little Leaf Farms Salad Kits on hand because they taste great, come with all the ingredients you need, and stay fresh much longer than other salad kits,” Natalie says. “Little Leaf Farms also has a fun, limited-edition Happy Desk Salad Kit up for grabs for anyone wanting to spruce up their desk lunch!”

Corporate Natalie’s Top Tips for A Functional Home Office by Emily VanSchmus | Better Homes & Gardens