Creating a Versatile Home Office Space
How to create a practical and affordable home office design
Corona has got an awful lot to answer for. Over the past couple of months it has changed so much of what we do, from the way we shop, the way interact with our friends and family (again!) and the way we work. In just my little circle of friends and family I’ve seen so many knock on effects of whats happening that stretch far wider than the obvious health issues. It’s having a huge effect on the way all of us live both at home and at work. I dread to think what the knock on effects will be of all this on our economy, but one things for sure, there’s not a business out there that isn’t having to make huge changes, the most obvious being adapting to a workforce that has to work remotely.
Working from home, or flexible working in general has always seemed to be a tricky thing for us Brits to get our heads round. In my experience there has always been big trust issues with companies allowing their teams to work where they can’t see them, and shock horror if anyone even suggested a slightly different working day in terms of times to fit around their family or other commitments. Over the last twenty years that I was working in an office, I saw things start to change but it was extremely gradual. I’ve been following for years the plight of Anna Whitehouse (@Mother Pukka) a well known blogger and flexible working activist who has helped to make huge moves forward in flexible working in the UK. Suddenly Covid has moved the whole thing forward enormously. Over the past few months we’ve seen the whole attitude change as companies no longer have the option of saying no to home working if they want their business to keep going. What’s most exciting though is that the work from home haters have seen that it works. And I’m pretty sure it’s not going anywhere. Businesses are starting to realise that one of their largest overheads might not actually be necessary.
So many of us have had to try and master the work from home juggle. I had to cut back my work massively over lockdown as I became a full time Mum and school teacher and my husband took over my office as as he was working from home.
But with my kids going back to school, this week I’ve properly been back in my home office. It has been on the to do list for a while in terms of a makeover project but it’s been so busy that I just haven’t got around to it. So it doesn’t look how I want it to but it functions really well as a space to lock ourselves away and I know how lucky we are to have that space.
That said, I’ve seen some great things done very quickly to set up flexible working stations around the home. I’ve seen people investing a bit more in their office as they’re becoming more permanent. Projects to convert outbuildings or sheds into business ‘shedquarters’ are increasingly popular and sales of cabins have gone through the roof as people invest in a way of working that seems like it’s here for good.
So whether you’ve already set up your space, thinking of making a working area in your house more permanent, or struggling to find the best working from home area for you, here are some useful tips to consider when setting up your office space. We’ve also included tips on how to style it here.
You need peace and quiet
I think this really is number one. My kids weren’t used to either of us working when they’re around as they’re usually at school or asleep for me and Rob’s at the office, so we’re doing our best and helping each other out so we can each get time to work. The kids need to understand. They try! Being able to close a door is the most important thing so if you’re in your bedroom or in an office make sure you explain the rules to everyone concerned. If hiding from the kids isn’t your challenge, you may have found that you now need to find a space for two people to work from home so alternating between working areas, perhaps the kitchen and the lounge, is a really good way of making sure you’re shaking it up. All this Zooming is noisy though and closing your self off from any unwanted noise or distraction will definitely make working a whole lot less stressful.
Working Space
You’ll need somewhere to work with enough space for the work you do. Rob much prefers the kitchen table, I prefer the office as the kitchen offers just too many distractions for me. Namely food!
When lock down first happened if you searched for a desk online you’d be lucky to find one in stock. Luckily companies seem to have got ahead of their stock issues and more are now available. Desks don’t have to cost a fortune, in fact there are some really stylish desks out there for minimal cost. I’m a huge Ikea fan and I have to say that their office collection is excellent. The thing I like about it is that it’s so flexible so it can grow with you if and when you grow (the business I mean, not your bottom, but they have that covered too!). The Ikea office range also looks really smart and really doesn’t break the bank. But there are some lovely desks out there, some that can be bespoke made really reasonably so your desk can fit in exactly the right spot just perfectly. Check out @sussexwoodfurniture for some really smart options.
