During the past year, 70% of full-time workers found themselves to be working from home. And while the sudden transition to remote work involved a transition period and learning curve for most of us, we also realized just how much happier and more productive we were able to be when we are trusted to Work From Anywhere #WFA.
Now, as we approach the upcoming Return to Office and embrace the end of the 9 to 5, many of us are looking forward to our days of working from home thanks to remote, hybrid, and flexible work policies. For some, this means working out of our gorgeously crafted home office suites. And for the rest of us, this means designing home workspaces that fit our #WFA needs, without stifling our productivity— or creativity. Whether you are new to the work from home lifestyle or are looking to give your home workspace setup a revamp, read on for our tips and tricks for making the most out of our at-home workspace.
Note: If your organization doesn’t have a #WFA policy yet, but you're interested in instating one, you can get started right now by downloading The Ultimate Guide to Crafting Remote Work, Flexible Schedule, and Working from Home Policies (with Templates!).
How to Create a Work from Home Space
Let’s clear one thing up: no two home workspace ideas are built the same because no two remote workers have the same needs. Millions of workers around the world are currently adapting to their new work from home lifestyles and while some of them are in the position of already living in homes with dedicated office space available to them, the majority of us are navigating this transition to remote work while contemplating the best place in our homes to convert into a makeshift office.
The first step in creating the perfect work from home space is to make a list of everything you need out of a workspace. This list will likely include things like:
- A dedicated work surface large enough to accommodate your remote work tech tools. Depending on the space you are working in, this could be a personal desk, the kitchen table, or even a section of counter space.
- A supportive and ergonomic chair. Better yet, you can repurpose your favorite kitchen chair by putting a comfy cushion on it when you’re working.
- Good lighting. If you can, set up your workspace in a place where you can reap all of the benefits of natural light while you’re working, if that’s not an option for you then any well-lit area of your home space will do (try a ring light if you’re in a particularly dark spot, they’re not just for influencers anymore!)
- Privacy during work hours. This is a key factor, especially for those of us with children, roommates, and partners who are at home during the day. Setting up your ideal workspace behind a closed door from the rest of your household activity is essential for heightened productivity— even if that closed door is to a closet (no joke, closets were the home workspace of choice for 15% of workers last year!).
- Internet and electricity access. This one probably sounds like a no brainer, but the best place for your workspace is in an area where you have complete access to high-speed internet and charger ports for all of your electronic needs.
- Storage space for office supplies and other materials. Having a dedicated space in your home space to keep your work supplies— a drawer, a bin, a personal filing cabinet— will not only keep you organized but keep you from feeling cluttered or cramped while in your home workspace.
Now that you’ve got your checklist, take a walk around your home and choose the best place for you to set up shop and get to work every day. Of course, you can always change up your home workspace situation if you decide at any time that you prefer working in a different area of the house, but “commuting” to the same workspace every day while working from home is oftentimes an essential part of creating a routine for yourself and get into that working mindset each day.
At Home Workspace Ideas
Now that you’ve picked out your corner of the sky (house/apartment/bungalow/cottage) where you are going to set up your workspace, it’s time to get creative. Designing your workspace is a personal process— after all, you are the one who will be spending your time there each day— so it should be a place where you feel comfortable and professionally prepared.
Depending on your work style, this could mean:
- Setting up your workspace to minimize distractions and maximize productivity. For example, working from a secluded, quiet, and minimalistic area where the opportunity for interruption is at its lowest.
- Decorating your workspace to spark creativity. Regardless of your industry and role, creativity is a necessary component of a job well done. To keep your creative juices flowing throughout the day, adorn your workspace with your favorite artwork, plants, and colors.
At first glance, this is all easier said than done. But optimizing your workspace to increase productivity and creativity is not something that should (or needs to be) compromised, regardless of the size and structure of your living and working quarters.
To see what I mean, check out these at-home workspace setups designed to optimize the work from home lifestyle.
Small Home Workspaces
For those of us looking for an any-living-situation friendly home workspace alternative to the classic home office, look no further than these innovative desks. These at-home workspaces make the most out of a small situation— it just goes to show that size isn’t everything when it comes to productivity.
Hideaway Office
Source: Wayfair
To take out of sight, out of mind to the next level— hideaway workspaces are perfect for those remote workers who really like to keep their work life and home life as separate as possible while working from home. Hideaway desks like this one from Wayfair seamlessly fold out of the wall to reveal ample storage and a sturdy desk. Then when you are done working for the day, simply fold your workspace back into the wall to reveal newly freed up living space to make the most out of your off the clock hours (dance party, anyone?).
Vertical Workspace Design
Source: Target
For those of us working from home with minimal square footage, thinking vertically is a great way to make the most out of your living space. What vertical workspaces like this one from Target lack in desk size, they make up for in creative storage opportunities. By stacking additional desk shelves on top of one another instead of widening the desk, you can work from this minimalist vertical desk all day long without feeling cramped.
Standing Desk with a Twist
Source: Stand Steady
This rotating standing desk from Stand Steady takes everything we love about flexible workspaces and translates it to fit our work from home space perfectly
needs. During the workday, you can rotate the bottom of the desk out to the side to maximize your work area and gain access to that coveted under-desk storage space. Then, once you are ready to clock out at the end of the day, you can swivel the bottom half of the desk back underneath the standing portion to maximize your play area.
Dedicated Home Workspaces
If there isn’t a single area in your house where you can work from home regularly every day, don’t worry, you aren't out of luck. Instead of creating a small workspace in your home, all you need to do is create a dedicated workspace instead. Dedicated workspaces are perfect for those work from home employees who like to work from a communal living space, like the kitchen table. With the right dedicated workspace, you can easily turn any shared space in your home into a dedicated workspace.
Mobile Standing Desk
Source: Wayfair
All you need to work from this mobile standing desk is yourself. This mobile workspace from Wayfair is ideal for the home worker without space for a permanent home office. Instead, you can work from the kitchen, living room, or bedroom while keeping all of your work supplies in one, dedicated space. And because it doubles as a standing desk, you don’t even need a chair to get to work!
Ideal Workspace Trays
Source: Amazon
The optimal dedicated workspace for the mobile worker who doesn’t want to be tied to working from the same space every day, work trays are the new frontier of hyper-mobile workspaces. All there is to do to start your day is plop the tray down and get to work. The best part? When you are done working all you need to do is flip the tray over and place your work materials inside, then you can store your entire workspace out of sight until you are needed in your virtual office again in the morning.
The future of work is flexible— so shouldn’t our workspaces be flexible too? For more home workspace inspiration, check out these 10 Home Office Setup Ideas to Help You Work From Anywhere.