Whether working from home is a short-term situation for you, or you’ve been thinking about your home office options for a while, your living room is prime real estate for multifunctional office space. Regardless of your home’s size, there is likely a way to make your living room work for you.
Look for Current Openings
Is there an empty space between your sofa and the wall? How about the area around your TV or a vacant corner? Scan your living room for any available openings. If you’re not sure that an opening is big enough for your desk or table, grab a measuring tape. Measure the available space and compare it to the width of your desk or table. If you don’t have a specified desk or table yet, look for the dimensions of the desk/table on any online retailing websites you prefer before making a purchase.
Make Space
If you don’t currently have any available room for your work space, you’ll have to clear an area to make some space. Draft a few different ways to reorganize your furniture using a pencil and a piece of paper to help visualize a new layout. Keep your measuring tape handy to realistically gauge what can fit where. Start shifting your furniture. See if downsizing your belongings is a feasible option for you.
Use What You Already Have
If you just need a quick fix for a short-term situation, consider using what you already have. A TV tray table is an acceptable (not to mention, portable) stand for your work laptop. You can take a TV tray table into any room you want, whenever you need a change of scenery while working remotely. If you already have a small table on your patio or balcony, you can also use that to do your work and get some fresh air at the same time.
Consider the Dining Room Table
In the same vein, think about using your dining room table as a temporary desk setting. If it’s not a piece of furniture you use often (I’m looking at everyone else who eats at their coffee table in front of the TV), your dining room table could be a great makeshift option while working from home for a short period of time. It offers plenty of space to spread out your supplies along with close proximity to power outlets. It’s in a central location in your home, so you’ll still feel connected to the rest of your apartment even while focusing on your work priorities during the day.
Although you may have to get creative with your space, you can definitely find room to work from home comfortably. Consider using this situation as an opportunity to reevaluate your belongings and reinvigorate your living space. Working remotely may come with its own set of challenges, but you still deserve to be comfortable. You are home, after all.
Published March 26, 2020
