Home offices are becoming increasingly popular with the rise of remote work these days. While this would seem a great idea if you have tons of space in your home to create your dream office, it is quite another story if you don't have that much space to spare. Here’s how to maximize what space you have left and transform it into an office you can be proud of.
Making the most of what you've got
When setting up a budget for your new office space, you'll first have to work out what you can realistically afford. Because while setting up an office from scratch can boost your home’s value, it also can be quite an expensive exercise requiring quite a bit of planning and budgeting in advance. Of the things to consider when setting aside funds for your home office, these may include construction costs if you are planning on putting in drywall to create a separate-looking area, for example. Other expenses to remember include maintenance and utility costs, running costs, as well as furniture and equipment expenses.
Functional furniture and decor
Flip-down desks are functional pieces of furniture for smaller than average spaces because they can be folded up away from sight when no longer in use.
Converting your guest bedroom into your office is an excellent way to keep your home office separate from the rest of the house. Here, you could use multipurpose furniture that would suit and office space as well cater for guests when they come around. A sleeper sofa is a good example of a sitting area that could also be converted into a bed when needed.
If you’re going to be hosting clients, make sure any furniture is in tip-top shape. For instance, you can hire a furniture cleaning service to remove dirt and stains. If you’re hiring a furniture cleaner, you’ll want to avoid cleaners who promise all-in-one cleaning tools.
And because you're getting away with a bigger space, there are lots you can do to make it look more professional while still keeping that homely, comfortable feel to it. Here, you could think about mixing and matching colors and fabrics to create elements of juxtaposition. In fact, the luxury of having a separate space from the rest of your home is that you could have pretty much free rein regarding how you want your decor to look because you won't have to figure out how to fit in a particular color scheme or professional-looking piece of furniture in your living room, just to make it work.
Floating shelves are another wonderfully practical idea to set up a home office from practically anywhere. They take up next to no space and like a flip-down desk can be converted into extra shelving when you're done using it. Ideally, you'll want to place floating shelves in an area with lots of natural light to brighten up an area, especially if it's in a nook or cozy corner of your home.
Blending in
Suppose, try as you might, there is no space to spare for a dedicated office space. In this case, why not color coordinate your office and home furniture so that the one blends in with the other to create one cohesive-looking space?
Furthermore, if you want to make an area appear larger than it is, there are certain things you can do to trick the eye into seeing a spacious rather than a cramped living room/ office area. For example, light and neutral paint will draw the eye around the room. Strategically placed artwork also creates great focal points of interest for clients that may stop by. And if you happen to appreciate the serenity of greenery, then indoor plants are a great way to bring the beauty of nature indoors.
A pretty fabulous home office
Home offices don't have to be boring. They can actually turn out pretty fabulous regardless of their size with the right tips and tricks at your disposal.
By Naomi Johnson from Lifebasedbusiness.net
