Is your “temporary” home office solution to work from the dining room table? As working from becomes more and more permanent, a proper setup is imperative for both your health and productivity.
Working Remotely When You Don’t Have a Home Office
When you need more space, the obvious solution is to do an addition. Unfortunately, not everyone has the time or the budget to build the space they need. Let’s talk about “inside” the box solutions to transform an existing space into a functional home office.
Ways to gain a workspace without losing rooms include:
- Creating flex rooms
- Renovating the attic
- Renovating under the stairs
Flex Rooms
A flex room is an area in your house that can be customized and used for several different functions. If you have a spare room that you use as a guest room, maybe consider changing the bed to a hideaway and retrofitting the closet (if large enough) into a built-in office space. The existing closed doors can be replaced with sliding side mounted barn doors to maximize your workspace and eliminate a threshold in the floor.
Renovating the Attic
Depending on how your roof was framed (and the pitch of your roof) you may have usable space right above your head. Most people think of the attic as an uncomfortable dark space for rodents to hide away during the winter months. With a little planning, insulating, and engineering, you may be able to convert some of that space into a new home office.
Under the Stairs
If you are truly space-starved, the area under your stairs may be the hidden gem you are looking for. This option only works if the wall to be removed is not necessary for the structural integrity of your home. A similar technique to the one used for the flex room closet above can be used to build your under-the-stairs workspace.
How to Create a Perfect Virtual Workspace
You’ve finally figured out where you are going to set up your home office. The next step is to make sure your workspace is a perfect environment for productivity, creativity, and success!
- Address your current office workspace
- Setup your desk efficiently and ergonomically
- Focus on yourself and wellbeing
For Your Office
- Reduce drowsiness by maximizing natural lighting vs. fluorescent.
- Reduce distractions and working late by using a quiet room without a T.V. that has a door you can close.
- Stay comfortable by having the temperature set to an appropriate setting (between 21-24 oC).
- Improve focus by choosing positive wall colours such as blues, greens, and yellows.
- Lower stress levels by adding low maintenance plants.
- Set the mood with appropriate music for the task at hand.
- Stay inspired with pictures of friends and family, fun trips, or inspirational quotes.
For Your Desk
- Improve your posture and health by ensuring you have an ergonomic setup.
- Reduce downtime by checking your office supply levels every Friday afternoon.
- Improve your organization by simplifying the equipment and clutter in your workspace.
The National Institute of Heath has a printable ergonomics checklist that you can find here.
For Yourself
- Stay well nourished. Keep healthy snacks around the desk to avoid needing to constantly go to the kitchen.
- Stay hydrated. Daily fluid intake should be around 15 cups a day for men and 11 cups a day for women.
- Feel more productive by getting dressed in the morning and establishing a work routine.
- Avoid distractions by keeping breaks short and sweet.
The Australian Government has a printable working from home checklist that you can find here.
