COVID-19 has already changed our day-to-day lives in many ways. For one, many workforces are now operating with their employees at their very own home workspace. You may be one of them. We don't know how long all of this will go on, but if you are one of those working from home for the foreseeable future, you need a space that works for you.
This could be the beginning of a robust work-from-home workforce. But we may be getting ahead of ourselves. Either way, if you are one of the many people now confined to a home workspace, you might need some tips on how to design a home office, and how to set that up and quickly. And if you weren’t prepared for this environment shift, here is how to build your home office on a budget.
Dedicated Home Office Space
You may have a spare room you can set up as an office, but there’s a good chance you may not. No worries—you don’t need to take on any pricey renovations to carve out your work environment. That can be costly. Try getting a screen or room divider instead. There are many options based on your style, space, and preferences. Another option is to set up shop in the attic or basement.
Avoid Office Supply Stores
This may seem counterintuitive, but those big box office supply places are really geared toward businesses and their budget size. While your company may reimburse you for basics, they probably won’t purchase everything you need, like filing cabinets, for example. You can find inexpensive options for those and other supplies at your friendly neighborhood discount department stores.
You, of course, can use what you already have. There’s probably a desk or lamp going unused in another space that you can take. If you do come up short at home, try the thrift stores and flea markets. One benefit to these spaces is you may be able to find a good deal on something relatively new. You can also find vintage pieces or refurbished items that can add some sophistication to your space.
Maybe give us a call or check out our store catalog. We have options to fit every budget and delivery is also available. We are here to help.
Vampire Power
Hopefully, you are one of those people that turned off the lights and other things in the office, helping to save energy and money. If not, you definitely want to begin that behavior now. Now that you are home during the day you will be using your heat/air conditioning, electricity, dishwasher, laundry, and everything else more.
There’s no reason you cannot start a load of laundry before diving into your morning emails. However, new behaviors (hopefully you’ve done laundry before) are going to add up. Vampire power is sneaky. This is the power that accumulates when you are not around or sleeping. So make sure to power everything you can after “business hours.”
Update Your Utilities
If you haven’t yet, now is time to optimize those utilities. You might need faster internet or at the very least, to make sure you won’t hit any usage fees. Give your provider a call and see if they have any promotions you can take advantage of.
Been meaning to kill that landline but haven’t gotten around to it yet? Now is the time! If you have a cell phone, landlines are costly and unnecessary. And if you need a scanner, your cell phone might be able to double as that too. There are many scanner apps to choose from. You could also get a printer with scanning capabilities, if you need that too.
Shop Your Neighbors
There’s a good chance someone you know might have what you are looking for. Simply post to Facebook what you need and see who can help. Craigslist and other neighborhood webapps can help too. You might even be able to barter with something you have in exchange, and save a little cheddar, unless of course you are bartering with actual cheddar.
Again, we are in your hood so you can shop here too. Check out our store catalog but if you aren’t finding what you need, give us a call. We are of service to you and our shared community.
Now you are all set to be productive at home in your home workspace. If you have furniture needs outside of work, our specialists are here for you. Give us a call—we would love to help!