Small places and home office: our 5 tips to make it work

In the past 2 years, home office has abruptly become standard practice at most companies. With more people working from home, a lot of us are struggling to find anywhere in the house to do it.

When the first lockdown hit, people were forced to stay at home and find a place in their bedrooms, kitchens or living rooms for their laptops. As remote working became normal, the misconception that a home office must be in a fully separated study room has started to fade.

Here are our 5 tips on how to turn even the smallest nook into a fully functional office space.

1. For the tiniest space: A shelf

When you have to save all the space in your flat, you can utilise a single shelf to work as your desk. You can rest your laptop on it and use a chair when you need it. Be careful to stabilise the shelf so it won’t fall, causing any harm or injuries.

2. Separate the office with a different colour

If the office is a corner of a room, mark it out by painting that wall a different colour. You can paint a form or a pattern on the wall behind your desk to make it more playful.

3. Unused stairs

If the space under the stairs is doing nothing, now is the time. A small desk and shelves fit under most staircases, and where the shape is awkward, bespoke joinery uses every inch of it.

4. Utilise your kitchen cupboards

If you have more cupboards than you actually need, it’s time to turn one into your office! Get a comfortable bar stool, take the shelves out so you have leg room, and keep the door so you can shut the whole thing away at the end of the day.

5. When you need more space: Loft conversion

A loft is the most under-used space in most London houses, and converting one gives you a proper room rather than a corner of an existing one. It is usually the least expensive way to add floor area, because the roof and the walls are already there. The cost calculator prices it on our own rates.

Note: You should contact an expert before undertaking a loft conversion project to ensure the new space is secure (the first and second fix and the insulation is done correctly).

When your new loft is done, you can furnish and decorate your new office space as you like!

If you need advice on a home alteration, tell us about it, call 020 7731 6841 or email info@nuprojects.co.uk.

Takeaways:

1. You can use a single shelf as a desk to save the most space.
2. Create the illusion of a separate space by painting that wall a different colour.
3. Utilise the space under your stairs.
4. Use one of your cupboards as a desk by removing the shelves from the inside.
5. If you need a separate room, convert your loft space.