Setting up a workplace at home: secrets of organizing space (77 photos). How to organize a workplace in a one-room apartment Ideas for decorating a desktop

A work corner in an apartment is needed not only by schoolchildren and students. Many of us increasingly work remotely, check important email on the computer, or have some kind of hobby. The issue becomes even more pressing when several family members need a workplace in an apartment, because now almost everyone has their own computer or laptop that needs to be placed somewhere. In this article we will tell you how to organize a comfortable workplace in an apartment, even if there is very little free space in it.

Cabinet from Hülsta-Werke Hüls

Office layout

Ideally, if you have the opportunity to allocate a separate, albeit small, room for your office. In this case, it is worth paying attention to the general recommendations of designers, psychologists and therapists regarding the location of the workplace.

Compact workplace with shelves, Shake

Basic rules for workplace layout:

the entrance door should not be located behind the back of a sitting person. If the entrance does not fall into the field of vision, this gives rise to psychological discomfort and interferes with concentration.
ideal if the window is located to the left of the workplace
remember the “20×20×20” rule: in order not to spoil your eyesight, while sitting in front of the monitor, look into the distance at a distance of about 20 m for at least 20 seconds every 20 minutes. In practice, this means that every 20 minutes you need to glance out the window, so it’s a good idea to have it nearby
if you plan to spend more than 3 hours in a row at your workplace, be sure to take care of a chair that is comfortable for your back, which should have individual settings for the height and weight of the user
do not forget about artificial lighting: it should be bright enough and at the same time provide directional lighting in the place you need
a modern workplace requires the presence of technology, so it is worth taking care of additional sockets and ensuring that unsightly coils of wires do not get tangled under your feet
Don’t forget about organizing storage spaces in your office: shelves for books, drawers for papers, a rolling cabinet, etc. you will definitely need

According to psychologists and designers, the optimal color scheme for a work office is a cool color scheme. It is believed that dim colors best stimulate the brain, without being distracting, like bright red, and not overly relaxing, like blue. In addition to the main tone, you can choose furniture and decor in natural colors, for example, choose shades of natural wood in combination with sand or ocher.

Adentro desktop

In small apartments, it is often not possible to allocate a separate room for an office, so the workplace can be in any of the rooms, for example, in the bedroom. Usually in this case we are talking about a small work table for a laptop or favorite diary, which has a place even in the smallest room. In the ladies' bedroom, the work and dressing tables are often combined.

An original table that allows you not to be distracted by other things from Roset Italia

Advice: A folding cabinet door can be used as a tabletop. There are even special cabinets with a secret, behind the doors of which a mini office is hidden.

Secretary from Dyrlund

For a bedroom, small rooms in general, as well as for cases when a desk is needed only from time to time, a compact sliding table-shelf would be an ideal option. Today, there are a lot of options for this type of design, and their advantages are obvious: they do not take up free space, and at the same time, they are at hand at the right time.

A compact or folding work area is also a good option for the living room. This can be a cabinet-office with a retractable table top and shelves for papers and small items, and it is easy to choose the right model, regardless of the interior style you choose. The advantage of this solution is the ability to hide the workplace, for example, when guests arrive.

Another possible option is a narrow console table that has only two legs and is mounted against the wall. Such tables also do not take up much space and look elegant in the interior, but are not suitable for those who need a wide table top or a desktop computer for work.

An extendable console table that does not take up much space and can become a full-fledged desk, Bontempi Casa

Memo: if you have at least a small niche or even a storage room in your apartment, it can be completely converted into a visually separate small workspace. The main thing is to take care of sufficient lighting and comfort.

Desk in the living room, designer Nest Design Studio

If you live in a one-room apartment or studio apartment, and you really need a full-fledged workspace at home, it makes sense to consider the option of transformable furniture, for example, a bed hidden vertically in the wall, in the place of which a spacious work desk appears. Such furniture is not cheap, but for your own safety, it makes sense to purchase only high-quality models of folding furniture.

