Work and Live In the Same Space: A Combination That Can Work!

For many in the workforce today, “going to work” means simply walking a few steps rather than driving any distance at all to begin one’s workday. Whether you are working from home for an extended period of time, or are preparing for the next school year (whatever form that might be), having a dedicated office space inside your home may seem a bit tricky at first. In the later stages of COVID-19 and social distancing restrictions, this design challenge is being faced by more and more households across the country.

Working from home offers many advantages, including the flexibility of setting your own schedule and saving time and money with the elimination of a daily commute. While these benefits are appealing, remote workers also face the challenge of how to best create a home office space that promotes efficiency in an often non-traditional work environment. Finding a solution for a home office space can make a noticeable difference to your workday and how productive you can be.

The most ideal situation is to use a spare room to create a home office. A spare room is wasted real estate that typically becomes a dumping ground for a home’s clutter.

Giving it a higher purpose as a private work space gives a home office design professional ample freedom to shape the room into the dream home office you have always wanted.

If setting up a work from home situation for the first time, or even if you’ve been working this way for a long time and want a refresh on your home work space, then we have some tips and tricks for you!

First, you'll want to set aside a work area that separates the work to be done from your personal life, whether you're self-employed or telecommuting (or even for those families who are now educating from the home). The location, lighting, and confinement of clutter are all important in the space you choose.

Ideally, you have a spare room that can be repurposed, or may be currently serving as your home office. But, if your house or condo doesn’t have a spare room available, a useful home office space (or a study space for the kids) can still be created within a smaller area of your general living space.

Some of these areas to look out for include a nook-sized office set up in the corner of a room, in an under-utilized large closet, at the end of a hallway, or in a “dead space” part of your home (like underneath the stairs). Think of all the hidden gem areas in your home. If you have a wall space or even a corner of a room, this may be a perfect solution for a workspace. Take a step back and see where there is space that isn’t being used to maximum capacity. How wonderful to “discover” that alcove that serves no real purpose, and can now be transformed to a working space. These overlooked spaces could be the answer to all your work from home or educating from home challenges.

Particularly if lack of dedicated space is what you are working with in setting up a home office, planning is crucial. What you'll need in your office will depend on the type of work you do. And, your employer might have specific requirements about the equipment you must use if you're telecommuting. This is where it is equally important to be detailed in the planning as well as creatively inspired on the design to set up a work space that meets those requirements before you claim a corner in one of your rooms and decide that it's "good enough."

Equally, your office should be in a quiet area that allows you some privacy. This is especially important if you share the house with others, two legged or four legged. It is very important to keep your personal life from intruding into your business life—and vice versa.

But what if your only option is to set up a workspace within a larger living area? This can be done very well by following such a few important tips. The first, and most important, is to have the ability to seamlessly transition from work to normal life, and personal life activities to a productive work mode. Using multifunctional furniture and utilizing spaces that are otherwise overlooked, will allow you to make a comfortable working space within your home.

Here, it is extremely important to focus on both functionality as well as aesthetics when selecting the furniture, lighting and accessories used in these workspaces. Rest assured, you can allow your personality to come through when choosing these items. A great desk can be both stylish and practical. The desk can be functional for the type of work that is being done, and accommodating all the equipment you might need to work, including hardware, electronics, writing space and the organization of paperwork. And, the great news is that a desk doesn’t have to be a large furniture item to be functional. Especially if space is limited, you can create a productive work area even in a small nook with a small desk with a computer station, a pullout keyboard drawer to save space on your work surface, a couple of desk drawers, and some small shelves for books, supplies or necessary hardware.

Accessorizing these workspaces can also be how your personality comes through. Whether it’s how books are organized on a built-in bookshelf, or the lighting and accessories that are placed on a bookshelf or desk, these items can be placed and arranged to reflect your personality and individual style. Whether it’s the use of artwork on a wall, or a clock that serves as both a timekeeper for productivity or a statement piece that inspires, these particular choices in your home workspace design allow you to come through.

Finally, lighting is an important part of home workspace design. Studies show that we, as humans, work the best when exposed to natural light. Sunlight improves productivity and alertness. And, traditional offices have always known that workers are impacted positively, physically and mentally, when exposed to windows and daylight. Why should a home-based office be any different? Working in a space with natural light can reduce eyestrain, allowing you to be more productive on a daily basis and healthier in the long term.

Another way to bring the benefits of being outdoors into your home workspace is by including plants. This added touch is known to increase productivity and improve well-being, especially in a work environment. Think about any time you have worked in a traditional brick and mortar office setting. You’ll likely recall greenery and plants being part of the office space décor.

Working (or educating) from home presents many challenges. It also has the potential for many rewards. Whether you have been forced into working from home as a result of COVID-19, or you’ve made the choice on your own as you begin a new/different phase of your working career, there are many ways to be highly productive and comfortable in turning your commute from a drive in your car or ride on public transportation (or even bicycling or walking to work) to simply taking a few steps to a designated area in your home. We’ll continue to share all we learn from home-based workers who are embracing this new normal of working and how they are finding creative solutions to combine personal living space with productive workspace.

1. Knots (Gold) Wallpaper / 2. Andanza (Copper) Wallpaper / 3. Velvet Copper Curtain Panel / 4. Fortress Painting / 5. Gold Colonial Mirror / 6. Swirly Painting / 7. 'Japanese Woodcuts Boats' Print / 8. Scenery Pinboard in Large / 9. Elzada Desk / 10. White Celestine Etagere Bookcase / 11. Satin Gold Damon Etagere Bookcase  / 12. Kennsie Office Chair in Brown  / 13. Amaris Office Chair / 14. Amanda Chair / 15. Arc Table Lamp / 16. Gene Table Lamp / 17. Opal Velvet Ottoman / 18. Log Stool / 19. Triangle Marquetry box by Global Views / 20. Bamboo Reed Diffuser by Nest Fragrances / 21. Baies/Berries Candle by Diptyque / 22. 2x2 Organizer in Cashmere / 23. White Zeller Mother of Pearl Picture Frame / 24. Brass Pencil Holder / 25. Modern Latte Ombre: Color by the Foot by Booth & Williams / 26. Glass Tea Cup and Wooden Saucer  / 27. Becker Rug / 28. Kelly Rug / 29. Goldi Locks Bookends / 30. Orchid & Succulent Planter Decoration by BLOOMR / 31. Faux Potted Fiddle Leaf Fig 7'

If you are looking to decorate a home office on a budget, Read Full Article HERE