How to Design a Small Workspace for Productivity
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If you work remotely or freelance, you have the freedom of not having to report to an office every day. However, this means you have to create your own functional office at home. If you don’t have a huge house, this can be a challenge. Don’t stress: Even if you’re tight on space, it’s possible to create a productivity-boosting office. The below guide explains how it’s done.
Find the fitting space within your home
The first step is selecting a fitting space. If you have an extra room, like a guest room, this is ideal. Otherwise, you might convert an unusable space into a functional one. Examples include a basement, attic, garage, or garden shed. There are many factors to consider when selecting such spaces, from ventilation to insulation and HVAC.
If you don’t have a room that can be converted into an office, it’s time to upgrade your abode. When looking for a rental property, scope out prices online to see what’s possible with your budget. Rent.com lets you sort properties based on size, amenities, pet-friendliness, and more. For example, in Atlanta, GA, you’ll find apartments with amenities like pools.
Save space with multifunctional furniture
Once you have your office space, it’s time to start furnishing it. Since you’re working with a small space, prioritize multifunctional furniture. Vurni offers a roundup of handy pieces, like a lamp that doubles as shelving and a stool that offers interior storage. By investing in high-quality pieces with multiple purposes, you save room and enhance functionality.
A standing desk is another excellent investment. These desks tend to be slim and don’t take up a great deal of room. They also allow you to transition between sitting and standing throughout the workday. According to Healthline, this offers various health benefits, from lowering your risk of weight gain to potentially lowering blood sugar levels.
A standing desk is one component of an ergonomically-friendly office. Good office ergonomics enhances comfort and helps minimize the risk of neck, back, and wrist pain that can distract you from your work. Complete your ergonomic office setup with an external monitor for your laptop, a keyboard with wrist support, and an ergonomic mouse.
Invest in productivity-enhancing elements
With the basic furnishings in place, you can start the job of setting up your office in a way that minimizes distractions and fosters concentration and productivity. For example, extraneous sounds outside can interrupt your concentration during the day, impeding progress. To counter this, invest in a quality white noise machine to drown out sounds.
Lighting is also a major factor in productivity. Research has shown that offices with plenty of light, especially natural light, tend to be home to more productive, happier workers. Open the curtains and let in the sun. Alternatively, make sure to equip your office with plenty of lighting—ideally LED lights, which are less glaring than fluorescent lights.
Plants are another small design touch that can help you foster productivity. Studies show that “green” offices tend to boast higher levels of work satisfaction and concentration. Invest in greenery for your desk. Alternatively, to save space, consider using planters that you can hang from the ceiling, freeing up your surface and floor areas for essential items.
Investing in the right technology can further boost your home office productivity. Time-tracking tools and project management software are two examples. You can also boost productivity and save time every day with virtual assistant services like those offered by Service Savvy, LLC. By outsourcing mundane tasks, you save your energy for bigger jobs.
You don’t have to own a mansion to create a productivity-boosting workspace in your home. Trust the tips above to create an effective office even with space constraints.