Folding and transforming furniture for small spaces, Clei

Workplace on the balcony

Despite the seeming exoticism of this option in the realities of real life, this option is almost the most common today. Insulated and glazed loggias can easily accommodate a medium-sized desk with everything you need, turning into a cozy modern office, isolated enough so that you are not disturbed from working or pursuing your favorite hobby.

Spacious balcony, designed by Davidie Rozin Architects

Usually you can find 2 options: when a room is combined with a balcony, demolishing a wall and getting a common space, and when a separate office is equipped on an insulated balcony. From the point of view of construction and legal standards, the second option is, of course, preferable, since even partial demolition of facade walls requires very complex approval, and in most cases is generally prohibited.

Balcony secretary, Lucy Johnson Interior Design

If you decide to set up a workplace on the balcony, you will have to take care of both insulation (a layer of insulation on the walls, heated floors, reliable, multi-layer glass) and protection from sunlight, which will certainly interfere with peaceful work in the summer. So you will need dense ones no less than a desktop.

This option is not very common in domestic realities, largely due to the modest area of our kitchens, but it should not be discounted. A small work table for a tablet or laptop, as well as your favorite notebook with recipes, allowing you to sit down for a while and take a break from cooking, would probably appeal to many housewives. Most often, for such needs, a distant part of the tabletop is allocated or the window sill is expanded.

Kitchen Design by BSA Management, Inc

Small laptop nook in the kitchen by Sarah Barnard Design

As you can see, even in a small apartment, if desired, you can fit in several work corners or equip a comfortable work area; the main thing is to use every opportunity and not limit your choice to standard furniture.

Workplace in a studio apartment, Onecollection table

The modern pace of life is sometimes difficult for even the most progressive and hardy of us, which is why offices and mini-offices within the walls of one’s home are becoming a common occurrence. A workplace set up in an apartment or house makes it possible to organize an acceptable schedule and not waste time on the road under the motto “home-work-home”.

We’ll talk further about how to create the best conditions for freelancers to work at home or organize an office in the city center, pointing out common mistakes in the design of a work area.

Errors and ways to resolve them

Wrong landing

First of all, when arranging an office or workplace at home, you should not place the table in such a way that the window remains behind the back of the person sitting, especially if there is only one in the room. From time to time you will need to look at the view behind the glass to relieve eye strain and just take a little break.

Right:

It is better to install a full-fledged desk perpendicular to the window: this will provide you with a free view of the landscape outside the window, as well as observation of the entrance to the room in order to feel comfortable.

Enhanced Brightness

Quite often, an area near the window in the kitchen, living room or bedroom is allocated for a home office, placing the table close to the window sill. We have nothing against such a solution, but if you work with a computer, you should not place its monitor parallel to the window. Thus, intense daylight and the brightness of the screen on will inevitably lead to a feeling of heaviness and tension in the eyeball.

Right:

If it is not possible to allocate another, less lit area for a table with a monitor, simply rotate the latter perpendicular to the window. This simple action will significantly reduce eye strain; in addition, you can close the curtains or blinds while working with the computer during the day.

Snow-white interior

It is not advisable to use white color in large quantities in the design of the office, because it will create the same effect as in the case of a monitor opposite the window. The intense light that surrounds you throughout the working day is tiring; in addition, white has the ability to reflexively reflect other colors and sunlight. That is, if, for example, the sun is shining outside the window, then it will be very difficult to work in a white office, and when it rains outside, the space will seem cold and dull.

Right:

Use white, provided that the cabinet is made in a warm natural palette: wood, grass, black and brown, terracotta and sand colors. So, snow-white accents will not harm, but will only create a more solemn and lighter atmosphere.

Visual emptiness

Boring walls, dull colors, simple geometric shapes are the bane of most urban office spaces. In such conditions, it is quite difficult to work productively without falling into apathy and despondency.

Right:

Remote work today makes it possible to plan your schedule more flexibly and make adjustments to the established image of the average office. At home, it is possible to adapt the workplace to personal needs and habits, so you should not ignore such a privilege. For example, you can decorate the walls with paintings depicting landscapes in a natural range of colors (these will help your eyes relax during a break), black and white photographs (they do not distract from work and complement the interior well). We also recommend using lamps and decor of unusual shapes and textures that are pleasant to the touch.

