Working from home has become the norm for many of us, and having a well-organised home office is no longer just a luxury — it’s essential. But no matter how ergonomic your chair or how large your monitor, one thing can completely derail your productivity: slow or unstable internet.
Choppy Zoom calls, delayed uploads, and buffering files can make even the most well-intentioned workday feel impossible. Fortunately, with a bit of planning, you can set up a home office that’s not just comfortable but also fully optimised for internet speed and stability.
One of the first things to consider is the type of connection you have. If you’re relying on an outdated or congested network, even the most powerful laptop won’t save you. Ideally, you want to connect to fiber internet, which offers faster speeds, better upload performance, and more consistent reliability — especially important when multiple people are online at home.
But even if fiber isn’t available in your area yet, there are still plenty of steps you can take to ensure your internet setup supports a productive and hassle-free workday.
Choose the Right Spot for Your Office
Your home office’s physical location plays a big role in your internet speed. If possible, avoid setting up in rooms furthest from your router — especially if there are thick walls or large appliances in between.
Tips for ideal placement:
- Choose a room close to your modem or router to maximise Wi-Fi signal strength.
- Avoid basements or garages unless they’re already well-connected.
- If you have no choice but to work far from the router, consider running a long Ethernet cable or investing in a mesh Wi-Fi system to extend coverage.
Even the most beautiful home office won’t be much help if it’s stuck in a Wi-Fi dead zone.
Use a Wired Connection When Possible
Nothing beats the speed and stability of a wired Ethernet connection. While Wi-Fi is convenient, it’s prone to interference and speed drops — especially when you’re on important video calls or transferring large files.
Why Ethernet matters:
- Lower latency (better for video calls, screen sharing, and cloud-based apps)
- Consistent speeds, regardless of where you are in the house
- No interruptions from other devices competing for Wi-Fi
If your laptop doesn’t have an Ethernet port, a USB-to-Ethernet adapter is an affordable and easy solution. For a clean setup, use cable clips or a cord cover to keep wires tidy along the wall or under the desk.
Upgrade Your Router (It Might Be the Bottleneck)
Many people invest in great internet plans but overlook the role their router plays in delivering that speed. An old or basic router can slow everything down, especially during peak usage times.
What to look for in a router:
- Dual-band or tri-band support (2.4GHz and 5GHz for better performance)
- Wi-Fi 6 or Wi-Fi 6E compatibility (ideal for newer devices and busy homes)
- Strong coverage area (match it to the size of your home)
- Quality of Service (QoS) features that let you prioritise work-related traffic over background devices
Place your router in an open area, away from walls and metal objects, and at least one metre off the ground for best performance.
Mesh Wi-Fi for Larger or Multi-Level Homes
If you’ve got a large home, or if your office is tucked away in a far corner, a single router may not be enough. This is where a mesh Wi-Fi system can shine. These systems use multiple nodes placed throughout your home to blanket the area in consistent, strong signal.
Mesh systems automatically route your device through the strongest point as you move around, and they typically avoid the speed loss that happens with cheap range extenders.
Popular systems like Google Nest Wi-Fi, TP-Link Deco, and Netgear Orbi are easy to set up and often include mobile apps to help manage your network.
Prioritise Your Work Devices on the Network
If your kids are streaming, your partner’s on back-to-back video meetings, and your smart TV is updating in the background, you’re going to feel the strain. Modern routers often come with device prioritisation features or QoS settings that let you tell your network what matters most.
Set your work laptop or desktop as the priority device during business hours, so Zoom calls or file uploads aren’t interrupted by someone watching YouTube in the next room.
You can usually configure this through your router’s app or admin dashboard — it takes just a few minutes and makes a huge difference.
Control Bandwidth-Heavy Apps
Even on a good connection, certain apps and background processes can quietly hog bandwidth. This can lead to stuttering calls and slow loading times, especially if you’re on a connection with limited upload speeds.
Common culprits:
- Cloud backup apps (Google Drive, OneDrive, Dropbox)
- Software updates
- Video conferencing tools syncing or uploading recordings
- File-sharing programs or VPNs
Check your device’s task manager or activity monitor to see what’s running, and consider pausing non-essential apps during the workday.
Consider a Backup Plan for Outages
Even the best internet connections can fail occasionally. Whether it’s a planned outage or an unexpected issue, having a backup plan can save your workday.
Backup internet options:
- Mobile hotspot from your phone (ensure your data plan supports it)
- 4G or 5G modem as a secondary connection
- Public Wi-Fi as a last resort (though avoid logging into sensitive work accounts on unsecured networks)
Set up your devices in advance to recognise your mobile hotspot so switching over during an outage is quick and easy.
Optimise Your Devices for Performance
Your internet setup is only as strong as the devices using it. If your laptop is sluggish or outdated, it might not fully take advantage of your available speeds.
Optimise your devices by:
- Regularly updating operating systems and software
- Clearing unnecessary apps and browser extensions
- Restarting your machine every few days
- Investing in a decent Wi-Fi adapter (especially if your device is older)
Also consider using browsers like Chrome or Firefox that handle web apps efficiently, especially if your job relies heavily on cloud tools.
Tidy Up and Label Everything
Once you’ve sorted out your ideal setup, take a moment to make it neat. Label cables, keep your power board accessible, and route cords away from high-traffic areas. This not only helps with organisation but makes troubleshooting easier if something goes wrong down the track.
Good cable management also ensures you’re not accidentally yanking out your Ethernet line every time you move your chair.
Setting up a home office that doesn’t struggle with internet speed isn’t just about picking the right provider — it’s about how you use that connection inside your space. From router placement and wired connections to smart network prioritisation, small changes can lead to massive improvements in performance. With a bit of upfront effort, you can build a workspace that’s ready to handle anything the modern workday throws at it — minus the buffering, dropouts or lag.
