The last few years have turned working from home into the new normal. And many people enjoy it because of the more relaxed work environment. Not to mention that they can save a lot of time and money by avoiding those long commutes. However, many people struggle with staying productive at home because of all the distractions. Kids are running around the house and house chores are calling your name. Therefore, a good solution is to set up a dedicated space to conduct your work. But while you can find great luxury building amenities in NYC, most apartments were not designed to incorporate a home office. Thus, it can be hard to make room for one. So, here are some easy home office ideas for small NYC apartments.
Finding the right location is key
If you want to stay productive, working from the sofa or the kitchen counter is not an option. You need dedicated office space, no matter how small it is. Having a defined space for work within your home can help you compartmentalize work vs. “home”. Go through every room of the apartment to identify areas that could fit a small desk. Here are a few ideas that could work:
Convert a closet into your office space. Of course, storage space is important, but so is your work. So, make a compromise, and transform one of your closets into your office. And if you have nowhere to move the stuff in there, you should consider renting storage. Explore this solution because it can help you maximize the space in the entire apartment.
Find an empty corner. Many apartments have empty corners, which is a waste of space. You can easily fit a small corner desk in there.
Use the under-stair space. If your apartment has indoor stairs, the space underneath is probably empty. So, why not turn it into an office? Just make sure that your family members don’t use it as a dumping ground for their stuff.
Create a nook or convert an existing one. One of the top easy home office ideas for small NYC apartments is to carve out a nook. For example, you can sacrifice a small part of your wardrobes to create a nook between them. Or, you can transform your reading nook into an office nook.
Make sure you have enough light
While the above-mentioned ideas are great, they lack proper lighting. And this constitutes a problem for your work productivity. Therefore, making room for a small desk in front of a window would be best. Natural light helps you stay focused and improves your mood, so you should have plenty of it. Nevertheless, this isn’t always possible. So, if the office area you choose is dark, make sure you add enough artificial lights.
Your home office should benefit from a lot of natural light, so, if possible, place your desk in front of a window.
One of the best easy home office ideas for small NYC apartments is creating a multi-functional area
If you’re not willing to sacrifice any part of your NYC apartment, the best option is to create a multi-functional area. And the best way to do that is by investing in transformable furniture. These pieces of furniture help you save space and hide your office whenever you have guests. Or you can simply get creative and identify furnishings around the apartment that can become multi-functional. For example, a bedroom vanity can be used both as a makeup table and as a work desk.
Create office storage space
For most jobs, you need more than just your laptop. You might need printed documents, stationery, and more. Therefore, you’ll need some space to store all of this. When space is a valuable resource, you need to take advantage of every inch. To do this, you might want to consider the option of a floating desk that leaves room underneath for storage cabinets and drawers.
Another great option is to use all the available vertical space. You can install cabinets and shelves on the wall. And you can even get creative by hanging pots and spice racks to use as storage. Nevertheless, if you want to make the most out of your vertical space, then custom built-ins are the way to go.
When you have a small office space, it can easily look messy and overcrowded. And this, in turn, makes you less productive. So, keep your desk tidy at all times by keeping everything stored away in cabinets and drawers. And make sure you declutter your office space regularly. Plus, according to the consultants from divinemoving.com, you should declutter your entire NYC apartment regularly to maximize the space.
One of the best home office ideas for small NYC apartments is to regularly declutter your office area to maximize the space.
Don’t go overboard when you decorate
When you decorate your small home office, you should keep it simple. Don’t go overboard because it will look cluttered and will distract your attention. So, leave the decorative home accessories for other parts of the room. Instead, opt for one or more beautiful indoor plants. This solution is great because it looks good and it also improves air quality. And according to the research, good air quality increases productivity.
Decorate your home office with indoor plants that are both beautiful, and improve air quality.
Another idea that can be both esthetical and practical is defining your work area. On the one hand, you can use room dividers that will make your workspace more private. They represent a great solution for hiding your home office when you have guests. And at the same time, they create a more professional background for video meetings. On the other hand, you can define your work area by painting the strip of the wall in front of your desk. In this case, you should use a contrasting color to the rest of the wall. This will make it stand out.
Final thoughts
Working from home has many benefits. Nevertheless, it can be hard to stay focused and productive in such a relaxed environment. Therefore, you should consider setting up a home office. But sometimes, finding room for one can be very hard. It doesn’t matter if your NYC apartment is big or small because it is likely it was not designed with a home office in mind. Thus, you need to get creative and maximize the space you have. So, use these easy home office ideas for small NYC apartments.