These fab desks are handmade in Sussex by my lovely friend @sussexwoodfurniture
This smart Bekant desk from Ikea can be adjusted so you can work hard AND stay healthy
The NORBERG desk from Ikea can be folded down to save space
If you’re not quite ready to start investing in office furniture quite yet, don’t panic, you can be very creative with work space and it doesn’t have to be a desk you work from. Off-cuts of work surface or reclaimed scaffold planks can be supported by anything you want (pile of books?) and can still look smart, do the job perfectly and are cheap as chips. Under the stairs is a great example where this would work really well in a tight space. Or work tops can be built in again to fit a funny shaped space. Over lock down my dressing table offered a hide out space to work away from the kids and worked really well. For extremely tight spaces Ikea do a fab fold down desk. I had one in my flat when I didn’t have the space for a table and it was great. The kids use it now, it’s so handy.
3. Your Health
I’ve always had problems with my back and I tell you, avoid back pain at all costs it’s the absolute pits. It’s so easy to grab your laptop and work on your bed but the long term implications of back neck and shoulder pain will soon catch up with you. Likewise, sitting at a desk all day without moving , or not taking the time to set up your work station correctly can have huge knock on effects to your health. My lovely mate Dean Dickinson is a Chartered Physiotherapist and Registered Osteopath and runs Worthing Physiotherapy and Osteopathy. I asked him for some advice; “It’s vitally important to maintain a healthy relationship with our environment that enhances and enriches our way of working.” According to Dean the there are a few ‘must do’s’ when you’re setting up an office to keep your work space healthy:
Move regularly - Dean recommends setting an alarm for 30-40 mins each time you sit down. When the bells rings, get up and move around, go to the loo, put the washing on, just move. Avoid seizing up and have a good stretch.
Stay well hydrated- It’s so much easier to drink water in an office when you’re passing the water cooler all the time. Get yourself a big water bottle and use your regular breaks to top up.
Make sure you have a good work station set up- Check out the Institute of Osteopathy for some good tips on how to set up your desk to look after your back.
Good posture- see above but make sure you’re sitting at the right angle and have a decent chair.
Light- this is one I really agree on - make sure you’re using task lighting as well as just your main light - A good lamp, nothing fancy, makes a big difference to your eyes and avoids headaches.
Get good sized monitors so you’re not straining your eyes or your back to see.
4. Keep Calm and Carry On
Chances are that you’re going to spend a lot of time in your office space so make it a place you like to be. As far as colours go I’m a big fan of keeping walls light and bright to keep you alert and keep the mind clear. For me, being inside all day can be a bit of a killer, I’m a real outside girl so I try as much as possible to bring the outside in with lots of plants. Plants as we know have been proven to increase productivity in the workspace and you almost can’t go over the top - fill your space with green (just don’t forget to water them!).
If you have a good view, make sure you can see it. No one needs to be looking at a wall all day. If you have the option of looking at the trees make sure you take it. Trees make us happy and keep us calm!
I’m a huge believer in tidy office tidy mind. Keep the distractions out of the way. Office storage is so important. Put your papers into folders. The supermarkets have all started doing some really smart looking stationery storage that really isn’t expensive. Ikea again is my go to for home storage, their Kallax shelves are fantastic for keeping things tidy and they look smart too.
Finally make sure you open that window - wherever you are make sure you’re getting fresh air when you work, it’s so important. And on the tough days it’ll keep you awake too!
Finally, be inspired. It sounds so cheesy but it’s so important, Whether you’re working from a small corner or a huge office, make sure you’re surrounded by things that make you smile and increase your drive. For me I have a collage of things on a wall that I love. Like a life mood board I guess but things that I’ve pulled out of magazines that I like, things I want to look into when I have more time or just things that make me smile. On my desk I have a photos of me and my Grandma from when I was small. She was always my biggest fan and always made me believe I could do anything. So she’s on my desk to smile at when I’m winning and to talk to when I’m not! Make sure your office feels like yours, that’s the beauty of a home office - it’s all yours. Have a temperature just the way you want it and what you want on the walls. Make it an office you love spending time in.
Fill your office with plants. The bigger the better!
My Grandma and me
Be inspired! Create your own mood board that makes you happy