Choosing the right spot for your office desk is more important than you might think! The right spot can improve the flow of your working day, and even help to make you more productive. The trouble is that opinion is often divided over the best spot to place an office desk. Should it go against a wall? Or should it go in the centre of the room, facing the door?
One option that has become increasingly popular in recent years is to place an office desk directly in front of the window. But is this actually a good idea? Are there actually any benefits to keeping an office desk in front of a window?
In this guide, the Reliant tech experts are going to take you through some of the key pros and cons of keeping your office desk in front of the window. To find out if it’s an option you should seriously consider!
What Are The Pros And Cons Of Having Your Office Desk In Front Of A Window?
Pros
Improved Mood And Productivity
Exposure to sunlight is directly linked to the release of serotonin in the brain. This important hormone is known to vastly improve an individual’s mood. As such, placing your office desk in front of the window can result in plenty of serotonin release during the day.
When your office desk is placed in front of the window, it’s much easier for sunlight to reach you. Sunlight exposure is linked to increased serotonin, which is a hormone that improves your mood!
A greater mood at work is beneficial for a number of reasons. Most importantly, a greater mood keeps you motivated throughout the day, which increases your productivity massively. If you often work from home, then getting plenty of sunlight is crucial. It keeps your mood up, and it also helps you to wake up!
Improved Creativity And Problem-Solving
An improved mood can also be linked to greater creativity and problem-solving. This means that keeping your office desk in front of the window can be very beneficial if you’re often engaged in tricky and challenging work.
If you have a career that involves a great degree of creativity, then having a view into the outside world during the working day can keep you inspired. For instance, if you are an artist, then you can place your office desk in front of the window and find inspiration from nature by just looking out of it!
Keeps You Focused
Serotonin is also known to bring a sense of calm to the mind. When your mind is kept calm, and free of the day’s worries, it’s much easier to stay focused. If you often find yourself distracted or stressed out during the working day, then access to sunlight could help to keep you calm and collected throughout the day.
Gives Your Eyes A Break
If you spend countless hours in front of the computer as part of your work, then you’ll understand just how important it is to give your eyes a break. When your office desk is placed just in front of the window, it’s much easier to turn your head and give your eyes a quick break.
Watching passersby go about their day, or watching birds flying around the trees can do wonders for your mood, and allow you to take a quick break that isn’t too stimulating for the brain!
To help alleviate symptoms of eye strain, it can help to focus your eyes on distant objects. With your office desk in front of the window, this becomes totally effortless!
It’s also worth noting that many of us tend to sit very close to our computer screens while working. Keeping the eyes focused on an up-close object for such extended periods quickly leads to eye strain. Focusing on distant objects is known to relax the eyes and prevent strain. So, being able to look out of the window at any time is highly beneficial.
Cons
Security Concerns
If you live close to a busy footpath, then you may want to consider how much privacy you have. If passersby can easily look into your office via the window, then placing your office desk just in front of it may not be the best option.
It’s worth installing blinds or curtains that block anyone from looking in, if you do live near a busy area.
Screen Glare
While we did mention that exposure to sunlight is beneficial, too much can simply be an annoyance. Especially on those incredibly bright summer days! If there’s too much sunlight, it can actually make it incredibly difficult to even see your computer screen.
To compete with all of the sunlight pouring through the windows, you’d need to up the brightness on the screen. Over time, this will simply lead to more eye strain. Leaving you with a nasty headache at the end of the day!
Increased Temperature
Long-term exposure to sunlight can also carry a risk of overheating! Overheating puts you at risk of further complications, such as heat exhaustion or heat stroke. All of which will impact your productivity and your sense of flow. If you live in an area where sunlight is often very harsh, then keeping your office desk right in front of the window is simply unviable.
And don’t forget the impact that higher temperatures can have on your electronics. When sunlight is constantly beaming on the back of your computer screen, it can very quickly cause it to heat up. This makes it very difficult for the device to keep itself cool and thus puts its longevity at risk. If you want your devices to last, you’ll want to make sure they’re kept safe from excess sunlight!
Potential Distraction
Depending on where you live, you might find that having the outside world in your peripheral vision leads to you getting distracted! For instance, if you live in a busy area, where there’s always plenty of activity going on outside the home, then the likelihood of you being distracted goes up exponentially!
If you plan to place your office desk in front of the window, then you should be sure to consider the usual level of activity outside of the home!
Should You Put Your Office Desk In Front Of A Window?
The answer to this will ultimately depend on the conditions outside of your window. If you live in a quiet area, then having your office desk in front of the window is a great idea. Especially if the window faces your garden. Watching birds fly by and the trees slightly sway in the breeze can keep your mind calm and clear.
If you live in an incredibly busy area, and there’s often plenty of activity just outside of your window, then it’s best to position your office desk elsewhere. This doesn’t mean that you have to miss out on the sunlight from the window, however! With the right positioning, you can still allow sunlight from your window to enter the space without causing you any distractions.
Before you place your office desk in front of the window, be sure to consider what’s outside of it. If you live on a busy road, or there’s often harsh sunlight, then you’re better off working from elsewhere!
Make sure to consider the usual weather conditions outside your window. For instance, if sunlight is particularly harsh, especially during the summer, then you won’t want to place your office desk in front of the window. Harsh sunlight can prove detrimental not only to your health but to the health of your devices. Overheating can lead to heatstroke, and can lead to your electronic devices being damaged!
Frequently Asked Questions
What Are The Pros And Cons Of Having Your Office Desk In Front Of A Window?
Depending on the conditions outside of your window, having your desk positioned just in front of it can bring certain benefits or drawbacks. Exposure to sunlight helps to increase your mood and boost productivity. However, you should make sure that you’re not leaving yourself exposed to harsh sunlight. This will lead to heat exhaustion that saps your productivity! Make sure there also aren’t too many distractions outside the window!
Should An Office Have A Window?
A window can be incredibly beneficial in an office. While not totally necessary, allowing plenty of daylight into the working environment helps to boost your mood. When your mood is improved, so too is your focus and productivity. Opening the window can also help to keep you cool during the warmer summer months!
