Should You Place Your Desk In Front Of A Window?

You’ve finally convinced your boss to let you WFH. Now you can spend your Fridays and Mondays pretending to work.

And if you’re like most people, you’re about to convert your spare (read: small) room into a home office. If you’re smart, you’ll get the best standing desk you can afford – and a top-notch ergonomic chair.

But then you have the next problem – how to arrange them in your room?

Broadly, you have two choices – in front of a window or perpendicular to a wall. Each has its own pros and cons.

I’ve worked from home (and from various Digital Nomad-esque locations around the world) for the past 15 years, so I know a thing or two about getting this right.

1. One Person In Front Of A Window.

The classic setup. One most people default to.

It works best if you have a bright, large monitor that can offset the abundance of light coming from the window. Otherwise, you’ll end up with a contrast problem, unable to see your monitor.

However, this setup is poor feng shui. According to practitioners, you should never sit with your back towards the door – because it will make you feel vulnerable.

And feeling vulnerable means you’ll lose money.

Benefit: You look great on videoconferencing calls, and your nervous system appreciates the abundance of light.

Trade-Off: Doesn’t work well when your window faces directly east or west (you’ll get smashed by morning or evening sun). Creates a visually unexciting and unadventurous office. Poor feng shui.

2. One Person Perpendicular To The Window.

I dislike this setup even more than the first one – because I don’t like staring at a wall all day. It makes me feel like a jailbird.

Moreover, I do a lot of video recording, and the cross-lighting unavoidable in this setup creates a harsh perpendicular shadow across my face that makes me look like Two-Face on video.

But if your window faces directly east or west, this may be your only option.

Benefit: You avoid direct sun. You could also become more productive – if you tend to daydream or stare out the window. If your window is on the broad (long) side of the room, you’ll have more usable space behind your chair (e.g., for a couch).

Trade-Off: Cross-lighting can make you look nasty on camera. The empty white wall in front of you can make you feel claustrophobic.

3. One Person In Boss Mode.

One of my favourite setups. Strong feng shui, doesn’t make you stare into a white wall, and lends itself well to creating visually interesting interior layouts.

Yes, the cross-light issue remains, but because the window is more likely to be directly to your side and to the front, the shadows across your face are softer.

Benefit: Your home office doesn’t look boring. You also get to show off the front angle of your office chair – which is usually its best.

Trade-Off: None.

4. Two People In Front Of A Window.

Sharing your home office with your wife or husband? You’re most likely to default to this setup. It has the same pros and cons as the one-person setup in front of the window.

Benefit: See above.

Trade-Off: See above. Plus, you’re likely to distract each other.

5. Two People In Boss Mode.

The best setup for a couple sharing a home office. I recommend you place two standing desks next to each other to create an island in the middle of the room.

“But my office is too small!”, I hear you say.

There is a workaround. I discovered it while living with my wife in a 95-square-meter Bondi flat.

The key is to cut down the desks’ depth (or to order a custom-made one. Most standing desks come with a 150x75cm desktop. If you cut it down to 150x60cm, you’ll end up with a 300x120cm island that will work well in small home offices.

Benefit: Excellent aesthetic, optimal productivity.

Trade-Off: Not much space left in the room for anything else.

Steven