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If you’ve been following along with me for a while, you’ll know I am a freelance copywriter. Going freelance was absolutely the best thing for me. It gives me flexibility to work around the girls school and activities, and to write my blog. Not to mention being around for the girls after school, and being able to take them to their clubs. I’ve learned a lot about working from home, and how to set up your home office to make the most of the space is the most important.
Our home office is a box room, but it’s amazing how much you can fit in, with a few clever space-saving ideas (thank you Ikea!) Many of us aren’t lucky enough to have a dedicated home office, but these tips will help you maximise the space of wherever you set up your desk.
Even if you’re not working from home, these tips will also help you set up a little space for your hobbies, or general life admin.
Here are my 10 top tips to set up your home office for success…
1. A Neutral Colour Scheme Makes Your Office Look Larger
I personally like a monochrome scheme as it lends itself so well to most looks. It’s also not too distracting when you’re trying to work! A simple scheme with light, bright walls will make your home office look bigger, and be more inviting and inspiring to work in. I’ve broken up the black and white with copper and gold accents, and a few pops of pastel shades.
2. Large Desks & A Supportive Chair
We have managed to fit not one, but two desks into our small office. One corner desk which houses our Mac and a smaller one for reading, writing and (one day, if I ever get time) using my sewing machine. There’s no need to spend a fortune on your desk – ours cost £2.50 per leg and the top was £15. They are sturdy, but lightweight so we can move them around if needed.
We just have one chair that swivels between the desks, to save space. Ours is a good quality one that my brother in law gave us when he got a new one. It’s really comfy, even if you’ve been working in it all day. It’s so important to look after your back when you work from home. This is a good resource if you’re looking to invest in an office chair at home.
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3. Maximise Space with Simple Home Office Storage
When you’re planning a home office, I firmly believe you can never have too much storage. Ours is all from IKEA, with a combination of kids’ cupboards and ALEX office storage. As it’s all white with cut out handles, it works well together. My husband and I have one side each of this cupboard, and we also store our rechargeable batteries and charger (a home office essential!) and padded envelopes to reuse in there.
I store wrapping paper in an oversized vase. Repurposing items from around the house is a great way to inject some personality into your home office, without having to spend any money.
Storing long items vertically instead of horizontally is the best approach in a small space, too.
You could also maximise the back of the door with storage that hangs off it like this rack, it would be perfect for craft items, for example.
4. Gorgeous Organisation Stationery
I am a massive list-maker, so I need notebooks and desk pads to scribble down notes and to dos. This monochrome weekly planner is ideal for keeping me on track. I can fit all of the kids activities on there, as well as my own. The ‘don’t forget’ section is probably the one I use most.
Now my girls are at school, I’ve started to think in academic years again. My big academic wall planner is so useful for seeing where you need to be at a glance.
I am an eternal optimist when it comes to time, so I tend to over-commit and then get stressed. Seeing how many weeks there are in a term helps me be realistic about what I have time to achieve, and say ‘no’ a bit more. It works much better than a week, or even month to view calendar for me.
5. A Great Notebook and Pencils
I wouldn’t get far without a notebook. This softbound notebook has extra tools to keep you organised, including planners and pockets.
Having a pocket for loose bits and bobs is also a great way to make your space tidier and more organised.
I always have multiple notebooks on the go, for my different freelance copywriting clients. It’s so much easier than searching the pages for the right client!
6. A Pin Board of Motivation
I am a big believer in seeing positive messages, so much of my wall art has little messages of encouragement and words of wisdom. Whatever you choose for your home office, I think it needs to be personal and cheerful. I have a mix of inspirational cards and framed pictures with a few photos.
We have an IKEA peg board and also four of their cork pin boards screwed together. That gives us plenty of space to pin inspiration, and organisational stuff.
As a constant faffer, my shelf gets rearranged regularly, but this is how it looks at the moment.
You can read more about my prints here, and the our wedding photo here.
7. Light and Shade
Our office get a lot of sun in the morning which makes it hot in summer (though oh so cosy in winter). We installed a white wooden blind, so we can filter out the sun and see the computer screen.
I got a gorgeous copper desk lamp to light up the second desk. I bought mine from an independent shop but they have since closed down sadly. You can buy it here.
The minimal, open frame helps give a spacious feel, as it doesn’t block the light, and it looks so stylish too.
8. Fabulous Filing
The best thing for anyone who’s self-employed is an expandable file with 12 pockets, one for each month.
I put all my receipts in this as I go along, which makes filing my tax return so much easier. Find a good range of practical and pretty expandable files here.
