Whether you’re a remote worker or an entrepreneur, having a designated space to complete your work is essential. Unfortunately, not everyone has a spare room, attic, basement, or garage they can use. If you live in a small house, apartment, or have a large family, your options are limited. The good news is you don’t need a lot of room to set up your home office. With a bit of creativity and a few investments, you can create a comfortable and functional workspace.
Privacy And Quiet Are Key
When selecting the best space for your home office, privacy and quiet are essential. You need a place where you can work with limited distractions. For instance, if you have small children and pets in the house, the living room probably isn’t ideal as this is where everyone gathers. You might opt to set it up in your bedroom or dining room.
Reduce Clutter
There’s nothing like a cluttered workspace to throw off your concentration. Not to mention, more clutter means less room for your office furniture, equipment, and decor. So, once you’ve found the perfect spot, remove all the clutter from the area, so you have a clean slate to work with.
Less Is More With Decor
The worst thing you can do after clearing out a space for your office is to fill it back up with too much furniture or decor. The more items in the area, the more cramped you feel, which can lead to anxiety. Therefore, you want to keep things to a minimum. Try to keep furniture to a desk and chair. As for decor, one or two photos or paintings for the wall, a small area rug, an office lamp, and perhaps a decorative vase or candles is all you need to personalize the space.
Use Dividers
If you live in a small apartment or are putting your home office in a section of a room, office dividers are ideal. They set clear guidelines for where your office is, so family members don’t enter without permission. Desk dividers also help to eliminate distractions like the television. If you schedule virtual meetings regularly, office dividers provide a professional backdrop, so attendees aren’t exposed to other areas of your home.
Folding Desks And Chairs
While the type of office furniture you need will vary, every entrepreneur needs a desk and a chair to conduct business. If your space is limited, folding desks and chairs are practical options. As you shop for these items, ensure that you have accurate measurements of the area to avoid getting something too large. You should also keep factors like comfort in mind as you’ll be in your office for several hours a day. To avoid common office injuries, ergonomics is another consideration you don’t want to overlook.
Get Creative With Storage
You need adequate storage space to keep the necessary files and office supplies. Since your space is limited, you’ll have to think outside of the box when it comes to storage. For instance, wall shelves help conserve floor space while providing a place to store books, office supplies, and decor items.
Decorative storage containers are a nice touch to keep things like pens, file folders, paper, and other office necessities. The variety of sizes makes it easy for you to find containers to store on shelves or under your desk. If you need more storage, find another area in your home or consider renting a storage unit to keep things you don’t need as often.
Where you work has a significant impact on your ability to complete your jobs efficiently. For remote employees and home-based business owners with small living spaces, finding the perfect place to work is often challenging. Fortunately, there are ways to turn small spaces into a professional oasis fit for business. By keeping the suggestions listed above in mind, you can design a comfortable, functional, productive home office.