If you're missing a room to create a workspace in your home, don't panic, there are plenty of places in your home where you can create an attractive and organised office space that you can feel comfortable in. Here are some ideas and tips that are sure to spark your imagination.
Determine your needs to find the ideal location for your office area
If you don't have an extra room entirely dedicated to the office, other clever solutions are perfectly feasible in other parts of the house. First of all, it is best to determine how much space you need to create a suitable office area. For example, if you use a laptop computer more often, your space requirements will be different than if you use larger computer equipment or if you need to display files, plans, etc. In addition, the spread of teleworking has changed the way many of us work. So, if you regularly work from home, your space requirements may have changed and you will need to find the most suitable place in the house to put your storage.
An office area in the living room
The main living area of the house is often the place to choose for an office area. Several solutions are perfectly possible to create a work space conducive to productivity.
An office area in the living room
Set up your workspace in a corner of the living room
You can choose to set up your work space in a corner of your living room. The ideal way to separate it from your relaxation area is to highlight it by choosing a paint or wallpaper that will separate it from the rest of the room. As for the furniture, adapt it to your existing décor by selecting a stylish desk with an unstructured design, a height-adjustable table or a desk with a folding shelf fixed to the wall to create a spare office area if you only need it occasionally. A corner desk is preferable, as it allows you to put your computer equipment on one side and your files on the other for more regular use. You can also delimit the space by installing a screen, a piece of furniture such as a bookcase for example or a glass roof. This last solution, although more expensive, will have the advantage of isolating your office area from the rest of the living room and will allow you to be quieter, especially when your family is present.
Define the space with a coloured wall
The office area under the stairs or in a cupboard in the living room
The space under the staircase or inside the cupboards are often lost corners that we don't necessarily think of exploiting. However, with the right furniture, it is perfectly possible to create a practical and aesthetic office corner. As far as furniture is concerned, a retractable desk or a bureau are perfect for squeezing into such small spaces. Complemented by small storage spaces or wall shelves, you will have no difficulty storing your printer, files, office supplies, or even your knick-knacks and green plants.
Office area under the stairs
Office area in a cupboard
A desk area in the bedroom
If you prefer to set up your office area in a room of the house away from the hustle and bustle of everyday life, the bedroom may also be an option for creating your workspace.
The adult desk area in the bedroom
If you are creating a workstation adapted to a teleworking activity or if you wish to benefit from a work environment far from the noise of the rest of the house, the bedroom will allow you to delimit your professional space outside the family setting. For a harmonious interior, don't hesitate to select furniture that will fit in with the room's decor. For example, you can opt for a white or wood-coloured desk that will be able to accommodate all your office supplies as well as your computer equipment. For optimal space saving, especially if your needs are occasional, some desk models can also be transformed into a dressing table to create a clever and aesthetic illusion.
Desk and dressing table in one
The desk area in the children's room
From a very young age, it is important for a child to have his own desk corner to make beautiful drawings but also to do his homework when he becomes older. You can therefore opt for a small desk adapted to his size when he is young or prefer an evolving desk that will grow with him. If your child has a small bedroom, installing a desk under a mezzanine bed is an ideal solution to create a comfortable and attractive work area. So that he can have all his belongings within easy reach, don't hesitate to install a desk with drawers, shelves, storage units, etc.
Make your office area stand out
Now that you have found the ideal place to set up your home office, to make it attractive, highlighting it will give it an aesthetic and harmonious touch.
Add a personal touch
The choice of office chair
If you want to be able to work comfortably, your chair must be selected with care. If you have a room that is entirely dedicated to an office area, you can of course invest in a really big ergonomic chair, but if you have to sit in a small corner of the house, in order to avoid your seat taking up too much space, you can opt for a standing chair or a swivel chair with castors on which you can install nice cushions to support your back. If you are working on a computer screen, the most important thing is to choose a comfortable seat at the right height.
Appropriate lighting
For your office area, ideally choose a place that lets in as much natural light as possible, such as near a window, so that you can work pleasantly on sunny days. For darker days or if you have to work in the evening, make sure you have good lighting adapted to your activity (desk lamp, hanging lamps, table lamp, etc.).
Desk facing the window
To conclude, creating an office corner in the home when you don't have an extra room is totally possible by using certain tricks and adapted storage furniture to optimise it as much as possible. Once the layout has been completed, for a harmonious result, the decoration must not be forgotten: knick-knacks, photo frames, green plants, everything is allowed!
