Business

How to set up a budget-friendly home office in your apartment

Editor

COVID-19 has changed the way most of us work. According to a recent survey conducted by research and advisory firm Gartner, more than 80% of company leaders plan to permit remote work post-pandemic. In a bid to navigate the new normal, working from home is increasingly becoming more and more mainstream.

There are many benefits of working from home. Employees who work from home can work at their most convenient time, escape stressful commutes, get tax write-offs on rent, and more. However, the problem is that not everyone has a large budget to invest in outfitting a functional home office.

No need to worry, though. To help you get started, we share five affordable home office tips and ideas, most of which were inspired by these furnished apartments in Austin, Texas. We hope they can help you create a practical space for working from home without breaking the bank. Keep reading!

Get Creative With Your Office Space

It may not be possible to add physical space to your apartment on a budget. So instead of setting up a completely different home office space, choose a location within the house. You can consider using:

  • A spare bedroom
  • An unused corner of the living room
  • A finished attic or basement
  • A space adjoining a backyard entrance or patio

For the utmost efficiency, choose a room that has enough space, is isolated from high-traffic areas and receives plenty of sunlight. It’s also important to consider some level of privacy, depending on how you plan to use your home office.

Use Items Already at Your Disposal

There’s no need to buy all new office items if you have a limited office design budget. You can make do with whatever is already available. For example, you can start by looking around your house for old but usable desks, chairs, computer equipment and lamps.

If you have existing shelves, use them to store smaller items like staplers and notebooks so they look more organized and neat. There’s a good chance that you already have time management tools, too. For example, a bedside journal or kitchen calendar can be useful in keeping track of your work tasks.

Go For Cheap Bargains at Marketplaces

Marketplaces are like a hidden gem waiting to be unearthed. If you don’t have any office furniture or accessories, hit the flea markets and thrift stores to purchase them. You can also shop around for cheap bargains at consignment shops and garage sales—not to mention online options like Craigslist and Facebook Marketplace.

It seems like more people are getting rid of their antique pieces every day. Whether you’re shopping for desks or bookshelves, you’re likely to find just what you need at a bargain price. All you’ll need to do is clean off the pieces and paint them to look as though they’re new. If hand-me-downs aren’t your thing, watch out for discounted furniture sales and you’ll still save big.

Balance Spending on Office Necessities

When it comes to setting up a budget-friendly home office, it’s vital to pay attention to office essentials. Think about what your space needs right now to be functional. This comprises items like desks, chairs, electronics, and practical lighting.

Once you’ve equipped your office with those necessities, go ahead and focus on your nice-to-have purchases, including cute décor and extra storage. Also, it’s important to consider quality when purchasing your most essential office items.

You can spend less on your office desk, lighting, or storage. But if it involves your office chair, head on to Ergo Tune AU and look for ergonomic pieces that’ll make you comfortable through those 9-hour workdays. It’s better to splurge on your cozy accent chair and practical lighting, because these items will enhance your productivity in the long run.

DIY Your Home Office Items

You don’t have to spend top dollar on a piece of heavy furniture if you have the skills and time to create one. For example, it takes no more than a few hours to DIY a simple office desk. By simply lying a board across two filing cabinets in your office, you end up with a functional desk with lots of storage space.

You can also put several multi-level shoe shelves on top of the desk to hold a printer, books, or papers. Office items like pencils and scissors can easily be held using a decorative flower pot. In short, there are dozens of ways you can use cheap materials to create the necessary items for your home office.

Conclusion

Setting up a dedicated workspace in your apartment can make a huge difference to your overall productivity. The good news is that you don’t have to bust your budget to set your space up. If you zero in on things that matter the most to your job, you could keep your spending in check as you build your dream home office.