So many of us have now become accustomed to working from a home office. However, not all of us were afforded the opportunity to create a home office, but instead have to use the space we already have. This often leads to making an office out of nothing, which can mean having to work from a smaller space.
Home storage expert and founder and CEO of Mobile Storage Solutions, Dave Fuss suggests increasing the lighting in your home office as your first step. “Increased lighting helps to really open up a space. Even if the area you’re working with is small, extra lamps and overhead lights can make it seem as though the office is larger than it is. Mirrors are also a great addition as it helps to make the space you have seem like it continues on. This combined with the lights makes your office less claustrophobic.”
A bright space does really help to make it seem larger, as darker rooms tend to feel almost dungeon-like. You really want to make your home office feel cozy as you are more likely to want to be in that space.
Fuss also says that going paperless can aid in your quest for a roomy office. “When you have bulky filing cabinets and bookcases, you take up a lot more floor space than you realize. You’re better off to look at ways to store important documents on your computer, or an external hard drive. This way you don’t have to keep a multitude of files and binders with you. Keeping things stored this way also makes it easier to share documents with co-workers and you won’t have to mess around with scanning and sending documents which would also mean having to incorporate a printer into an already small space.”
Something you can look into is having a shared file with your team members that everyone has access to. This way everyone can have files stored on their laptops and no one has to worry about organizing paper documents which easily can be lost or damaged.
Another thing to think about when it comes to saving space and making your home office feel comfortable is to avoid putting it in a high traffic area. “When you have a home office in your living room or dining room, you are often already surrounded by home items. This leaves you with minimal space to get comfortable and can make it tougher on you to make this a more permanent solution. A better place for an office is a less inhabited area during the day, like a basement, spare room or bedroom. This way you can create an area that is just for you and you also will find you’re less distracted in these areas as well”, Fuss says.
Something to also consider when it comes to your home office is the set-up you’re working from. If you have an uncomfortable chair, or are working from an old wobbly table, you aren’t setting yourself up for success. It’s important to use a chair and desk that are somewhat good quality, especially if working from home is now a more long-term gig. Investing in something higher quality can help to make your home office feel more comfortable to work from and ensures you stay in your home-office which means you’re bound to be more productive.
