You might be thinking of working from home, but aren’t quite sure how to work at home with no office setup. Making the decision to work from home requires a lot of thought, but don’t rule it out just because you have no private office. There are a number of ways to create an office space or even a portable workspace when you have no space for something larger.
The Perfect at Home Office
Think about the perfect home office: quiet, comfortable, and well-lit. When we imagine this space, it is typically a private, enclosed office that allows us to block out the rest of the world so that focusing on the task at hand is easy. While this sounds nice, it isn’t always possible to have an enclosed workspace at home. I’m in the same boat! Since leaving my job to work from home two years ago, I’ve never had a private office. With two kids, two dogs, and a whole lot of tasks to complete, I had to learn how to turn my own space into the perfect home office – without walls.
Where Can I Work if I Don’t Have an Office?
The possibilities for a workspace are endless when you work from home. Although you may have been tied to a desk at a previous employer’s, you don’t have to any longer! It’s freeing and allows you to get creative with where you set up your place of work. What’s even better is your office at home doesn’t have to be the same spot every day. You now have the flexibility that you may have never had before. Use it!
How Can I Work from Home Without a Desk?
There are alternatives to a desk that might work for you. Some individuals that work from home skip the desk altogether and use what’s available to them. Many work from home jobs allow you to be portable – this means no desk, no landline, no typical office-necessities. A laptop, tablet, and cell phone are typically enough for most at home jobs. If there are other necessities for your job, there are often ways to make them portable. The suggestions below might provide you with enough inspiration to tell you exactly how to work from home with no current office setup.
Stair Landing Office
This is my current situation, but I’m so mobile it isn’t used every day. A few months ago I found myself sitting on the landing to do work when my husband was trying to get our youngest to sleep downstairs and the internet was being spotty upstairs. I decided to make a more comfortable spot to sit and get things accomplished should this happen more and bought a cheap study table and padded folding chair to put in the corner of the landing. It was a great purchase! The table is big enough for my laptop and a few other items, but small enough that it doesn’t get in the way of going up the stairs.
Living Room Desk
Do you have an unused corner in your living room? A corner desk can be a great investment for your office space. If you have an empty spot along the wall, get a desk that fits your space. The hesitation that I’ve heard about with living room desks is the distractions that are present in the living space of the home. However, with some noise cancelling headphones and a desk that faces the wall, distractions can be managed more easily.
Under the Stairs Cubby
If you’ve got one of those cute cubbies under your staircase, you should definitely be utilizing it for your office space. If you can’t find a desk to fit just right, you can easily cut the wood to fit and attach it directly to the wall at desk height. Grab a comfy chair that can be pushed under the makeshift desk and you may find that your cubby is a great place to work.
Transform a Closet
Closets can be multi-functional spaces. In fact, if I didn’t have a changing table in my own closet (we were forced to downsize when we moved halfway across the country), I would definitely put a desk in my closet. You can create your own little work cave in a closet. Add great lighting and a fan to keep the airflow going and you could have a mini-office all to yourself.
Entryway Office Space
Do you have an entryway or foyer that has unused space? If so, you have space for an office. You may be hesitant to place an office where every visitor you have will see it, but that only encourages you to stay organized! A desk can be cute and decorative as well as functional. Try it!
Table as a Desk
Sit at your kitchen table for work. I’ve done it on numerous occasions and always get a lot accomplished. Of course, this is usually after my kids have gone to bed and the distractions are gone, but I have worked a handful of times with the sounds of playing and laughing happening a few feet away. Sometimes its a distraction that I don’t mind so much!
Bedroom Office Area
Use your bedroom! They say you shouldn’t work where you sleep, but if you need to – do it. The trade off can be so worth the risk of working too much. Just try to turn off your work-brain when you should be sleeping and it could be effective for you.
Cabinetry Desk Space
I love these! As a fan of those home-remodeling shows, I love when they put in cabinetry desk space. These are exactly what they sound like – a desk within a cabinet. Imagine huge, floor to ceiling cabinetry that opens to a desk and computer. G.O.R.G.E.O.U.S. I seriously love this idea and am considering it for when we buy our next home.
Create a Basement Office
If your basement is finished, this one is obvious. If it is not finished, you can get creative! A rug, a space heater, and great lights can make your formerly dingy basement feel like a great work space. Get some plants and a comfortable chair and you might find that it is one of your favorite places in your home to escape for work.
Take it to the Attic
You might be thinking, my attic is hot. I don’t want to work up there. I feel you. I’m not a fan of the heat, either. But, they make little portable air conditioners that might help you out! Spend $50-100 on a decent one and you could create an attic office worth the investment. Otherwise, fans are a thing, too!
Portable Office Options
Lapdesks are great for your bed or lounge chair. A TV tray can serve as a portable desk. Or, you could even pack your laptop bag with a stapler and files with the necessary paperwork and take your work to the back yard. There are so many portable office options to choose from!
Command Center
If you don’t have a permanent office space, set up a command center. With a corkboard and a file organizer, you can have a spot to keep track of everything before moving to today’s work location. If you have a love of post-its or list out your to-do list for the morning, a command center can help you to stay on track.
Take it Away from Home
Working from home doesn’t mean you have to stay at home all day. There are numerous work from home careers that allow you to take work to a coffee shop, library, bookstore, or cafe. Some people like to take their work to the park or somewhere out in nature. Get creative! You might find that your productivity increases with a change in scenery.
Tips for Working Without a Private Office
- Invest in noise-canceling headphones.
- Work when the kids are sleeping.
- Don’t face the TV.
- Get organized before you start working.
- Get a babysitter for a few hours per week.
You Don’t Have to Have a Private Office to Work at Home
I can understand the desire for a private office – I have kids. However, there are so many possibilities for you to work at home without an office setup. Look at every inch of your home and see where you can fit a small work area.
Do you have any hesitations in working from home without an office? Share them with me in the comments!