How to Set Up the Ideal Home Office

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As more and more people are working from home, the home office is front and centre when it comes to interior design and DIY trends. Your home office should definitely be more than a corner of the kitchen table. Many people work from this area and it’s detrimental to both your output and to family life. It can be tricky if you don’t have much space available but there are ways around the conundrum with creativity and flexibility.

The forgotten spaces

In every home there are always a few forgotten spaces which are neglected and ignored as potential home offices. One of the most common is the area under the stairs. This is often wasted space and it’s actually a great place for an office as hallways, though a throughway, are often a quiet place with not a lot of action – unlike kitchens and dining rooms! Desks can either be built to fit beneath the space or a small desk may be bought ‘off the shelf’ and fit perfectly well. Because this is often a dark space, you will need adequate lighting so be sure to choose a bulb which offers natural light.

Make sure you have access to enough power-points to manage all of your technical equipment. You’ll most likely need one for your PC or laptop, one for a multi-functional printer and one for a lamp at the very least. Also somewhere to add your selection of inspiration books too.

Another forgotten space is the shed! Though you might think of your garden shed as a grubby sort of place, with a little effort and some cladding, you can turn it into a waterproof haven which has the added bonus of being away from the hustle and bustle of the main home.

Spare rooms

Spare rooms make the ideal office. If you have a spare room which is only used occasionally, consider setting up your desk there. You can leave the bed in-situ and get on perfectly well – when friends or relatives come to stay you may need to decamp but as long as that’s not too often, you’ll be upstairs and away from the noise!

Your home office should be a safe-haven; a quiet space which is only used by those who need it. If you’re going to share it with other family members, be sure to set a schedule in place so that there are no arguments!