As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to have a major impact across the globe, employees along with businesses are looking to facilitate long-term remote work. While work from home has enabled people to comply with the pandemic-related regulations and SOPs, it has also posed a challenge for many who don't have the luxury of having enough space within their accommodation to set up a home office.
If you don't have a separate room or living space, you don't need to worry as there are many ways to create a home office. Keep in mind that working from your bed or couch permanently is neither practical nor recommended. It can lead to a wide range of issues including health problems and poor work-life balance as there's zero separation between your personal and professional lives. Here are a few ideas that can help you set up a home office in a limited space.
1.Find a Suitable Spot for Work
Remember that you don't need a lot of space to create a home office - just enough to place a small desk and a chair. You can use your kitchen counter for this purpose or if there is a staircase in your home, the space under it can also be fashioned into a small yet cosy work environment. Another way to accomplish this is by repurposing a storeroom or using the corridor or walkway as a home office. Whatever location or spot you choose, you will need to do a bit of work to turn it into a productive work environment.
There is a diverse variety of office furniture available so you can find a desk that goes well with your office space. You can also think about moving or reorganising some furniture to create that extra space.
2.Go for a Laptop Instead of a Desktop
Unless you absolutely need a desktop for your work, it is highly recommended that you get a laptop. They don't only have a smaller footprint but are more portable in case you need to move your home office or work while you are in a different room. This could be also helpful if you have a hybrid work environment where you need to go to the office once a week. Apart from that, laptops consume less power and deliver adequate performance for most professionals.
3.Get a Desk with Storage Space
Since you will need to have a few essentials with you while you are working, it is a better idea to get a desk that has a drawer or other type of storage. While simple desks with minimalist designs look aesthetically pleasing, they aren't as convenient to use like the ones that feature drawers, shelves, or cabinets. You can either choose from a variety of desks that are already available or get one custom built according to your unique requirements.
4.Make Smart Use of Vertical Space
As available floor space is limited, you need to ensure that you are using the vertical space to your advantage. You can install small shelves right above your desk to store personal and work-related things such as documents, stationery, smartphone, router, and other gadgets and devices. This will ensure that everything you need for your work is always accessible without leaving the work environment. In this way, you can reduce distractions and focus on getting things done.
5.Invest in Decor and Aesthetics
Although leaving your workstation bare bones is perfectly fine, it is a great idea to make the environment visually appealing. Having an aesthetically pleasing home office draws you in and keeps you engaged so you can focus on your work. You can put up an eye-catching wallpaper behind the desk and place some small plants in the area. They will add a new kind of vibrancy around your workspace and help you be more creative.
6.Rely On Compact and Multi-Purpose Furniture
If you need to work from home but have a limited amount of room, compact furniture is an excellent option. 2-in-1 furniture, or compact furniture, can optimise your available space while performing two or more purposes at once. Let's assume you want a desk and a bookshelf, it may be difficult to accommodate both pieces of furniture if they are separate. Investing in a desk with shelves or perhaps a hutch for your reading materials is a great idea if you have the initial funds to do so. A bookshelf with a desk that can be folded out or dropped down is another possibility.
Even if you just intend to work out of your home office for a few months, an office chair and desk are essential to avoid back discomfort and other issues associated with poor posture. Furniture is one area where you shouldn’t shy away from spending a bit more since you will be spending hours using it on a daily basis.
7.Go for a Standing Desk
Working at a standing desk, according to Harvard Health, offers several health advantages since sitting for lengthy periods of time has been connected to cancer, obesity, diabetes, and other significant illnesses, among other things. When it comes to setting up your home office, a standing desk may be something to consider. In addition to being space efficient, standing workstations may be constructed as thin counters that do not interfere with other objects in a room. When you don't feel like standing any longer, you may always sit on a stool to relieve the strain on your legs.
Final Word
It doesn't matter if you have a dedicated room to set up a home office or not. You can use limited space available under the stairs, in corridors, on kitchen counters, and many other places to create a personalised work environment. You just need to identify the spot that will work for you and put in a little bit of effort.
