Creating Space to Work or Learn from Home
Our homes are starting to feel a little smaller these days, aren’t they? Regardless of the specific square footage of your home, quarantining has got us all feeling a lack of privacy and craving a space in our homes to call our own.
While the concept of working from home isn’t anything new, now that we’ve added remote learning into the mix, it’s getting harder to find a quiet space to work or learn from. Are you wondering how everyone will get their work done now that school has started up again?
7 Ways to Maintain Effective Remote Spaces for Work or School
Here are some tips for creating and maintaining effective spaces for working or learning from home:
1. Create separate work and school spaces if possible.
Ideally, you’ll want to have separate spaces for those who are working vs. learning remotely. However, depending on the layout of your home, a multifunction space may be necessary. If you and your children and/or spouse are on opposite schedules, this can work out nicely.
However, if you’ll be working alongside your spouse or remote learning child, there are a few things you can do to minimize distractions or interruptions.
Make sure everyone uses headphones.
Communicate regarding scheduled calls and meetings.
Stagger breaks so everyone gets some privacy.
Set up your spaces back to back, with a divider, if possible.
Place desks as far apart as possible as your space allows.
2. Get creative with underutilized space.
Do you have strangely shaped spaces or rooms in your home that aren’t being used often, or at all? These types of spaces, such as a nook under the stairs, or a large closet, a basement, or mudroom can all be great places to work or learn out of. You just have to use your imagination a bit.
3. Choose a flat surface with wall space for younger learners.
Worried that you don’t have enough space to create a learning center in your home? Younger learners don’t need much space at all, as long as it is visually engaging and provides a flat surface of some sort to write on. Younger learners do well with interactive wall activities and other wall visuals, so you may not even need to worry about fitting in a desk! #ad
4. Hide cords and wires for a cleaner looking space.
There’s nothing worse than tangled cords and wires - except maybe looking at them! If you can find a desk with built-in places to run cords through, this works well. Alternatively, you can use cable ties to consolidate and organize all those cords, and get a faux floor plant to hide them behind. #ad
5. Make your work/school space fun!
If you’re going to be spending your day at home, you might as well add some fun accessories to your work or learning space to make it more enjoyable. Add some color and personality with framed pictures, small plants, a unique pencil/pen holder, a bulletin board, and/or a white board. #ad
6. Make the space bright and comfortable.
Good lighting is essential for productive work and learning. Choose a well-lit room, if possible. If you don’t have natural lighting in your space, be sure to get some lamps to brighten up the room. A good, comfortable, and adjustable height chair will also ensure you can - and want to - spend time in your space. #ad
7. Put away work/school materials at the end of the day.
Putting things away at the end of the school or work day helps with work/life balance in the home. If you’re constantly looking at work or school documents and supplies, it can be difficult to fully focus on being present in your personal/family life. #ad
Ideas for Storing Work/School Supplies
If you do have to work or learn from the dining room, use a cart or other storage item where everything can be put aside (while keeping things organized) when it’s time for dinner. That way, the dining room can remain a place used for sharing family meals. #ad
Or, if you have to work from the living/family room, look for a corner where you could put a small desk. If that’s not possible, you could also use a pop-up coffee table that also provides hidden storage for when it’s time to clean up. #ad
You could also clean out a kitchen cabinet or a section of the dining room buffet to use for storage, install floating shelves near or above your new desk area, or keep it simple and use baskets. These can be moved from the area at the end of the day, so they are out of sight and out of mind. #ad
Design Your Remote Work Space Today
Need a little help designing a space in your to work or learn from? Let’s chat.
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