More and more people are working from home today than ever before. According to Forbes, by 2020 around 50% of the workers in major cities will spend at least half of their week working from a home office, or a remote work place.
But space is scarce and expensive in most of our major cities. The question is how to combine your living space with your work space. You don’t want to live in your office, for instance. If you have an extra room that you use for hobbies, transforming it into a comfortable home office can be an exciting project. Choosing new furniture pieces, refreshing the walls, getting work related accessories, I love it already! But before we get carried away, the first step is to make a plan of action.
Remember that if you want to combine activities in one space, like work and house guests, making a space plan that combines adequate furniture pieces with different types of storage is very important. You need to imagine what the room will look like during your work hours, with all your work gear at hand, desk, laptop, work folders, supplies and materials.
Now imagine how your guest will use the space. Does the sleep accommodation look comfortable? Your guest will appreciate that nice side table with a reading lamp, for example. The more functions you want to combine in one room, the more you need a space and organization plan. In terms of storage, if the room is not so big, go vertical.
Organize your belongings in a way that what is used daily, is kept at easy access. In general keep belongings you only need once a year, stacked away on the highest shelf.
Last Tip: keep your work surfaces clean during the “home hours”. This is essential for a relaxed home environment.
