This year has presented us all with some brand new challenges. Something many of us never foresaw was working from home, either full or part-time. There are some amazing benefits that we’ve been enjoying. From being able to avoid that one coworker with the bad jokes to not having to put up with long commute time, working from home can seem perfect. However, there are some drawbacks – mainly, we’re struggling to concentrate sitting on our beds, in the living room, or at the kitchen table while the washing machine is running. This is especially difficult if you live with others who are also at home.
So, how can we all make working from home work for us? One of the most important things is
to create a dedicated workspace. Read on to discover how to carve out an office space just for you.
Declutter
Now you’re at home more than usual, you have probably noticed that it feels a little more cluttered than you remember. Why not take this opportunity to make some charitable donations? If every area of your home feels like old clothes, toys and books are taking over, it will be harder for you to concentrate, as well as it being impractical for you to work with no room. Weed out things you don’t love or are not useful any longer. You will have a cleaner, tidier home and you’ll feel more able to focus. And don’t worry – for
seasonal items you don’t need year-round, you can always keep them in a storage unit so they’re out of sight but not gone entirely.
Rework unused spaces
Do you have a room you have been planning to set up as a guest bedroom but never got around to it? Or is there a corner of the lounge currently overtaken by a piece of furniture you never use? If you have areas of your home that aren’t being effectively used, they could be a perfect place for setting up a home office! Even if you don’t have a whole room you can use, you will find that a small space can be well utilised for more effective working.
More information on making the most of the space you have: Move rooms not homes
Invest in multifunctional furniture
If you live in a smaller home, it can be difficult to find room for a desk and comfortable office chair. We all take our desks at work for granted, but they aren’t practical for our homes. Multifunctional furniture is an excellent way to make a small home office work – for example, a dining table can double as a desk, just add a comfortable chair. A desk in your bedroom can also work as a dressing table. If you have a lot of paperwork or stationery associated with your job, home office organisation can feel impossible. But a smaller cabinet can also create extra surface space for a printer or scanner. Think small and you can make big space savings.
Are you feeling ready to get stuck into your workload? Pull up a chair and get comfy in your own home office.