How to Maximise Home Office Space
These days, more of us are working from home than ever before. According to the Office for National Statistics, 84% of people who worked from home during the Covid-19 pandemic said that they plan to continue working remotely for at least part of their week in future.
But with more days spent working from home and fewer spent in the office, our needs are changing. Having a great space from which to work remotely has become a necessity. But how can you create a great home office in a small space?
Here are some of our best tips and tricks for your home office furniture and design to make the most of your available space.
Foldaways are your friend
To maximise home office space, opting for foldaway furniture can be a great way to make the most of a small footprint. Folding desks have soared in popularity in recent years, allowing home workers to compactly stash their desks out of the way when they’re not in use. Options include collapsible desks and wall-mounted folding desks which give you the flexibility to work how and when you want.
In addition to the space-saving benefits, folding home office furniture such as desks and chairs can have a positive impact on work-life balance. Folding away your workspace at the end of the day ensures that you set a clear boundary between work and leisure. With one recent survey of UK remote workers finding that 40% experienced a blurring of lines between work and home life, while 38% are finding it hard to unplug from their virtual working day, home office designs that make it easier to create those boundaries are a smart investment.
Use vertical space
To save space on storage in a small home office, your best bet is to think vertically. Shelving and storage units on the walls and even above doors help you fit all your belongings into a small place while also keeping your desk free of clutter. Don’t limit yourself to just the spaces you can reach easily; out-of-the-way spots like above a door are great places to install storage for your less frequently used items such as paperwork. Just make sure you have a step stool on hand so you can reach the top shelves.
Think carefully about light
Lighting can make or break a space – it can help you focus, boost your energy levels, or create a calm and relaxing environment. Think about light sources in your home office and how to create the right type of environment for you.
Lamps with dimmer switches or adjustable warmth can be a great addition to your home office. In the daytime you can keep the lights bright and cool to energise you while you work; in the evenings you can opt for a dimmer, warmer light to help you wind down at the end of the day.
Natural light can also be a great way to boost your productivity. Designing your home office near or around a window ensures that you can soak up lots of natural light throughout the day. With beneficial impacts on sleep quality and vitamin D absorption, working by a window can help you improve your quality of life when working from home.
Use colour strategically
Just like light, colour has the power to impact your mood and energy levels. The colour of your walls makes a huge difference in a small home office – while deeper, darker colours may make it feel cosy they also risk making the space feel smaller and more cramped. Light colours such as whites and creams can help open up the space, reflecting the light for a brighter office.
Walls aren’t the only way to use colour in your office space. A pop of colour in a poster, lampshade, or shelf ornaments can also add visual interest to your space and make it more engaging. Of course, you probably don’t want clutter in your small office space, but a few well-chosen colourful items that inspire and energise you can go a long way.
Use multi-functional furniture
Unless your space is huge, the likelihood is that you’ll need to use some multi-purpose furniture to make the most of the available space. For example, you might choose cabinets that also function as a stand for lamps or plants, desks with pull-out drawers for storage, and even desks that can be pulled out and used as dining tables. It’s far easier to use space effectively when your furniture has multiple uses.
Make the most of awkward corners with fitted home office furniture
One of the best ways to maximise space in your office is to use creative solutions to utilise awkward spaces: hard-to-reach spots under sloping ceilings, unwieldy angles, low spaces under the stairs, and more. Instead of seeing these awkward spaces as problems, think of them as storage opportunities. Bespoke storage solutions for fitted home offices allow you to make the most of these difficult spots in creative ways, with custom-made sloped cabinets, alcove cupboards, and under-stairs storage drawers.
In small homes, every inch of space counts. Choosing bespoke fitted home office furniture allows you to utilise your space to the full with stunning made-to-measure solutions.
Transform your office with Bravo London
Here at Bravo London, we can help you take your spaces to the next level. Providing unique, premium-quality fitted home office furniture to suit your needs and budget, our solutions come with professional installation and a 10 year warranty. No matter the size and shape of your space, our expert design team can help you achieve the perfect space-saving fitted office for your home.
Not sure where to get started with your fitted home office? Book your complimentary design visit, order a free brochure, or contact us directly to find out more.
