The coronavirus pandemic has forced all of us to re-think how and where we work. And with 60% of the UK’s adult population currently working from home, it has forced many of us to re-consider how we use our homes and the spaces we need.

Carving out a work-from-home space that helps you to work effectively presents a lot of challenges. If you are sharing with other people, it can be noisy. If you live in a small flat, then you might not have enough room or you might struggle to create any balance between your home and work life. 

But creating a dedicated work-from-home space can really help you to stay productive and comfortable, and you will be able to leave work behind at the end of each day.

Find a separate space

It might be a challenge if you live somewhere small, but having a separate space where you can work (that’s not the kitchen table) will allow you to work undisturbed and undisrupted. There are some great ideas for turning small spaces into dedicated working areas to help you adapt to the new way of working.

Spaces under staircases, corners of rooms, existing cupboards and sheds are all creative ways to create a separate area where you can keep yourself organised. If you have a spare bedroom, or can convert un-used loft space into an office, it can really help you to streamline your work flow and be more productive when you are at home.

If you are really tight on space, using room dividers is a great and simple way to create some separation between one area and another.

Set up some storage

You will be surprised how quickly the mess mounts up when you are working from home. You may even be missing your normal office with its ample cupboards, drawers and filing cabinets. Investing in some clever storage will help you stay in control of your work and on top of any paperwork, tools or workbooks you might have.

Pinterest is a great starting place to get some home office storage space inspiration. If you are tight on floor space, then consider buying some under-desk drawers that don’t require any extra room. Alternatively, consider putting up some shelves or a pin board so that your wall space works a little harder. Desk tidies and trays are also really inexpensive ways of making sure you avoid chaos in your work-from-home space.

Invest in a good chair

It is only when you start sitting on an uncomfortable seat that you realise how valuable a good chair is. The only downside is that a lot of office chairs can be cumbersome and not very fitting with your home décor. Thankfully, there are plenty of options out there that combine style and comfort so there are more options which mean you can invest in a chair that won’t stick out like a sore thumb.

Buying a good chair will make sure that you can work effectively, without having to constantly get up because you are uncomfortable. And if you are unsure about buying something that you can’t try out first, then there are some stylish options that will give you your money back if you are not satisfied.

Get a laptop stand or a good desk

Many of us are working from a laptop at the moment and you will be familiar with the shoulder and neck ache that comes from looking down at the screen. Laptop stands and desks are an investment that can make a huge difference to how you feel.

A quick Google search and you will find hundreds of results for laptop stands, from height adjustable ones to some made from cardboard. Consider how long you might be working from home for – if you are heading back to the office soon, IKEA has plenty of affordable options.

If you are going to be working from home for the foreseeable future, a good work desk is well worth the money. Bad posture from staring down at your laptop can lead to headaches and back problems that you definitely don’t want. There are plenty of stylish home office desks so that you can make sure your work-from-home space blends in with the rest of your home décor.

Don’t skimp on furniture that can make your life easier and remember that your work space needs to help not hinder you!

If you are considering extending or altering your home, you may find some of these services useful: