Working from home has many good points, and that’s why many people want to continue this kind of setup even after the pandemic. However, not all of us have the luxury of space to accommodate a home office. This is a struggle, and many of us deal with having to work on the dining table while everyone else in the house fights for a space to do their own work.
Creativity and ingenuity go a very long way, and that’s what we are going to talk about in this article. Here are some clever ideas you can consider for your home office.
Under-the-stairs Office
One space that’s often left ignored (or used as a storage dump) is the spandrel or the triangle-shaped space underneath the stairs. If your work mainly involves computer-related tasks, this is the perfect place to turn into your home office, as it only requires a desk and a chair that can be placed underneath the stairs. It interferes very little with your current floor plan, too, which is particularly great if you lack free space.
Utilize Corners and Narrow Spaces
If you’re tight on space inside the house, consider using dead spaces like a corner in your living room or the wall along your entryway. An office nook is really helpful because it helps create a separation between home and work mood while removing the need to create too many separations (making your room feel smaller). An L-shaped table against a corner will have you sitting with your back towards the rest of the house, which can help limit distractions.
Hide Your Office in a Closet
Many family houses often have a small walk-in closet or recessed space in the walls to put a dresser in. This space can be used as a home office instead. To prevent it from becoming too claustrophobic, you can open up space by putting a desk facing the wall and having your chair by the opening. This turns it from a claustrophobia-inducing nook to a productivity-inspiring corner, where you can get your work done.
Turn a Shelf into a Table
Another nifty solution for a home office is to transform a wall shelf into a workspace. If you have shelving along your wall that’s mainly used for books and decorations, you can convert one of the shelves into a table. That way, you won’t necessarily have to get rid of perfectly fine book space in exchange for an office. Your books will still have their own dedicated space; you’re just essentially extending one shelf to accommodate your computer and other work supplies.
Dual-purpose Counter
You wouldn’t want for your work to extend outside of working hours, so a good way to separate your professional and personal life is to have your office space transformed back into family space at the end of the day. For example, using your breakfast counter during the day for work isn’t such a bad idea, especially if your main daily driver is your laptop. This way, you can easily tuck away your laptop when you’re done working.
Standing Office Space
Many office workers often complain of back problems stemming from sitting for too long. Living a sedentary lifestyle on top of having to sit on your job for hours on end can really do a number on your health. That’s why many people are beginning to go for standing offices, as it actually has a surprising amount of health benefits.
It also saves on space too. You can turn a wall shelf into a standing office relatively simply- they’re often the right height already, and you need to place your working materials there. This saves you floor space as you’ll quite literally be standing and facing the wall while working.
Divide Shared Spaced with a Curtain
If you share your home space with other family members who also need to work or study, you can use a curtain to separate your space instead of putting up a wall or moving around furniture. This is very helpful for family members like siblings who share their bedroom. You can use a ceiling-mount curtain rod or a high-tension wire to hang a light curtain across a room to limit distractions without permanently splitting up space.
Whatever your solution is, remember that interior design isn’t just all about aesthetics. Keep in mind what your purpose is for renovating. Plan and prepare well, and do your best to stick to the plan.
