So, you’ve decided to work from home and looking for the best spot to create your home office. Well, working from home is liberating, but you can’t expect it to be like an actual office. However, you still need to figure out a space to create your home office.
Depending on what your work is from home, you’ll decide what do you need exactly.
For example, a freelance photographer may require working in a dark room, while an automotive paint shop may require a garage.
So, your workspace requirements vary depending on your work demands and what you choose to do.
Selecting Your Workspace
First, you need to know the size, type, and location you need depending on your business needs. Then, you need to consider your daily home living situation, occasions, activities, and guests.
It’s more challenging to work from home when you’re living with your family, but it’s doable.
Here are some ideas to help you create the best home office workspace while living with your family…
1. Choose A Room for You
An extra room is just what you need to set up your home office. If it’s not available, then your current room will do even if it’s small. You can get creative and inspired by ideas for small home offices.
It’s also important to get the family used to specific working hours, so they won’t bother you as you work. Close the door to keep any distractions out (family, friends, and pets).
2. Choose A Distraction-free Spot
It’s best to stay away from the kitchen, living room, laundry room, and game room. It’s easy to lose focus while working! So, to ensure your success, set it up in a separate room if possible or your room. Then, get rid of any distractions, video games, PlayStation in that room for increased focus.
3. Use the Space Effectively
If you have a large space to create your home office, then use it wisely to keep everything you’ll need to work in hands’ reach. If you don’t have enough space, get creative by using the vertical space for storage of office supplies. Also, you can store your office supplies elsewhere in your house. Just keep the office simple, functional, and efficient.
4. Clients Coming Over
When having business meetings with clients at home, it’s best to try to set your home office with a separate outside door or as close as possible to an outer door. If that’s not possible, then, casually find a nice, yet nearby professional spot to meet with clients for a business.
5. Keep the Mess in the Garage
If your work involves fumes, mess, or dust, then it’s best to set the workspace in the garage or an outer home structure to keep the mess away from the house.
5 Home Office Workspace Options
Your home office can be anywhere from a corner of the house to an outside structure. It’s easy, and the options are endless. Depending on your work nature, you can always work a solution for setting up a home office.
Of course, when you’re living alone, the options are more comfortable. However, you can always work out a solution when living with your family. Here are eight home office workspace solutions to start working from home.
1. Extra Room
The most convenient option is a spare room to put all your home office furniture. It makes a great solution, especially when you need to meet with clients at your home office.
Also, you’ll have a dedicated room for work, free from any distractions. You’ll be 100% focused, motivated, and inspired to work. You can decorate the room and have motivational posters for a nice pump of energy.
2. Dining Room
The second popular solution is the dining room that you can convert to a home office easily. It’s an affordable and quick way to set a home office. Plus, you only use it on holidays and family occasions, so it’ll be a perfect option.
The only downside is that most dining rooms doing have closing doors. So, it’s an ideal solution if your business involves having clients’ visits. The dining room is best when your work doesn’t include actual meetings.
3. Spare Corner
If you don’t have an extra room or the dining room is not doing the trick, then you can settle for a spare corner in your room or anywhere around the house. It’s another cheap way to set your home office and start working.
I highly recommend placing it in your room, because, otherwise, you’ll suffer from a lack of privacy if you’re living with family.
A corner in the living room or behind the sofa can be just what you need to start working. All you need is a functional desk, chair, computer, and other necessary desk supplies, and you’re ready to work.
4. Kitchen
Can you believe that Lillian Vernon started her vast catalog empire from her kitchen table?
It doesn’t matter where you start as long as you’re willing to work with the options you have. Nowadays, it’s not that uncommon to have a desk in your kitchen. Lots of people have a desk in their kitchens to sort their bills, paperwork, and run a part or full-time home business.
Have you ever considered a foldout desk? It’s a great option when you don’t have much space. You can even use a cabinet to store your desk supplies.
Just make sure you have great lighting and control your appetite to avoid overeating (because you’re surrounded with food!), and your business is ready to launch.
5. Basement
Another good place to set up your home office is in the basement. You’ll find a lot of space that you can put in better use.
It’s time to perfect the lighting, the setting, and the climate of your basement to become your money maker. Many homeworkers turned their basements into their home offices.
Sometimes during the year, you’ll face moisture problems. So, you might need to consider where you’ll store paper, documents, or inventory that can be ruined by dampness.
Have you decided where you’ll set your garage yet? No excuses now! You have plenty of options to start working at home and grow your business.
