It’s no secret that more and more Australians are working from home, even just for a portion of their working week. But not everyone has oodles of space to spare for a dedicated work area. If your space is limited, then these small home offices ideas and tips will help maximise the area you do have, helping you carve out a little idyll of your own.
Keep Your Desk Clutter Free
Don’t let your work desk become a dumping ground for books, pens and papers. It’s a slippery slope, as small spaces can quickly become cluttered and messy-looking when stuff starts to pile up. Instead, use trays, baskets, tubs or a small set of drawers to stash away work paraphernalia.
A clever hack? Use a label maker to keep track of where everything is kept. Keep only the essentials on show on your workspace, such as a couple of pens and a notepad or two. Now, it not only looks organised and inviting, you can also find everything you need with ease and are ready to go when you need to jump into your next project.
What to Try
- J.Burrows Desktop File Storage Organiser 5 Drawer Clear
- Otto Brights Magazine File Mint
- Keji Manila Document Wallets Foolscap 20 Pack
- Otto Landscape 2 Drawer Cabinet Bamboo
- Otto Brights Large Organiser Tray Mint
- J.Burrows Mesh Desk Riser with Drawer White
- DYMO LabelManager Handheld Label Maker 280P
- Otto Brights Document Tray Mint
- Otto A4 Weekly Business Desk Planner Magnetic
- J.Burrows Chisel Highlighters Assorted 6 Pack
- J.Burrows Iron Mesh Desk Accessory Set 5 Piece Black (not pictured)
- J.Burrows Round Magnets Assorted 45 Pack (not pictured)
- J.Burrows Stick-it Notes Cube 50x50mm Ultra (not pictured)
- Otto Personal Undated Planner Petrol Blue (not pictured)
- Otto Wire Baskets 2 Pack Gold (not pictured)
Use a Laptop or All-In-One Computer
Ergonomic experts say a proper desktop computer is ideal when you’re working from home, but laptops take up a lot less space and you can pack them away when the work day is done. “A laptop can definitely save you some space,” says Anthony Hill from Geeks2U, but there is a great middle ground option. Consider “an all-in-one desktop computer, where the computer is built into the monitor so you only have one device with limited cables”, suggests Anthony. He recommends purchasing an all-in-one from respected brands such as HP and Lenovo.
What to Try
- Lenovo 14" IdeaPad Flex 5i 2-in-1 Laptop Core i5/8GB/256GB
- Lenovo 14" EVO Yoga 7i 2-in-1 Laptop Core i7/16GB/512GB
- ASUS 14" ZenBook Notebook Ryzen 5/16GB/512GB
- Lenovo 13" IdeaPad Duet 5 Snapdragon 7c/8GB/256GB Chromebook
- HP 15.6" ENVY x360 2-in-1 Laptop Ryzen 7/16GB/512GB
SEE ALSO: Home Office Design Ideas to Inspire Productivity
Consider Your Cords
Got a lot of gadgets? The cables from your phone charger, computer, printer and internet router can get tangled and look ugly and untidy in a small office space. One of the best small home office ideas to keep things organised is to use a pack of simple cable ties, some cord clamps or concealers. It’s a little thing but it has a big impact on productivity and the look and feel of your workspace.
What to Try
- Keji Cable Box (not pictured)
- Keji Cord Clamps Black 3 Pack
- Otto Writeable Cord Identifiers 10 Pack
- Otto Magnetic Cable and Earphone Ties 5 Pack
- Keji Cable Manager Black
- Otto Colour Cord Identifiers 5 Pack
- Keji Cable Grippers Black, White and Blue 5 Pack
- Keji Mesh Cord Concealer 2m Black
- Keji Cord Grippers Black, White and Blue 6 Pack
Let the Light In
Lighting is very important when you’re setting up a home office — no one wants to work in a dingy or dull space. You’ll be far more productive, not to mention feel happier and healthier, if your desk is positioned in a well-lit sunny spot, preferably by a window. University research has shown natural light to have the most positive effect on workers.
But natural light isn’t alway an option, especially if you are tight on space. As a solution, set up a lamp or two to really brighten things up.
What to Try
- BenQ Eye-Care ScreenBar Monitor Light
- Mercator Lennox LED Desk Lamp with USB White
- Flick LED Desk Lamp with USB Charging Port
- Celine Task Lamp Black
- Mercator Eugene LED Task Lamp Black (not pictured)
- Mercator Devo LED Desk Lamp White (not pictured)
- J.Burrows Monitor USB Clamp Lamp (not pictured)
- Zane Wireless Charging Lamp White (not pictured)
- Otto Rattan Lamp (not pictured)
- Celine Task Lamp White (not pictured)
Look Up
Anthony from Geeks2U is a bit of a guru when it comes to small home office ideas to make the most of a tiny area. His best tip ever? “Go up!” he says. “Use the full height of your wall by installing shelving that goes high up, stack drawers and use the space under the desk. This will allow you to optimise the amount of storage in a smaller floor space.” Floating shelves are a super idea to maximise storage space; they’re also modern and streamlined, adding style to the overall look and feel of your home.
Or opt for a desk with a hutch for a clever solution to storage dramas, or try risers, which not only help provide better ergonomics, they also give you some clever storage.
