Veronique Lavallee
In an era when working from home has become a go-to option for many, finding an extra room to run your small business or finish your assignments isn’t a luxury that everyone has.
But who said small spaces can’t make the best offices? Kitchen nooks, bedroom corners and below staircases can all make for an excellent place to get to work. Here’s how to turn your little nook into the ideal workplace.
An office space can be set up anywhere in a home. Contrary to popular belief, an office does not require a dedicated room. The only requirements are a desk and a chair, which means you can have your office space in a bedroom, living room, or kitchen.
Finding a Desk
The starting point for a small office is the desk. Avoid buying an actual office desk, which can be large and cumbersome. When looking for a desk, shop in stores that offer more modern options because they are leaner and sleeker (Ikea, Structube). Stay away from desks with hutches since they make the office look heavy.
The trick to having an office in an open space is to make it look like it is part of the space. Buying a large traditional desk with a hutch defeats this purpose, and your office will stick out. If you are handy, an easy way to build a desk is to get two filing cabinets and place a large piece of wood on top. You can use older-looking filing cabinets and paint them to have an original piece of art and stain the wood a colour that matches your space.
Rethinking the Office Chair
An office does not necessarily require an office chair. Since this office is an integral part of your space, think of dual purpose when purchasing a chair. Buy something that can be used elsewhere in the home.
Depending on the number of hours spent sitting on the chair, you can get the trendy, inexpensive plastic chair found everywhere, or you can even get a pouf or ottoman that can be used as additional seating in your living room. My personal favourite for an office chair is utilizing a high-back dining chair since they are comfortable and add style to your space.
Adding Storage to Your Space
The downside of having a small, sleek desk is the storage space. However, if your desk is placed against a wall, an easy way to add storage without overwhelming your space is floating shelves above the desk. You can buy baskets, which are visually appealing and help keep your things organized. Another great option is hanging items on the wall like a pegboard, calendar, file holder, etc.
Buy trendy office accessories. Stay away from the traditional ones found in office supply stores and go to the décor side of large retail stores. They are no more expensive and offer a more seamless transition between your living space and office space. There are also baskets which you can hang up on your walls for smaller items like pens or larger items such as files.
Certain desks offer integrated filing cabinets, or if you have a desk that does not have storage, you can add a small filing cabinet under your desk or even get a large box with a lid to store files. Another creative way to add storage under your desk is by getting a bar caddy and converting it into your office supply department on wheels!
Decorating Your Space
Since your office is in an open area of your home, treat it as such. Do not forget to buy some wall décor such as pictures, paintings or wall art, which are very popular in office spaces.
Also, add some greenery by adding plants either real or fake, since they always complete the look and give a more personalized feel. Finally, add a cool-looking desk lamp to provide additional lighting when working, which will complete the look.
