How to Set Up a Home Office in a Small Space in 6 Steps

Do you live in a small house? Do you work from home? Do you need some help with setting up a home office in a small space? If the answer is yes, you have come to the right place. To set up such an office you don’t need much. All you have to do is find the perfect corner, make it your own, and take care of a few minor details. Take a look. 

Step 1 — Take a Look Around

If you can’t decide where to set up your office, don’t worry. All you have to do is take a look around. Which corner of your house is the quietest? Which room has the most natural light? Would it be possible to set up a home office near a window? Since this is a small space we are talking about, you should be creative when it comes to turning any corner into a home office. What do you think about a walk-in closet for your new workspace? Or, in case you have an open floor, then you can consider sliding doors, or some kind of partitions just to separate your work area from communal space.

Step 2 — Separate Work and Relaxation Area

What used to be a haven once has suddenly been turned into a home office with a full-time employee. This is what the pandemic brought to most employees around the world. You as everyone else has been making it work for the past year. For better results at work, you should consider separating your work and relaxation area. The boundaries between the two can be quite blurry at times. Therefore, keeping them separate could help you stay organized and diligent when it comes to working performance. This is especially important if you have kids or share a small space with other family members. Even if you don’t, having separate areas for work and relaxation will help you stay productive while allowing you to rest properly too.

Step 3 — Set Your Home Office Near a Window 

Since you will be spending a lot of time in the home office, you should make your stay a pleasant one. This is why you should consider setting up your home office near a window. This way you will have direct access to sunlight and fresh air. Whenever you feel you are losing focus, just open the window and let the fresh air awaken your senses again. Similarly, natural sunlight will keep you warm while also reduce the need for lamps and artificial light.

Step 4 — Maximize Space

Now that you have settled in your small but convenient home office, you should find ways to maximize space properly. For example, you don’t need to have a big bulky work desk. Instead, invest in a smaller one, possibly on wheels, so you can easily move it around. Similarly, find a desk that will fit your corner perfectly whether it has a different shape or size than the traditional one. All you have to keep on that desk is a laptop with a stable Internet connection, so you can access the employee app whenever you need to. For office supplies, you can maximize the vertical space available. In particular, you can hang some shelves on the wall, divide the drawers, use jars, baskets, or even hanging hooks to keep everything in its place.

Step 5 — Prioritize Organization 

When working in a small space, organization is crucial. Keeping everything in and out of the office organized and clutter-free is the best thing you can do. It boosts your productivity and keeps you sane too. For this reason, at the end of the day in the office, make sure to declutter the desk, organize all files, office supplies, and papers, and get rid of the trash. Additionally, you should digitalize and store files on the cloud whenever possible thus reducing the use of paper. Furthermore, take care of any electrical cords and wires in the workspace. You don’t want to trip and fall. What you can do to keep all your cords neatly organized is use a power strip or zip ties. The next time you clean up your home office it will be easier because you won’t have to deal with any tangled cords or cables.

Step 6 — Choose a Suitable Chair 

As it has been said before, work in a small space demands maximization of that space as much as possible. The same rule applies when it comes to choosing an office chair. For instance, you should invest in a smaller chair that can slide under the desk instead of wasting your money on bulky chairs. They will only occupy too much space and that is something you can’t afford.

Final words

Chances are you won’t have enough space in your small home office. But don’t panic, the only thing you should do is to use your tiny space wisely. Try to design smart when it comes to both vertical and horizontal space. If you don’t have any decorations hanging on your walls, you might want to consider hanging some shelves. Also, this way you will get some extra storage space for all your office files you don’t use or need every day. You can use some lovely baskets to store papers below your desk. With baskets and shelves, your lovely office will be well organized with everything in its place.

About The Author: Carrie Davis is an American based writer and blogger. She is very passionate about family and parenting. Carrie writes mostly lifestyle articles, but also you’ll find her in home improvement and other niches.

Photo by Alexa Williams on Unsplash