Not an ergonomic chair

Poor perseverance can develop for a completely prosaic reason, for example, due to a hard, deep, too low or high seat.

Right:

The correct furniture for sitting at a desk is a chair with the back slightly tilted back. The feet of a seated person should be free to touch the floor, legs should be bent at an angle of 90 degrees, and the back should be leaning against the backrest.

Please note that a furniture store salesperson may not tell you this, but there are different types of chairs: some will be comfortable for men, others are suitable for women, due to differences in the location of the centers of gravity

Lack of local lighting

A workplace or table in a separate office cannot do without additional lighting, because quite often you have to work in the evening. So, the light from the monitor will clearly not be enough to see the symbols on the keyboard, or write down the necessary information in a notepad.

Right:

Getting to work in the twilight hours, or giving in to the creative impulse at dawn, is a little easier if your home office is equipped with a desk lamp or architect's lamp.

Lack of storage sections

It is difficult to maintain order in the workplace if the table is hidden under a pile of papers, and boxes with folders, office supplies and other supplies are scattered under your feet. A significant disadvantage in the design of the workplace is the lack of places to place the most necessary things for work.

Right:

If you don’t want to clutter up the space with cabinets, cabinets and other heavy furniture, you can attach several shelves along the wall above the table, on the sides of it, and even under the tabletop. This will help organize your work area and simply make it tidier.

Dilapidated furniture

When it comes to setting up a home workspace, many people make the same mistake: using furniture that was used and borrowed from neighbors, bought at a flea market or brought from a city office. It’s good if these items are vintage, in excellent condition, made of durable materials. It’s worse when an office is formed from a wobbly table and chair, broken drawers and pencil cases without handles, in the hope of soon replacing old items with new ones. As a rule, this “soon” does not come for a long time, and you suffer from your own short-sightedness.

Right:

You need to approach the choice of furniture for your home office carefully, and even if it is not new, it must be tested for strength and quality, so that later you do not regret the money spent and the time spent searching for items.

Excess colors

Beautiful, cheerful colors energize and inspire you to work harder and yet, the office does not need to be oversaturated with flashy colors. Some of them are too active (yellow, red, fuchsia) and make it difficult to concentrate on main tasks.

Right:

If you use bright combinations correctly, they will not only not harm you, but will help you restore your strength during your work break. So, you should not place bright color spots on the desktop and the wall in front of it: it will be difficult to focus attention on something else. It is better if the color is used in the upholstery of the chair you are sitting on, on the rug under your feet, on the wall behind you.

Cold floor

When we sit for a long time, we lose flexibility, quickly get cold and get tired. These unpleasant sensations may be aggravated if there is tile or other floor material that is cold to the touch underfoot.

Right:

It is possible that you are not ready to replace the covering or use a heated floor system, but laying a soft and warm rug, fur bedding or mat, after all, will not be amiss.

If we exclude apartments where elderly people live, then all other families have at least one computer, or even as many as 3-4 - one for each family member. When you have a separate room where all your computer equipment is comfortably located, it’s just great. But what about those families who cannot afford to have two or three separate rooms? That's right, you need to organize a workplace in the available space. And it doesn’t matter whether you work full-time at home or just use a desk with a computer to communicate on social networks - in any case, the workplace should be comfortable. We invite you, together with the “Dream House” website, to see how you can organize a workplace in an apartment so that it is pleasant to follow the ups and downs of your friends on Odnoklassniki, look at photographs of interiors, or prepare a quarterly accounting report.

Workplace organization ideas photo

Basic conditions for organizing a workplace at home

When choosing a place for your desk, you need to analyze whether it will be convenient for you to work there. There is a science called “ergonomics”, which helps to properly organize human activity, in our case, work. It is precisely the principles of ergonomics that you need to be guided by when choosing a work area, that is, so that nothing gets in the way and, at the same time, all the necessary items are at hand (paper, pens, flash drives).
The next condition is functionality. The presence of shelves, drawers, hooks, and clips is mandatory for orderliness of the workplace.
And the last factor is sufficient lighting and fresh air flow to the part of the room where you are going to work.