9. Scented Candle and Tea
Finally this is the most important thing to include when you set up your home office. Tea. I don’t know about you, but I can’t get a lot done without a nice cup of tea.
I won this mug from Nadia Alessandra, and think it goes so well in my monochrome home office. The soy wax candle smells gorgeous even before it’s lit, and it’s eco friendly too. I think it’s important to have a lovely fragrance as well as a nice look for work.
10. Blankets & Fans
One of the best things about working from home is that you can wear slippers, and sit under a blanket! I think you’d get a few looks if you tried that in an office. We keep a little fan heater under the desk, because I try and minimise using the whole house heating in winter, if there’s only me here using one tiny room.
I’m always cold, so I keep a cotton blanket draped over the back of the chair to wrap up in. My mum also knitted me some fingerless gloves so I can keep typing!
Need more tips about how to keep warm? This will help keep you toasty!
Our home office also gets really hot in the summer. The vintage industrial style fan cools the room when the window isn’t enough. I got mine from Dunelm a few years ago, but this copper USB powered mini desk fan is just as nice.
I think making the most of the space in your home office is key for productivity, but also your state of mind. Now my office is so tidy and organised, I actually want to sit down and write.
I hope you found my tips on how maximise space in your home office useful, why not Pin it for later?
My She-Shed needs some of your tidy magic!! It’s an absolute state at the moment!!! It’s got so much detritus on every shelf, it’s making it hard to think!!!! 😉 #HomeEtc
Ha ha I am SO jealous of your She-Shed! I’m wondering how long my office will stay tidy now I’m back to work! It’s easier to keep tidy when you’re not using it much isn’t it! xx
I’m loving the two desk situation, makes total sense for one to be a computer desk and the other for reading/sewing. Pretty stationery is always a winner in a home office, loving yours! I really need to get more organised like you. Entirely agree about tea, can’t work without it! xx
Thanks so much Meera, I’m super excited to add things to my calendar too, to see what fun I have coming up!! Xx
I’m currently decorating my office and my new furniture is all from ikea. They do such practical, sturdy and cost effective items that nowhere else comes close
I totally agree, and their products are so adaptable too! Xx
Such a pretty office space Becky. Love the calendar on your wall, I wish i could be this organised. x #HomeEtc
Thank you so much Leoma, I really find lovely stationery helps! Xx
What a beautiful home office setting! I just wish mine was as tidy and it’s not even because I dont have the storage space, I just get so engrossed with what I’m doing that papers go flying books come out and before you know it I’ve created a huge mess lol. Thanks for sharing and maybe now I’ll get my act together and start being a little tidier ;D x
Ah I know the feeling, I hope mine will stay like this for a while, but those papers do creep in don’t they! Xx
What an idyllic home office – I love your colour scheme and inspiration board!
Thank you so much, I really love spending time there now xx
Your home office looks so lovely! I really miss having a dedicated space to work. I swear I was so much more productive when I had a home office. Now I have to work in the living room and it’s all too easy to get distracted. Great idea to have two desks and love the monochrome theme!
I think it’s good to have an office space if you can, not least so you can shut the door on it! xx
Such a well organised work space. A weekly planner is a must for me. It really helps me to keep on top of everything.
Thanks Fiona, I agree about weekly planning, it makes a bit difference xx
Such a beautiful space Becky and I totally agree, being organised and having a clutter-free space is key!! X
Thanks so much Lins, it does feel so good to have it all set up nicely xx
I didn’t know it was possible to have such a pretty office! Some great photos.
Thank you so much, I think pretty surroundings help my creativity! Xx
A lovely workspace! I am currently in the process of making our spare room into my ‘craft room’ and your ideas have given me some food for thought-thank you!
Oooh a craft room sounds very exciting! I have all my crafting bits tucked away in one of the cupboards, but they rarely see the light of day sadly! Xx
What a fantastic space and how amazing it must be to be able to work around your family life x
Thanks Nicola, I am very lucky to be able to work the hours I choose (within reason!) xx
I love good new stationary and definitely could use with a planner I can see in front of me! That poster “Perfect not to be ok” got me all confused I thought you had mirrored the photo lol, my brain was not working in the morning! LOL
Ha ha I know what you mean, as I caught sight of the photo and momentarily thought the same, even though I took it, and see it every day
What a lovely space Becky I really like that wall planner as like you I tend to overplan things
Thank you! I am starting to pop in a few Christmas activities – it’s so nice to see the lovely things we have planned! Xx
That’s a fab idea for storing wrapping paper – especially when it looks so pretty! I think I’m going to steal that idea 🙂 #HomeEtc
Thank you Suzanne, it helps it stay reasonably crinkle-free! Xx