Home offices are becoming more and more common everywhere. You might be starting a business and working from home until you find a more suitable place or perhaps you’re self-employed and this is the easiest base for you to work from – it doesn’t matter, nowadays we need that dedicated space where we can say that it is solely (or primarily) for working and unfortunately, the sofa isn’t a good choice.

Find a space

Dedicating a whole room to be your home office just isn’t always practical, especially in a small building or flat. If you live with other people then you want that space to be as far away as possible to make sure you can work distraction free. A corner of the living room where you can’t see the TV is a good choice, or sacrifice a corner of your bedroom that you only use for work.

Once you’ve found a potential area, imagine yourself sitting there and working. Think about what can distract you, such as windows, pictures, mirrors and the like. You might have to rearrange some things to make sure you can find a quiet and peaceful spot.

Getting the essentials together

Mandir Sheesham Corner Desk Mandir Sheesham Corner Desk

So, to get started, we’ve got some home office furniture ideas for you. The basics include a desk, a chair and some form of storage for any files and supplies you need. Nowadays, you’ll probably need an electricity socket or two so be sure to find the closest ones to your chosen space.

The Mandir Sheesham Corner Desk is one of the best options for making use of a corner as a small home office. It fits in most corners and has shelves underneath for the most essential and often-used supplies or equipment you’ll need. The gorgeous colour and solid build of this desk means it’ll be around for years if you look after it properly. If you have a bit more space, then the Mandir Sheesham Computer Desk might be a better choice, as it still has storage space but a larger working area and plenty of leg room underneath.

Whichever desk you choose, a comfortable chair needs to accompany it. Remember, you’re going to spend hours every day at this desk so the chair should be sturdy, reliable and as comfortable as possible – without sending you to sleep! Another important part is storage space. It might be for files, equipment, stationary or more but finding a way to keep everything close by in a tidy way isn’t easy. As a starting point, we’d recommend the Dakota Mango Tallboy, which matches both of our chosen desks perfectly.

Dakota Mango Tallboy Dakota Mango Tallboy

The finishing touches

Okay, so you’ve got the basics sorted but that’s not it – we wouldn’t leave you with a workspace that bare! Our small home office ideas include a number of ways to make this space more practical, secluded and relaxing.

While you want to minimising distractions, having a picture or two of your friends and family can help add a bit of life, identifying the space as yours even if it has to be work related. Windows are a great to have nearby if you won’t be distracted by anything that happens but a focused lamp using a bulb that simulates natural light as much as possible can help if the corner is dark at any time.

Finally, if you are using a communal room, look at ways you separate this space off from everything else (although this does make a lamp or other lighting source more necessary). Whether you use curtains to cut yourself off completely or find some screens that can be pulled across and then folded back when you’re not working – and, mobile screens can be used in other situations if you need them too.

Do you have any home office tips or ideas to share? Let us know on Facebook and Twitter!