Yikes! This Stay At Home Order has almost all of us working from home, and for many, this is not the norm. For a week or two, a laptop at the kitchen table isn’t so bad, I have done it, but with the Stay At Home Order being extended, I am guessing this isn’t working for you so well anymore!
Some of us already work at home. I am one of those. I consider myself a multi-passionate entrepreneur and working at home is one of the many advantages! Don’t get me wrong, I have had my fair share of office spaces, but they are not my norm. So what does a home office look like for me?
Over the years, my home office has taken on very different looks, usually settling into whatever nook or cranny is available. When the kids were little, it was more accessible, but as they grew, a space with a door become more and more appealing!
Currently I am in a very small apartment and without a spare bedroom, I had to get extra creative. We have a little window nook in our bedroom. I found a floating desk online that fits perfectly under the window. I have shelving on one side that steps up to the ceiling and on the other, a white board, a printer and a file box. It is cozy, has taught me the value of paperless filing and it works. To keep it separate from my bedroom after work hours, I have white curtains that I can close. They still let the morning light filter through, but help me to leave work at the end of the day.
When setting up a home office, there are some important things to consider. The ability to get away from work is very important. When you are in a very small space, this can be really hard! I have the curtains hanging and that works great. My sister set up a home office for her husband in a closet. Sounds strange, right? But he can close the closet doors when he is off work and the office is tucked away and out of site.
Places to avoid setting up include the kitchen table, in the middle of the living room or anywhere else that it interferes with everyday life. You need to be able to leave work at the end of the day. If it is right in the middle of everything, it is impossible to escape. It also isn’t very pleasant for everyone else living under the Stay At Home Order!
A few other suggestions:
- Order an office chair. They have inexpensive ones that are not amazing, but are so much better than a kitchen chair for hours on end. I got mine at IKEA and have also gotten a decent one on Amazon.
- You don’t need a bunch of fancy stuff to set up a functional office. Stick with the basics and save yourself the money.
- Search Google. Look on Pinterest. Ask my sister, and no, she does not know that I am recommending her as a resource. There are so many great ideas out there and we have access to them right in the palm of our hands. Yes, your smart phone.
- Keep it clean! This is probably the most important. If you have the perfect office space, but it is a mess, you will just end up at the kitchen table anyway.
- Choose a space with good light. Natural light is best, but if a window isn’t an option, make sure you have plenty of bright lights available. Dark spaces are gloomy. No one wants to work in a gloomy space.
Still totally stumped? I am sure I have 100 more ideas, these are just the ones I thought of first, so feel free to ask me! I am happy to help you brainstorm. I am sorry I won’t be able to help paint what with the Stay At Home Order and all.