Creating a Home Office in a Pinch

Everything in this space was stuff I rounded up in the basement and from other rooms in the house to create a home office for John in a pinch.

Want to see what this room typically looks like?

a collection of misc items and props…

And an even more realistic look at what it usually looks like. lol! 

1. rolled out a rug I had stored in the basement
2. repurposed the IKEA table that I usually use for photo shoots into a desk
3. brought in a desk chair that we have owned for a long time and has been in a room upstairs since we moved
4. added a console table that was in the basement to the back wall 
5. used command strips to put up a temporary piece of artwork 
6. borrowed lighting from other rooms in the house
7. accessorized with a few books and plants just to make it feel a bit nicer

I must have done an ok job creating a place where people want to be, because it’s Jack’s new favorite spot to nap. 😉

It looks so much nicer than having a room full of junk off the entry way too. 😉

A dedicated space to work will make working from home SO much easier. No moving things off of a table every time you need to work, no clearing clutter off of your workspace. You can leave it set up all day and come back to it just like you would your desk at work. That was what really made all the difference for John these last couple of days. If you are finding yourself working from home and struggling to find a place to do it, here are some quick and easy ideas for creating a home office in a pinch. 

1. 1. 1. 1. Pick a quiet corner. You don’t need to have a whole room – don’t worry if you don’t have an official office space in your house. You simply need a spot to work that is quiet and where you can set up your computer and whatever else you need and leave it set up. Obviously, the quieter the better for concentration and if you need to be on the phone. Think outside the box. Do you have a walk in closet where you can put a small desk or table? Can you use a corner in one of your kid’s rooms…an older child that doesn’t need to nap during the day? A dining room? A living room? Basement? Any quiet little spot will work.
         2. Set up a table or desk. So many console tables, kitchen tables, dining room tables, desks, side tables and more can be turned into an instant desk. What do you have that you can use? As long as it is tall enough for a chair to fit under it, you can use it as a desk. There are lots of very inexpensive desks that you can order and have delivered in a matter of days. Here are a few of my favorites:
         3. Get a comfy chair – you will be sitting here for many hours a day, so make sure you have a chair that won’t hurt your back. 
         4. Lighting – Bring in lamps from other rooms to make sure you have enough lighting.  You don’t want to strain your eyes, so borrow lamps if needed! If you have a room with a great window where you can put your desk, even better!
         5. Storage – Baskets and boxes can keep things under control. If you need office supplies easily accessible, keep staplers, scissors, paper clips etc. stored in a box or basket next to your desk to help keep your workspace clutter free.
         6. De-Clutter your space – you can see from the above pictures that this room can look pretty cluttered a lot of the time with props and such. I removed ALL of the clutter so that this temporary work space would feel clean and inviting. It makes it much easier to spend time in your temporary office if it is clean.
         7. Accessories – obviously not a necessity, but sometimes adding a few accessories can make this temporary space feel more like a spot you want to spend time in. 
         8.