Cecil Nurse: How To Create A Home Office In A Small Space

Creating a dedicated space in your home to function as your office can be a bit tricky.  There is a delicate balance between comfort and productivity.  To add to the conundrum, you might also not have a lot of space at your disposal. 

So how can one squeeze a loaded workstation into a nook while simultaneously leaving space for sprucing it up with work essentials?  How can you ensure minimal distractions and interruptions while keeping up with the logistical requirements of your work in a cramped space?

Here are some tips from the designer professionals:

First, let’s begin by redesigning the space so that it no longer looks ‘cramped’. How? Find an underused part of your house and make the most of the space at your disposal. Adhere to the principle of minimalism – whether it is your furniture, your stationery, other office tools or even technology equipment. Steer away from the bedroom to avoid the temptation of a nap. Keep the colour palette on the walls and furniture to a maximum of two colours. Always stick to the essentials. Minimalism will help you make decisions faster and prevent you from getting bogged down by frills and clutter.

In keeping with the idea of minimalism, design the actual workstation as a ‘sit-stand workstation’. This way your furniture can complement your aesthetic of minimalism. There are multiple options you can consider.

One, you can use a sit-stand workstation that will accommodate no more than a laptop, a notebook-planner and a coffee mug at a time. When you want to sit down, you can simply move the desk to the height you require, as this type of workstation is functional in its ergonomics.

Alternatively, you can use a low-profile desk that consists of just a table-top and a pedestal. Again, the minimal design of the workspace can be complemented by a shelf structure above it on the wall. The shelving will make room for books, act as stationery storage, serve the purpose of a filing cabinet and maybe even support a printer.

Keep in mind the logistics of your work. What are the technology, tools, stationery and equipment you need on a daily basis? If you undertake extensive research projects that need markers and lists, a whiteboard or a pin-board is non-negotiable. The wall could be better used for that. If your work requires a lot of storage in terms of say, designs and samples, having a shelf mounted on the wall will be a much better use of the space.

Other logistical considerations include internet connection and mobile networks for communications, room echo and wiring for recording or conference calls, among other job-specific requirements.

Just because it is a home office doesn’t mean it should be any less airy or well-lit. It is imperative that the home office should have a window, not just for proper ventilation, but also because natural light can do wonders to the look of the room.

Where you are going to sit — your chair is the most underrated part of the work experience. You should consider ergonomically designed office chairs and dual function sitting/standing desks. It is ideal to go back to the principle of minimalism here too: Because the desk chair is leggy, it, too, carries little visual weight. Small spaces are best utilized with furniture that is as minimal as possible.

Make sure you are well-connected. It would defeat the purpose of setting up a home office if you are off the grid in the nook. Most of your work will be communicated and delivered on the internet, so ensure that the wires and connections can be set up in the room without hurting the overall aesthetics. Try to minimise cords and wires whenever possible and consider the power solutions offered by Cecil Nurse.

It can be challenging to optimise a small room in your home as your office and to accommodate all your professional tools within a restricted space, but prioritisation and minimalism are key. With these guiding principles, you can build an incredible home office in the smallest of spaces.

Contact your Cecil Nurse sales consultant to assist you with this process. Visit Cecil Nurse for more.