How to Create a Home Office when there is no Room

With so many people working from home these days there is a definite need for a space dedicated as a home office. This helps with productivity as well as keeping away distractions. It’s not always simple to design an area of the home to turn into an office. However, even if it seems like an impossible task, with some imagination and creativity, it CAN be done.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

1. 
    

   The first thing you will need to do in creating your home office is take a good hard look at your living environment. Take stock of each room and try to picture a part of these rooms as your office space. It may be something that will jump right out at you or you may need to really work at it to see the potential.

2. Once you have decided on the room you feel will work out best to include a home office do what you need to clear the area you want to use. This will most likely include some furniture arranging as well as sweeping, dusting, and cleaning in general. You want to start out with a totally clean space to work in.

3. 
    

   If you plan to do any painting, wall papering or other decorating of this sort, now is the time to take care of that. It’s perfectly acceptable to paint or wall paper one wall in a room as long as it blends in with the rest of the room’s décor. Choose a color that makes you feel good when you look at it. You can also choose to paint a design such as a V-shape for a corner. Look at some magazines and talk to some friends who have done this themselves. Get their input and advice.
   Choosing an area with a window for your home office can be nice, too. Simply set up your desk so that the window is centered and use the wall space to the sides of the window as places to put shelves.

4. 
    

   Once your space is ready to inhabit, you will need a small computer desk with at least one drawer that can be used for filing. Buy a good comfortable chair. This is the one thing you should splurge on if money is tight. You will most likely be spending a lot of time in that chair and you probably already know the value of being comfortable.
   Build UP rather than OUT and AROUND. Get some shelves that can be mounted on the wall or can stand at the back of your desk using the wall to hold it there. The less space you take up around you, the more room you will have to work in. You can also get more supplies, books, and whatever else you may need in your home office by going up rather than around.

5. 
    

   Once you have everything you need for your office space, you can add a throw rug and even a standing screen or hang draperies to cordon off your area from the rest of the room. It should now be ready for you to work in. Don’t forget to surround yourself with paintings, or other wall décor that makes you feel good.

Tips & Warnings

• Obviously, if you live with someone else, get their approval and input before making any huge commitments in creating your home office. If you don’t, there could be quite a bit of unhappiness in your dwelling.
• For renters, be sure to check with your landlord if you want to paint or otherwise permanently alter a space. There may be policies against doing that.

[ajmaddox]

on 10/15/2009 Great article. Well written.

[technicalbuzz]

on 10/10/2009 Some really great tips here! Personally, I work at home in a very tight office so these problems are all too common for me! Thanks for the great article 5* !!!

[kp1832000]

on 9/11/2009 Thanks for the tips! Trying to create a home office/study as we speak

[maryellen1001]

on 9/3/2009 Great tips! You really covered everything needed to create a home office. 5*

[Lilfix]

on 8/26/2009 Thanks for the great tips on creating a home office when there is no room...where there is a will there is a way...RRRC5*