The Corner Office
The past two years made everyone re-think how we use our homes. Some persons converted unused rooms to home offices or school work areas to accommodate remote work and virtual school. Others took advantage of the opportunity to work from bed or the sofa but at some point we looked around our homes for the perfect spot for work.
Now that workplaces are reopening, conversations about hybrid work and remote work are progressing nicely and those who have the option to work from home are taking advantage of it. This means finding a more permanent and comfortable solution for a home office.
If you’re tight on space and have no budget to expand, you can still clear a corner to have a dedicated work space that will promote productivity and focus. Here are five steps to getting that corner office at home.
Step One
Clear an unused or underutilized corner by packing away or giving away items not in use like decor or a plant, and measure how much space you have to use. Nothing to give or throw away? Think about vertical storage or hidden storage. Shelves help to take things off the floor and boxes can be stacked under a desk, table or bed.
My favourite places to shop for storage locally are: All That Matters, Fontana, Pricesmart and Azan’s.
Active Home Centre has pretty good shelving options for both floating shelves and standing shelves. You can check out their options here.
My pick for floating shelves on Amazon is linked here and the link for standing shelves is linked here.
Step Two
Pick your lighting carefully. If you have a window nearby, you’ll only need to think about task lighting which can range from $10USD to $100USD. Task lighting can reduce strain or your eyes and make working for longer periods easier.
Locally, Dunns Electrical and Active Home Centre will always be my pick for lighting. However, every now and then a random pharmacy will carry a lamp that makes my heart beat faster so keep your eyes out. I got the lamp pictured above randomly at Monarch Pharmacy.
Online, my Amazon pick is linked here and my Wayfair pick is linked here. Walmart, Home Depot and Lowes also carry really good options.
If you have no window, double up on lighting. A LED lamp that lights the general area along with task lighting will help to replicate sunlight and help you to feel happier in the space.
Step Three
A good desk that is stable, level, the right height and size is worth the wait. If you are working with a desk that is too narrow, a shelf that is the same height can be used to expand the width of your workspace. If it is too low, risers like these are far cheaper than a new desk. If the desk is too high, get a taller chair or cut the legs. You will not regret it. If you are in the market for a new desk but the prices scare you, spend some time roaming nicer neighborhoods before garbage collection day to see if you can spot any desks or tables being put out. Facebook marketplace also has secondhand items but be smart and look out for scams. My desk is vintage that my mum bought second hand and passed on to me but we bought my husband’s desk from a local office furniture and supply store.
Step Four
Get a task chair. I know. It hurts me to say it but beautiful chairs very often fail to give us the support we need when we sit and work. An ergonomic chair will help to ease pressure on our spine, hips and everything in between. The most important thing you need to have from an ergonomic chair are support and comfort. I do not recommend buying it online. Go and try them out and get the most supportive and comfortable one. Neutral colours help it to fade into the background and the mesh-back kind are not only very comfortable on hotter days but the ability to see through them makes the space feel visually lighter.
Up your comfort game by getting a foot rest.
Step Five
Make it your own space. I like calming art in my work space. So this means muted colours and relaxing scenes- like the water. I don’t put abstract art or motivational words because I find those distracting from my 9 to 5. Instead of drafting a contract, it might inspire me to sketch or finish my novel! 🙃
My suggestions are that you keep it minimal, have a clean desk system so you have space to put things away, keep a calendar handy or a clock as well as easy to reach stationery and charging stations. If you are on video calls, also consider your background - neutral and people-free are best. Grab vintage prints from the online public library or via the collections made by Kadie Pangburn.
And that’s it! When you put your Home Corner Office together be sure to tag me @jan.iswill, I would love to see your ideas come to life.
Check out some of my other posts here and follow me on Pinterest to see what inspires me here.
Till next time!
Jan
(All links are commissionable. I am an Affiliate and will earn a small amount if you click on the link or purchase an item using any of the links on this page. This does not increase the price of the item. Thanks in advance for your support!)
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