A bedroom office doesn’t have to leave you in bed all day like Grandpa Joe
That pile of blankets isn’t cutting it as a makeshift desk. Your back hurts because your bed wasn’t built to be an office chair. Such is the plight of the WFH-er when you don’t have the luxury of a dedicated office—or any space besides your bedroom, for that matter. Luckily, you can get crafty and turn the room into a workspace by day and a cozy chill space by night. Here are our top tips for making it happen.
You probably know the importance of keeping your home and work life separate. Unfortunately, when you work from home, this can get tricky. Don’t let your work memos overtake your personal space, and don’t leave them sitting on the bed. Keep everything localized to your workspace so you can set it aside when it’s time to relax.
When you don’t have a lot of floor real estate, think up. Mount some built-in shelves or find tall cabinet units to take advantage of your wall space. This will help you store your essentials without feeling too cramped or cluttered.
Despite your best efforts, staring at the same four walls can take a toll on your productivity as well as your mental health. Changing up the scenery in your home office can help you reach your goals and can act as a reset button. Find your favorite local Wi-Fi spot, whether it’s a coffee shop, library, cafe, or even a bar. Treat yourself to a snack, drink, or meal while you’re at it—you deserve it!
If you don’t have a problem with heights, a loft bed can free up tons of space in your bedroom. Add a small office setup underneath, and you’ll feel like you’ve got a tiny separate room. Plus, the small bed footprint will leave you with leftover room to use however you please.
A cluttered environment leads to a cluttered mind—and that won’t bode well for your work or your off time. When furnishing your bedroom/home office, find pieces with lots of drawers and cabinets to stash what you’re not using. At the end of the day, it’ll help you feel a lot more put-together and on top of things.
The last thing you want is to look at a blah workspace that makes you dread the next session at your keyboard. Treat your desk area with the same personalization you do with the rest of the bedroom. For a more modern home office look, find colorful desk accessories, hang artwork, add a decorative pillow—do whatever makes the space you.
Clutter is your worst enemy when you’re trying to pull off a hybrid bedroom-office space. Stock up on desk organizers, storage cubes, and whatever else helps you keep everything in order. Remember the mantra: A place for everything, and everything in its place.
Your bed only needs to be a bed when you’re laying in it—and there are tons of options to free up the space when you’re not. When remodeling your home office, consider getting a comfy futon or daybed that can double as seating when you aren’t hitting the snooze button. A foldout bed that comes out from the wall is also a great solution, albeit more complex to install.
If you’re strapped for desk space but you can’t afford to lose any room on the floor, a pull-out desk is a great solution. These feature an extra surface you can pull out when you need it—and stow away when you don’t.
Wondering how to choose a home office chair for a small space? Look for a collapsible office chair that can fold down and fit underneath your desk. You can also get a stool, though this might not offer the lumbar support you need. Finding an ergonomic office chair that’s collapsible can be tricky, so read customer reviews before making a purchase.