Working from home is a dream for many professionals. Whether you’re a freelancer, you’re building a side-hustle business during your spare time, or you’re working remotely, your home office is where everything happens.
However, if you’ve been looking for inspirations online or in home decor magazines, you’ve probably come across exquisite designs that would only work in your imaginary villa in the south of France. But in real life, your small two-bedroom house doesn’t have enough space to let you build a dedicated work area. Ultimately, you could sit on the sofa with your laptop on the coffee table, but in the long term, you’re likely to get distracted by a variety of things, including lower back pains and the presence of the TV in the room. Making your home office dream come true can be challenging. But it isn’t impossible! Indeed, even small homes can have an elegant and productive office station. Here is how to make it work for you:
Finding the right space
Ideally, you need to identify an area in your house that can be used to set your desk and chair workstation. When the space is limited, you have to be creative to spot zones that are unused. For instance, the area under the stairs can be sufficient for a small desk and a chair. You might need some DIY love to make it work, such as cutting a plank to the correct dimensions to build a wall-mounted desk, instead of using a full-size table. Additionally, your storage facilities might have to be adaptable, to make sure that you’re making the most of the awkward under stairs space. Alternatively, an alcove in the living room or the unused conservatory can also provide excellent solutions. When there is no room available, you can look into loft extensions projects, that ultimately let you create additional living space within your home. Your home office storage solutions will also need to adapt to the space and, potentially, to low-roofed areas.
Create a schedule that works for you
Finding the appropriate spot to work at home is only the first challenge on your journey to the perfect home office. Working from home means that you need to implement a schedule that combines both work and your household and families duties. Indeed, while it can be convenient to be in your office in only a few seconds, it makes it difficult to create a professional routine, especially if you’re used to commuting to work every day. How do you best switch your brain to work mode? The best solution depends on your personality. Some people like to meditate in the morning, as a way to prepare their minds for the tasks of the day. Others use the spare time to run errands, such as taking the kids to school for instance. There’s a lot of trial and error, but you’ll ultimately have to figure out which work routine is suitable.
Find a style that inspires you
Just because you’ve got a small space doesn’t mean your home office decor can’t be attractive. On the contrary, you have to create something that suits your personality. It’s more than an office; it’s your home office, and it has to be right for you. In a small room, you can use greenery to create a tasteful accent. Plants also increase your brain power by releasing oxygen, which makes you more productive. If you want something more inspiring, why not add vibrant art on the wall? The key is you don’t have to go big to inject some personality into your home office.
Allow yourself one office luxury
Admittedly, while you don’t have to go big, it doesn’t mean you can’t allow yourself some luxury. Working with a limited budget, you might need to focus on only one item that makes your day of work worthwhile. If you’re a coffee lover, for instance, buying a high-quality coffee machine can keep you motivated throughout the day. If you don’t need any fancy beverage, why not invest in high tech devices? A new MacBook can boost your productivity and your motivation.
Make time to relax
Last, but not least, you need to schedule some time off during the day. When you work in an office environment, it’s easy to take a break at lunchtime, for instance. But breaks tend to be neglected at home. Set some time to relax, using office yoga to soothe your muscles, for example. A quick walk outside can also do wonders on your mood!
Your dream home office is the combination of many elements, from finding the appropriate space at home to developing a work routine that lets you be as productive as possible. In short, don’t just settle on the corner of the dinner table. Create the home office you deserve, if you want to become the best you can be.
*Collaborative post*
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