It’s always nice to have a place set aside for office work, but there’s not always room for it. Fortunately, there are ways to maximize space in your home’s little nooks and crannies and create a home office in a small space.
Before you start creating your home office, think about your priorities. Then, consider the location, the design, and the decorations you want to have. Planning ahead will help you create the best home office ever, even in a small space.
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Where to Put Your Small Home Office
There are so many different places to put a home office in a small space; choosing the spot in your home can be a challenging choice. Every home is different and there are no right or wrong answers. Here are some of the best places to consider when creating a home office in a small space!
Living Room
While most living rooms are used for lounging, they are also a great option for a small home office. Positioning a desk behind a sofa or in a corner maximizes space, still giving you enough room to relax with your friends and family.
Using furniture you already have is another great way to implement your home office into your living room. You can save so much space by investing in a foldable desk and working from home on your couch. It is an easy way to get work done in a comfortable area of your home!
Kitchen
Your kitchen is another great place for a small home office. It is convenient, normally brightly lit, and in the middle of the house. Kitchens often have a large number of cabinets for storage and electrical outlets, which gives you the power to stay motivated and get some work done.
If you have school-age children, having your home office in the kitchen is a fantastic idea. Your kids can use the space to get their homework done while you are cooking dinner. This keeps the family together, even when there is homework to finish!
Closet
Have an unused closet or crawl space? Turn it into a small office area! Using a closet is a great way to create a cozy working area. Having a room with a door offers privacy, silence, and separation from the rest of your household.
Closets are great office spaces for employees who must video conference or record for their jobs. Even strange places like hall closets or under staircases can be great places to get some work done.
Loft
While any lofted area may seem useless for anything but storage, a loft is a great place for a small home office! The low ceiling is not a problem because you can sit while working. Putting your home office in a loft also removes you from the hustle and bustle in the rest of your home, offering peace and quiet.
Finding a desk with storage below is a smart choice because there is limited space above. This maximizes space while still giving you enough room to keep everything you need organized.
Designing a Small Home Office
Whether you are reorganizing your home office after a move or creating a new space entirely, the design of your office space is incredibly important. While a good design can maximize space and give you more storage and space, a bad design can make your small home office feel cramped and cluttered. Below are some things to consider when designing and creating a home office in a small space.
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Furniture
When designing, you have to consider the shape and size of your desk. If you want to put your home office in a corner, use an L-shaped desk. They are a great option for those wanting lots of storage and tabletop space.
There are so many types of office chairs it can be overwhelming to choose! To maximize space, choose a functional desk chair. Whether it has storage under the seat or is on wheels, it must fit under your desk when pushed in and work for your office needs.
A great option for an office chair is an ergonomic chair: a chair that is good for you! Most ergonomic office chairs can have their height, armrests, and backrest recline customized so you can make it comfortable for your own body. If you are planning on spending a lot of time at your home office desk, an ergonomic chair is the right call.
But above all else, make sure your chair is cozy. You are less likely to work if you don’t enjoy sitting at your home office. Who wants to sit in an uncomfortable chair?
Storage
Because you have limited space, storage can be difficult to come by. A good design can give you a lot of storage space and make your home office easy to work in. Use the space next to or above your desk for shelves or cabinets. This will give you plenty of easy-to-reach space for those office essentials!
If you don’t have a lot of space above your desk, look into storage under your desk or chair. This is a great option for those looking for less clutter. While your storage might be harder to reach, having space below your desk can make your small office feel much bigger.
Technology
When designing and creating a home office in a small space, make sure to think about the technology you need. In this day and age, long gone is the need for file cabinets or stacks of folders. When designing and creating a home office in a small space, it is important to consider the technology you need.
Do you have enough charging ports or a place to keep your computer monitor? Nowadays, many office furniture pieces have electrical outlets and charging ports built into the desktops or arms of the chairs. Investing in this high-tech furniture can keep your space organized and efficient.
Decorating Your Small Home Office
Oftentimes, decorating is the most exciting and fun part of part of putting together an area! Decorations can give your office space personality and make it more cozy. Even with a small amount of space, it’s important to have something that makes your home office feel like yours. However, decorating with limited space can be a challenging task.
To save room, use decorations that are pleasing to the eye but also functional. Especially in a small space, your desktop does not have room to host a bunch of knick-knacks that will never be used.
Another way to maximize space is to use the walls around your home office. Hang up photos of fond memories, and consider purchasing a bulletin board that you can customize with notes, reminders, and photos. Your ceiling can also be your canvas. Light fixtures or hanging plants often brighten up a room and make it more personalized.
Moving Your Personal and Professional Offices
Now you know how to create a perfect home office in a small space, but what should you do if you have to move your set up? The moving process can be an overwhelming task, but the key is to stay organized. Keep track of where you have packed your belongings and label all moving boxes. This is especially important if you are moving out of state. Long-distance moves require a lot of planning ahead.
You should also stay organized if you are planning on moving the offices outside your home. Work offices often have large, heavy equipment and lots of important technology. Keeping thorough records of what assets are where will help you have a stressless move.
Hiring professionals to help with a home or office move is a great choice. UniMovers loves to help move households, but we also love to move offices and warehouses. For more information regarding our services and rates, visit our website and give us a call!
Conclusion
There are many choices to make when creating a home office in a small space! Where you put your home office is the largest factor in your new work environment. If you put your office in your living room or kitchen, there will likely be a lot of natural light and outlets to fuel your work. However, a closet or loft will give you privacy, silence, and separation from the rest of your household.
How you design your home office also greatly affects the quality of your work environment. As you create your home office, consider the type of furniture you want. What kind of desk and chair do you need to get the workspace you want? Storage and technology are also important to implement into your workspace.
Using decorations makes your office space yours! To save space, use functional decorations and the walls and ceiling surrounding your home office. Display photos of loved ones and hang plants. This will keep your space personalized and welcoming to you. You’ll want to keep coming back to work!
When moving your home or office, it is important to stay organized. Keep track of where your belongings are, and plan ahead. Moving is much less stressful when you have a plan!
There are so many ways to turn a small space into a home office. Plan ahead, get creative, and have fun making a place you love to get work done!
Caroline is an undergraduate at the University of Iowa studying Business Management and English. When she's not studying, she spends time reading, hanging out with friends, working out, traveling, and calling her family. After college, Caroline will enter the publishing industry, where she will help authors and their stories find their perfect audience.
