For many mums who want to work from home, space can often be the number one problem. Whether employed or running a business from home, office space can be a luxury that is hard to come by. With a little imagination and careful planning, even the smallest space in the house can serve as an office, and also a room for visitors to stay in.
Working from home is much easier with an office, no matter how small, as long as there is room for a small desk, chair and a sofa bed or day bed, this room can double as a guest room during the holidays and weekends. If your office space is very small, think carefully and strategically about storage space and the type of bed that will fit in there. A sofa bed is always a winner for the smaller room. A handy sofa by day, making your office feel cosy and homely with room for visitors to come and join you for a coffee break, and a comfortable bed at night for houseguests. Sofa beds take up little space, but always check you have the room to pull the bed out at night. Sofa beds and futons have comfortable built in mattresses and are available as single or double beds.
Shelves on the walls will give plenty of storage space, not just for work stuffs, but can also be used to store guest towels or folded bed linen. If you have the room consider investing in a decent sized wall storage unit that will help combine space with aesthetics.
Choose a desk that is big enough for your needs without dominating the room. Corner desks are ideal for added workspace without dwarfing the room. A desk unit with plenty of drawer space will also be a handy item for storing files, chocolate and other important items! Keeping drawers organised and clean will make daily life that little bit easier.
Try to find a chair that is comfortable and supportive enough for you, but without being too big. Some office chairs are huge and although they look delicious to sit in, they may just take up a little too much precious floor space.
When you know you have guests arriving, make sure you keep any paperwork tidy and hidden from view in drawers. Add a vase of fresh flowers and if you can, have a table lamp with a low wattage bulb as, this creates a warmer feel to the room and flowers will take the eye away from files and folders on any shelves.
Add a little colour to the walls, pastel colours work well in smaller spaces, and will give the room a homely touch, something any visitor will appreciate! Using a little imagination and careful planning, even the smallest office can become a welcome space for a good nights sleep.
