Raise your hand if you have a Pinterest board labeled “Dream Home” or something along those lines? <raises hand> In mine, most of my saved items relate to my dream office and creative studio space.
Like many writers and creative people, I’d love a big room filled with built-in bookcases, lots of natural light, and comfy chairs for reading. It would be a dual function space to serve as an office/library and an area to work on my paintings and other creative projects. But since I haven’t won the lottery to be able to build my dream house, I currently live in a small one-bedroom apartment. While it’s fun to dream about my ideal office, for now, I have to make the most of what I do have.
Working From Home When Your Home is One-Bedroom
My current office space comprises a corner of my living room that would normally be considered a place for a dining room table. But since I live alone and have no real need for a dining table, this corner became the logical place to put my workspace.
Over the past few days, I’ve been rearranging things in hopes of taking better advantage of the space. With a small apartment, storage is at a premium. It can be hard to find the most efficient way to arrange things. With a few tweaks, however, I have given my space a little more of an office feel without actually having a real office.
Clearing Out
Anyone who lives in a small space knows the importance of making the most of every inch. And we know that pieces should be multi-functional. This often means a table doubles as a desk, or a bookshelf also gets used for storing things other than books. In my case, my desks also had to be used for any other kind of creative work. The first step in making my workspace more efficient included taking out things that I no longer needed or don’t use often.
I had two desks, one for my laptop and general workspace and one that held my desktop computer and monitor. While I do still use the desktop computer fo a few things, it is old and slow. It’s not great for everyday use. Becasue I use my laptop for most everything else, I decided I didn’t need to keep my second desk in my main work area.
I moved that desk into my bedroom. That way I can still use my desktop computer when needed, but it’s not in the main area taking up valuable space., This created space for other items that will get more use. And really, my office corner now looks cleaner and more cohesive without the extra screens and cords from the old desktop computer.
A Place For Everything
I have a bit of an obsession with office supplies and accessories. I’m always on the hunt for the perfect pen or fun new stickers for my planners. But that means a lot of random things lying around.
Previously, I stored most of my supplies in various containers placed on bookshelves. But with the old computer desk moved out, I repurposed some storage units I had been using in my closet to store craft items. I sorted through a lot of that stuff, leaving empty drawers. That allowed me to move two metal cabinets with drawers into the corner of the living room. These cabinets also made a great spot for my printer so I could get rid of the plastic stand it had been on before.
Between the metal cabinets and a smaller bookcase for the most used items, I cleaned up the space and now have an organized storage system. Everything I need daily lives in the same area as my desk. I have all my printer paper, pens/pencils/markers, planner supplies, and miscellaneous items within arm’s reach.
Functionality Rules
One of the biggest issues for anyone working regularly on a computer is muscle tension from sitting too long and/or eye strain. When writing for longer periods, I try to remember to get up and stretch a bit. (This is another reason why writing sprints are great!) But with using a laptop on a regular desk, the screen is below eye-level. I often have neck soreness and headaches from looking down at the screen.
Since I now primarily use my laptop, I invested in a laptop riser and wireless keyboard. This allows me to have the screen more at eye level so I’m not looking down to see what I’m typing. Hopefully, this will help reduce neck strain. And the wireless keyboard can be tucked under the laptop now. That means when I’m not using the computer, the keyboard can be tucked away and give me more room on the desk for working on other things.
Making the Most of What You Have
It will be a while before I have my Pinterest dream office, but until then, I’m trying to make the most of what I have. With a few small changes, I now have a work space that is both organized and allows for multiple uses. If your writing or work-from-home space isn’t quite what you hoped, look for some little ways you can add some spark.
- Move furniture around in the room
- Take out pieces of furniture that take up space and aren’t functioning well
- Repurpose other furniture pieces to add storage to small spaces
- Add artwork and accessories to personalize the space
- Utilize small compartments/containers inside drawers to help keep small items together
- Use removable strips to attach bulletin boards, white boards or calendars to the wall
Reignite your creativity!
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