What to Try
- Horsen Floating Shelf 800mm White
- Horsen 4 Cube Bookcase Oak
- Newton Hutch Storage 1100mm Desk White
- Pout Eyes 6 Wooden Monitor Stand with Wireless Charger Black
- J.Burrows Mesh Desk Riser with Drawer Black
- J.Burrows Mesh Desk Riser with Drawer White
- Otto Plywood Monitor Riser Black
- Otto Large Desk Riser Acrylic Clear
- Otto Bamboo Monitor Riser
- Kensington SmartFit Aluminium Height Adjustable Laptop Riser
- Bonelk Elevate Ergonomic Laptop Stand Black
- Lihit Lab Monitor Stand with Drawer White
- Lihit Lab Connectable Steel Monitor Stand 400mm Teal 2 pack
- Kensington Monitor Stand
- Reading Portable Laptop Table Oak and Black
Stay on Top of Paperwork
In smaller spaces, there’s simply no room for filing cabinets and stacks of paperwork. But in many jobs, some paperwork is unavoidable. To prevent piles mounting up, invest in a small shredder. It will quickly become your MVP in a compact home office, safely nixing printed documents before they have time to become clutter.
What to Try
Go Digital
If you can avoid stacks of printouts, then do! Embrace digital storage solutions and keep your projects efficient and organised. A portable hard drive is so handy – it’s sturdy, compact and ideal for working on the go, with oodles of room to back-up your documents, photos and videos.
A solid state drive (SSD) allows for speedy file sharing and can be ultra-secure, with password protection or additional encryption, to keep sensitive documents safe. Another option? Step into the future and sign up for online cloud-based storage – which can offer as much storage as you need for images and documents.
What to Try
- Samsung T7 Portable SSD Drive 500GB Grey
- Seagate 2TB OneTouch Portable Hard Drive Black
- LaCie Rugged 1TB USB-C Portable Hard Drive
- Seagate 5TB OneTouch Portable Hard Drive Space Grey
- Toshiba Canvio Advance 1TB Portable Hard Drive Red
- WD 2TB My Passport Portable Hard Drive Blue
SEE ALSO: Let the Geek Guide You: How to Secure Your Business and Data
Be Clever With Colours
According to Angela Wright, a renowned colour psychologist, certain colours can impact the way we feel and perform at work. When setting up your own working from home space, use colour to create a mood – green is calming, blue is stimulating, while red inspires action and energy, and yellow makes us feel happy.
When choosing accessories and stationery, stick to one colour or tone overall; this will look more polished and put-together, which is particularly important for smaller spaces. Consider the colour scheme of the rest of your house, too – you want your workstation to blend in.
What to Try
- Otto Wire A4 Magazine File Rose Gold
- Keji A4 Document Wallets with Button Closure Assorted 12 Pack
- Lihit Lab Connectable Steel Monitor Stand Teal 2 pack
- Otto A4 Magnetic Monthly Wellness Desk Planner
- Otto A5 Week to View Undated Urban Diary Pink
- Brateck Monitor Riser White
- Otto Terrazzo Pot with Succulent Plant
- Otto Round White Glazed Pot with Plant
- Otto Mini Plant Shrub
- Otto Wire Pen Cup Rose Gold
- Artline 70 Permanent Markers Assorted 4 Pack
- Otto Paris Metal Desk Clock Pink
- J.Burrows Linen Board 450 x 600 mm White Frame
- J.Burrows Whiteboard Markers Bullet Pastel 6 Pack
- J.Burrows Porcelain Whiteboard Silver 1200 x 900mm
- J.Burrows Stick-It Notes 76x76mm Assorted Ultra 5 Pack
- Otto + Natalie Jade Week-to-View A5 Undated Diary
Limit Distractions
When you’re working from home, there are so many distractions that can disrupt your workflow. From the TV to the ever-growing laundry pile, it’s tempting to take breaks and focus on other things.
This is even more challenging in a small space, or if your work area is in a high traffic area of the home. But here’s a hot tip – try setting up your desk to face a blank wall. Hello, instant concentration!
Another great idea is investing in noise-reduction headphones to block out noisy neighbours (or family members!), garbage trucks or barking dogs. Staying on task is tricky, so use to-do lists and a planner to prioritise your time.
What to Try
- Otto Slim Weekly Business To Do List
- J.Burrows ANC Bluetooth Headset with Boom Mic
- Otto A5 Undated Productivity Planner Black
Choose Your Chair Wisely
If you have a desk in a hallway or the corner of your kitchen, opt for elegant furniture that’s pleasing to the eye and matches the existing colour palette. Prevent your space from feeling cramped and cluttered by selecting a compact chair with thin legs – these create an optical illusion of taking up less space. You also can’t go wrong with furniture that does double duty – an armchair easily slips into your dining or living room when work is done.
What to Try
- Pago Nest Home Office Ergonomic Medium Back Chair Pink
- Pago Nest Home Office Ergonomic High Back Chair Grey
- J.Burrows Halifax Ergonomic Chair Black
- Otto Skagen Chair Grey
- Lindenberg Chair PU Brown
- Otto Nordby Desk Chair Velvet Green
SEE ALSO: Home Office Ergonomics: A How to Guide
Keep Office Essentials Behind Closed Doors
Clean out a cupboard and dedicate it to your office equipment, so clunky items like your printer or shredder don’t encroach on the rest of your living space. You can also store your work paraphernalia here at the end of your workday. Being able to close the doors and hide away your work stuff is not only beneficial for keeping things clean and tidy, it’s also a positive mental step that disconnects you from work when you’re ready to “clock off” for the evening.
This article was originally published in 2021 and has been updated.