How to set up and style your Home office on a budget ?
According to a report by the CRN India website, 74 percent of Indians prefer to work from home more than they did before the COVID-19 pandemic. However, they have mentioned that they feel more connected to their devices leaving them with little time for personal needs. This clearly states the need of the hour, is to set up a Home Office.
Home offices have been on the rise since December 2019 and have been continuing to rise. However, with most professionals getting lower incomes, it has not been possible for them to set up personalized work spaces.
Here are 4 essential steps to keep in mind if you are setting up a Home Office on a budget.
1.Plan your layout.
It is important to dedicate a space for your Home Office. It could be a guest room which is not being used at the present or even smaller spaces like a corner of a large living area, below the staircase or a corner of your bedroom. Make a list of all the furniture required for your profession like a working desk, chairs etc. Measure them and work out on a layout which gives you ample privacy to work, makes you move around easily and lets you take ample breaks.
Pro tip: If you take out time to plan your layout, you will save the money required to hire a professional do it.
2. Selecting the correct Furniture.
If you are planning to buy new furniture for your Home Office, make sure you do your fair bit of research regarding the kind of furniture you want. For example, if your job involves sitting in front of the computer for an extended period of time, make sure you buy a chair which is upholstered and has good arm rests so that the strain on your back and hands is minimized.
If you do not have the budget to buy new furniture, you can always look around your house and check if you could reuse any of the existing furniture. For example, a console table can work really well as a writing desk too. If the table is not high enough, just replace the legs which would cost way lesser than buying a new desk.
Pro tip: Shop local and look for stores which are selling furniture at discounted prices. It is important to support the local stores to revive the economy of your country.
3. Office essentials
Even though we are in the digital age, there are certain office essentials that are required for work to happen smoothly. If you are looking at buying office stationery for your profession, do make a list of them and shop accordingly. If you are in need for multiple office electronics, do try to buy one which serves multiple purposes. For example, a printer with a scanner. This reduces expenses and makes you work towards saving the environment too. We must be environmentally conscious.
Pro tip: You can always reuse old boxes as storages for small items like board pins, paper clips and so on depending on their storage capacities. Magazine holders can be reused as file organizers. Repair and reuse older office electronics to reduce your expenses.
4. Get Styling
Organizing your workspace comes under Styling. Styling broadly refers to arranging your space in an efficient and an aesthetic manner. Once you are done with the previous three steps, start organizing your desk, chairs, shelves and so on. Keep things that you need the most within your hand’s reach and use the same method to organize other things.
Pro tip: Reuse old bed sheets as throws for your chairs or as covers for your desk(s). You can always personalize the space by having small portraits of your family, spouse or children to keep you feel connected. There are umpteen number of DIY’s for holders, photo frames etc. that you could learn online.
Working from home can only be joyful if you realize how to balance it out with your personal time. Relax, unwind, exercise and do any activity that reduces your stress levels and makes you feel peaceful.
We might work from home for the rest of our lives, so let’s learn how to deal with it in the best way possible.
