6 Small Home Office Tips that Will Make You Wish for More Remote Work Days
Telecommuting is becoming an increasingly popular goal for American workers, but before you can take advantage of a flexible work arrangement, you need to arrange a space in your home where you can stay productive. How can you make your remote work dreams come true when you’re short on space? By following these tiny home office tips.
Find a Perfect Spot for Your Home Office
If you want to stay productive in your new workspace, you need to give some real thought to its location. Setting up shop in any old corner or nook inside your home can leave you open to kids, pets, and other distractions that can take your focus off of your work, so choose a strategic space to help yourself concentrate. There’s nothing wrong with using an underused closet for a work area to help you stay on task.
Consider Setting Up Outside of Your Home
Working with a smaller space can make it more challenging to comfortably fit a functioning office inside. Think about taking your planning outside, and turn a garage or other detached area into your dream at-home workspace. As an added bonus, these areas around your home will be less prone to common distractions, so it will be much easier for you to connect to your work. Don’t have a garage to work with? Consider adding a steel garage or external shed to an area in your yard if you have the room to do so. These sorts of prefab structures can be built quickly and don’t cost an arm and a leg.
Plan Properly to Build a Suitable Budget
Detailed planning will help you design a home office you really love, but it can also help you create a solid budget. Consider your office needs before finalizing your financial plans, and make sure that list includes any remodeling, furnishings, or tech you need to set up this home office space properly. At the very least, make sure your area is connected to the internet and have a plan for file storage. If you need to save some room, consider opting for more secure cloud storage options rather than using a bulky hard drive.
Determine Whether to DIY or Hire Designers
Designing an attractive home office can be simple to DIY if you have the time and patience to set it up properly, but when you need to fit your office area into an already-cramped space, a little professional know-how can make all the difference. Designers will be able to maximize the potential of your new office and make it fit just right with the overall aesthetic of your smaller home. If you are clueless about where to start or need a little help with the creative aspects, consider hiring an experienced designer to help create your dream home office.
Find Office Furniture that’s Practical and Personal
You need office furniture that works, but that doesn’t mean you need to sacrifice your style to do so. You can easily find office chairs that are just as stylish as they are comfortable. From traditional to contemporary, you should find furniture that showcases your personality while supporting your work style. If your choices include filing cabinets or other storage items, you may even be able to take the applicable tax deductions to offset the costs of setting up your new workspace.
Put Some Finishing Touches on Your New Office
Furniture, space, and tech are what form the bones of any functional home office. However, designing an area where you feel creative and comfortable means adding a few elements of your style. If you have wall space, a gallery wall can be a beautiful way to keep yourself inspired. Try to select a handful of pieces that coordinate with your room, and choose art that makes it easier to focus on a full day’s work.
You don’t need ample space to set up the home office you’ve always dreamed about. All you need are
these tips,
a dash of creativity, and
maybe the help of a professional designer to turn your home office into a haven for remote workdays.