How to Make a Home Office in a Small Space
The home office: a sacred space. A place of productivity and creativity. A refuge from the noise, chaos, and distractions that come with home life. Many home offices are small spaces - just an alcove or corner of your living room or bedroom. When it comes to home offices, less really is more. So think about what you need and make sure the space can accommodate it. With a little bit of creativity and some planning, you can create an oasis for productivity in even the smallest of living spaces.
Which Room is the Best Place for a Home Office?
The best option is to take an extra room in your home and convert it from whatever it is now to an office. This allows you to designate a space for work, which has the psychological benefit of being able to close a door when you're done with the day's tasks. If you're like the 85% of people in the US, you live with at least one other person, so using an extra room has an additional benefit--it keeps your work out of everybody else's way and lets them focus on doing the stuff they enjoy or have to do at home (like, say, play video games).
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Decide How Much Space You Need
Be realistic here, because you're going to be sharing space with at least one person: yourself! You're going to want to be able to put away the things that you don't need when you don't need them. And nobody wants to spend a day off of work looking at all the work they have to do.
Use a Sit Stand Desk for Flexibility
This is when a sit-stand desk will really come in handy since modularity is something you'll thank yourself for later for thinking of during the initial setup phase of building your office. It's handy to be able to convert your workspace into something else, like a place to eat or a handy surface for family board games. One of the most important aspects of living in a small living space is using every foot and every inch you have. Don't try to squeeze a desk, chair, bookshelf, and other essentials into an area that is clearly too small for them. It won't work, and you don't want to learn that the hard way.
Figure Out What You Need
The first step is to purge all of the unnecessary items from your home office space. Get rid of anything that doesn't serve a purpose or isn't essential to completing your work. You can always add personal items like family photos later. For now, focus on focusing.
Once you have a clear idea of what your home office space will be used for, it's time to start shopping. Choose furniture that is versatile and can do double duty. For example, an armoire can store your clothes as well as act as a desk. A small bookshelf can also function as a printer stand.
You might find it helpful to use a bigger power strip than you might have at home, or start using a filing cabinet to hold your precious documents.
Consider a Sit Stand Converter
If your home office is in a shared space, like the living room or kitchen, you might want to consider using a sit stand converter. A sit stand converter allows you to work at a traditional desk without taking up too much space. This is also a good option if you have limited storage because the converter can be folded up and put away when not in use.
