Working from home is all the rage these days. The pandemic has pushed more and more adults out of the conventional cubicle life so having a comfortable, practical, and well thought out home office is an absolute must. Putting together a space in your home that works well for you and your professional needs can seem like a daunting task. Don’t worry! We’re going to walk you through choosing the right space for you, organizing your office, choosing supplies, soundproofing your home office and the importance of using a good office moving company.
Table of contents
Finding the Space for You
Hopefully, you’re moving into a brand new luxurious mansion where space is the least of your problems, but we know that’s not the case for most of us. So, choosing an area that provides privacy and enough elbow room to effectively get your job done is crucial. Just below, we’ll go through some options ranging from the most ideal of locations for your new office to others that require a bit more creativity.
Spare Room
This is the absolute best option if you’re fortunate enough to have one. It could be an unused bedroom, a living room, a spacious basement, etc. A spare room will provide you with the privacy and freedom you’ll need to successfully work from home. It also serves as a nice division between your personal and professional lives. Sure, putting a desk in your bedroom sounds really convenient, but then you’ll be sleeping in the same room you spend hours working in. That’s not ideal. With a spare room people in your home will know when you’re in work mode and when you can cut loose. After closing that door and turning off the lights for the day you can leave all your work troubles behind. Not bad, right?
Living Room
This may seem a little funky at first, but it really isn’t a bad option. If you have a good-sized living room or family room that isn’t used much during your work hours this could be the right choice for you. Just slide a desk right up against the back of your sofa or next to a window. For storage you can utilize a cart with wheels that you can move out of the way when you’re not working. You can also install shelving yourself. This is especially ideal for people in professions where a lot of space is required for projects. Next, go grab a comfortable work chair and you’re pretty much all set!
Closet
I know, not the most ideal location. However, depending on how much space you have in your new home it could be necessary. Also, your profession may not require all that much space to get your work done anyway. So, why take up more space than necessary? Here’s a tip: uninstall the closet doors and give the room a more open feel.
Organizing Your Home Office
The Move
Before you set up your brand new office you need to get all of your gear there first. Carefully labeling boxes can go a long way in ensuring that all of your office supplies get home safely. Start by packing your most fragile office items first and labeling them “fragile” or “this side up”. After all, you don’t want to open up your moving boxes to find a monitor shattered into pieces. Writing which room they’ll go in on each box will also make it easier on the office moving company. For more on all the ins and outs of packing boxes go check out our blog, How to Pack Moving Boxes.
For all of your office moving company needs be sure to check out UniMovers. Whether it’s loading boxes, unloading boxes, or both they are here to help.
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Choosing Decor
Since you’re going to be spending hours on end in your home office it’s important how it looks and feels. After all, you do not want to get on zoom and have your gym clothes hanging in the background. A foldable desk, if you don’t need a ton of desk space, is a must-have for me. Beyond that, some desk essentials are a small waste basket, pencil and pen organizers, wireless accessories to keep things from getting tangled, underneath storage bins or shelves, and for some inspiration you can hang pictures and houseplants. However, make sure not to over do it. There is such a thing as too many distractions. Lastly, get creative! It’s your space so decorate and organize your home office in whatever way works best for you.
Soundproofing Your Home Office
Now all your things are unpacked and decorations are up. One of the finishing touches you can put on your new home office is soundproofing it. Soundproofing your home office is an essential step if you live with noisy roommates, in a noisy neighborhood, or if you have children running around. Soundproofing your home office doesn’t have to mean complete silence either, as there are plenty of easy ways to deaden the outside (and inside) noises. Let’s go over some proven techniques.
Doors and Windows
The door is the first piece of your home office you must consider making changes to. Fully soundproof doors can cost you thousands of dollars. However, investing in a cheaper solid core door and door gaskets to line the outside of the doorway can be almost as effective. Similarly, windows account for much of the outside noise that may seep into your work space. Switching out single-paned windows for double-paned or installing window inserts may very well do the trick, but that can also be a costly option. Another budget-friendly alternative is buying acoustic caulk and lining your windows with it. To finish, add some dense curtains to create a seal between you and the outside world.
Acoustic Board
Not only will an acoustic board help muffle noise, but it can also be a fun and stylish piece of decor. In college, I bought some acoustic tiles for about $40 dollars and painted them all different patterns before putting them up on my wall. I suggest you do the same as they really help keep your voice from carrying throughout the house. The tiles also served as an awesome background for when I was on zoom calls!
Conclusion
The biggest takeaway from this is that you should make your home office your own. There is no cookie-cutter way to organize a home office that satisfies everyone’s needs. Some people may need an entire room dedicated to their job. Other people might only need a small closet space because they work from home once or twice a week. Get creative with the way you set up your new office too. Put some thought into what type of home office will help you be the most productive and happy because we all know working days on end can get a bit redundant. Why not throw in some funky decor that you otherwise might not have considered or construct shelving to make your life a little easier. Remember, always choose an office moving company you can trust. As always, have fun with it!
John is a recent graduate from the University of Colorado where he received a B.A in History and minor in Economics. He currently lives in Spain, but originally hails from New York. In his free time he enjoys running and following his hometown NY sports teams.