Given current global conditions, working from home is not just an option but a necessity. You never know when you will be forced to quarantine and be forced to work at the same place where your kids are playing, or there are 50 other distractions. If you don’t have a designated workplace and have a small room to spare, fear not because we will give you tips on making the most out of it.
1. Get Yourself a Desk That Takes Up a Lot Of Space
Home office furniture for a small space is pretty tough to decide on. Do you invest in comfort or space management? Comfort should always be secondary to excellent space management. It would be best if you looked for a desk that has the space to effectively accommodate your printing instruments, computer, and other office accessories. L-shaped desks are popular because they usually fit these needs.
2. Stay Away From Your Kids
If you have kids in your house and they tend to be pretty playful, you will need to find a space where you can be secluded from them so that their distractions do not bother you. Studies have shown that having kids tends to decrease the productivity of their parents, and these are studies done on parents who don’t work from home.
Imagine the hit your productivity takes when you are home. Therefore, it is essential to find an environment where you can easily assert your physical and mental boundaries with your kids.
3. Stay Organized
Another thing that can prove to be a problem when setting up a home office, especially within a small space, is staying organized. An L-shaped desk does not matter much if all your office supplies are in a clutter. Scientists from Princeton University Neuroscience Institute have found that constant visual reminders of disorganization decrease our ability to focus. You need to figure out a way whereby the orientation of your office supplies is satisfying to look at and convenient to your needs.
4. Choose a Smaller Chair
If you are used to a bulkier chair, you might need to swap that for something more minimalistic. Understandably, you may prioritize comfort, but given the limited space you have, you need something that can fit under your desk. Plus, a smaller chair has the added benefit of giving you much more coziness and freedom in an otherwise limiting environment.
5. Tidy Up Your Electrical Cables
Suppose you have multiple cables in your workspace because of computers, printers, and other work-related electronic devices. In that case, you need to figure out a way to organize the wiring of these devices. Wiring can take up precious space to move your feet around under your desk and can be messy overall. Power strips are the perfect solution for these issues, and they often come in cheap. The Tokyo Management Strip is something we recommend as it can keep all your cords secure inside a box.
6. Get Yourself a Shelf
Storage can be a huge problem when it comes to minimalistic spaces. Your base instinct might be to let things pile up in your office, but that becomes easily disorganized. Therefore, get yourself a vertical shelf that you can place on your desk or near it. An even better option than getting a shelf would be to get yourself a ladder desk. Not only are these desks incredibly minimalistic, but they are cleverly designed to contain office files efficiently.
7. Do Not Be Afraid to Set up Shop in Awkward Places
When considering innovative ways to set up your home office, you need to get creative, especially if you have limited options. For instance, the first thing you need for any office is a quiet space secluded from the rest of your house.
If you have a walk-in closet, it can be redesigned and used as an office space. That little space between your staircase can be another option where an office can be constructed. It can even be the attic. Yes, these places are often not the best aesthetically, but you must do whatever you can given limited options.
If you follow these tips, not only are you going to have a workspace that is efficient and boosts your productivity, you also will have a desk that will make you happy to go to work.
