How to Create a Home Office in a Small Space

Covid-19 has forced many people to change their working habits and working from home has become more common. Even when the pandemic has become a distant memory, it’s likely that a lot of people will still work from home on a regular basis.

What started as a short-term arrangement at the kitchen table now requires a more permanent base. Unfortunately, some people don’t have a spare room they can dedicate as a home office and have to make do with a much smaller space. Here are a few tips if you’re in this situation.

Making the Most of Available Space

Although some people may be lucky enough to have a separate study or a spare bedroom that’s large enough to convert into a spacious workstation, many are much less fortunate. If this applies to you, it’s essential you make the best use of the space you have available to create an office that’s functional, stylish and works well within the rest of your home. That generally requires a certain amount of creativity and some flexibility.

Having a small space means you have to compromise and be practical. For a start, you can’t have a large L-shaped corner desk and an executive chair since they’ll simply take up too much room. A small desk or a simple office table and an office chair to match will no doubt be adequate as long as they’re ergonomic and you can adjust them to yourself so you avoid strains and aches. Depending on your circumstances and regular activity, you may be able to fix a countertop to a wall at a height where you can work standing up or use an office barstool at other times.

A small desk will mean you have to organise your equipment properly so the whole space isn’t taken up with a computer and all its accessories. Mount the monitor on a wall and put the printer and computer on shelves so you only have the keyboard and mouse on the desk itself. With a careful arrangement of cables or the use of wireless accessories, you can free up space for other things.

Being properly organised is most important in any office, particularly a small one, otherwise, you’ll drown in a sea of clutter and will never be able to find what you need. So put in as much storage or cabinets as you can in the space available. Since the space is limited, make use of areas under the desk and have wall-mounted cupboards, shelves and drawers to maximise what you have.

Separating Work and Leisure

When creating a home office, you don’t want it to be a dominant feature and you ideally want to separate work activities from other aspects of your home life. If you use a separate room, that’s easily accomplished and even a small closet can be suitable with clever planning and astute use of shelving.

When no separate room is available, you’ll have to be a little more adaptable. Use a curtain to separate off a work area so it’s hidden from the living room when not in use. Alternatively, you can paint the area the same colour to make it blend in or use a different colour scheme to distinguish it. Put a desk behind the sofa so it’s hidden away when not in use.

Wherever you put your home office desk, make sure the lighting is good so you don’t suffer from eyestrain and fatigue. Natural light is best but focused artificial light will suffice if natural light isn’t practical.

With a little thought and ingenuity, you can create a home office in the smallest of spaces, enabling you to work comfortably and productively. We have a home office furniture and accessories of all types and sizes so can help you achieve what you need.