With more of us wanting to work from home, utilising the space we have to create an area to do our jobs in, isn't always easy. We live our lives at home. It is our own space away from the world of work. When our work starts to encroach on our home lives, it can be difficult to draw a line between home hours and office hours. It can be hard to switch off from work and find a work life balance. There are freedoms that working from home brings though, including no commuting and the ability to do the school run. Let's have a look at how to set up a home office in a small space.
What Do You Need?
When you are firstly looking at how to set up a home office in a small space, you need to figure out what you actually need. It can be easy to overthink things and add more than you require into your workspace. If you are dedicating a small area to your work, you want it to be clear, mess free and all you to focus on work. More stuff can be distracting so make a list of things you actually need. This will probably include a computer, desk and a comfortable and supportive chair. You can buy stand up desks online and other stuff that you might need for your mini office.
Don't overlook natural light either. Be sure to position yourself in an area which is well lit, perhaps by a window. Stick to your list of things you need so you can create a work space which works but isn't taking over your home. A lovely rubber plant might be a nice touch too.
Can you start up a business with no money?
Invest In The Cloud
One of the best things to do is to invest in a cloud solution. Cloud storage is fantastic for helping you keep everything you need but not need physical copies of paperwork to store in your work form home space. When you can save your documents on the cloud, not only are they virtually up and out the way, you can access them from your device wherever you are. If you're taking a day off your family holiday to catch up on emails and a client needs a document, you can simply grab it from the cloud. Easier, clearer and mess free!
Use What You Have
What do you already have that you can use for your work from home space? This might be an old desk in the garage, which, I know, might not be your dream desk. But if it works in the here and now, that is ideal. It saves you having to spend money on something new. Use your desktop computer or personal laptop. When you are thinking about how to set up a home office in a small space, think about what you already have. You'll save time, money and space!
Running A Business From Home Tips
Buy Second Hand
If there are things on your list that you need, consider buying second hand. You don't need to buy brand new, because the price is more expensive. There are lots of people selling second hand goods that would work for your home office solution on platforms such as Facebook Marketplace. There are specialist businesses who clear our businesses that have folded and then sell on the desks, chairs and other office equipment at a discount. If you need something, look for it second hand.
Stick To A Budget
The final thing on our list of how to set up a home office in a small space is budget. You need to make a budget. If this is your own business, you will be funding your work from home set up yourself. That means you need to do it as cheaply as possible otherwise you're eating into your profits. If you are working from home as part of a new agreement with your employer, they might give you some money to help get you set up, but it might not be much. Anything over that price you'll likely have to pay for which is basically coming out of your wages. Consider that you will also have more higher utilities bills to pay for, with you being at home all the time. When you make the list of what you need, make a budget and be sure to stick to it.