Interesting ideas for organizing a workplace in an apartment

Another option for using a compact workplace, for example, in a one-room apartment, is with a desk and shelves. To get to the computer, you will only need to move one door to the side. The rest of the time, a closed cabinet does not bear any mention of the work area located inside.

Approximately the same principle works if you place a laptop in the opening doors of the secretary. True, in this case it is inconvenient to work for a long time due to the fact that there is nowhere to put your feet - you will only have to sit sideways at such a “work desk”.

An unusual workplace can be organized in a cabinet that looks like a huge one, which is placed vertically with the doors open at 90°. On one inner part of such a “suitcase” there is a computer table and drawers, on the other there are bookshelves. Such original furniture will allow you to privacy even in a one-room apartment.

A table with a computer can also be placed in the bedroom, if, of course, your significant other doesn’t mind. But doctors, as well as followers of Chinese teachings, do not recommend turning the sleeping area into a working area. Use this option if others cannot be implemented. In the bedroom, the table can be placed near the wall instead of the ladies' corner, or you can move it close to the bed and place it near the foot of the bed.

In general, in order to arrange a workplace, you can use any free space in the room. For example, one meter between the wall and the closet can already be turned into an office. To do this, you will probably have to make a custom-made table, but you can use the leftover material for shelves and even small bookcases located above the computer. There is also a place for a cork or fabric board, where all important notes are usually attached.

Workplace in a small room

If your apartment has a storage room or, then consider yourself lucky. A separate office with a closing door will fit perfectly into a room that is usually used as storage for unnecessary things. But before you settle down here thoroughly, decide two very important issues - ventilation and lighting.

Look around the room carefully, maybe you can find a free corner? Use it, even if at first glance it seems insignificant. As in the previous case, custom-made furniture will help out, and wall mounts for a monitor and keyboard will certainly come in handy. These are very convenient devices that can save space. In addition, rotating mechanisms allow you to change the angle of the monitor and the height of the keyboard specifically for each PC user.

A home office in the kitchen (next to the refrigerator and kettle) – isn’t this the dream of every office worker? If the dimensions of the kitchen allow, then a small table can be installed somewhere near a window or in the corner of the room. In the end, you can fall into the arms of a soft one, and temporarily use the table as a worker.

Use a wide hallway to create a home office. This is where you can go wild with the length of the table and shelves! Use the space along a long wall and install a shelving table there, and attach a couple of the same long shelves on top - and now you have a chic workspace. Let the table not be too wide, but it will be long, and all the necessary little things will fit on it.

In high apartments, with walls more than 3 meters high, the office is placed under the ceiling. To do this, a small platform is made on the “second floor”, and an elegant staircase is led up to it. But here, as in the case of a home office in a closet, you need to solve the issue of fresh air flow, since it can be hot and stuffy under the ceiling.

Workplace in an apartment with high ceilings

People I know often stay late at work to take a class at an online school or finish a freelance project. This is explained by the fact that it is more familiar and convenient to work in the office.

My article will help them and you organize what Americans call a home office - a workplace at home in order to work and study productively. Especially if you do not live alone and in a small apartment.

Designate a separate place

Step outside the couch and take your laptop off your lap. Otherwise, in a couple of months your back will feel pain, your eyes will feel tired, and even the strongest motivation will turn into procrastination.

Look into the following corners - there will probably be a place for a desktop or at least a folding tabletop:

near the window;
on the balcony;
in the closet;
between cabinets and openings;
in a niche, in a corner;
in a separate area created using partitions.

“A workplace in a one-room apartment should be mobile and multifunctional. Instead of a computer table, you can buy a universal folding one, which will turn into a dining table when guests arrive.

Instead of a traditional personal computer, use a combination: monitor + laptop. After work, the monitor is easy to remove, and if it has a large diagonal, it can easily replace a TV. And the table will be free for other needs.”

Alena Podmasko, stylist at Leroy Merlin

“The main mistake a freelancer makes is to work in bed or on a soft sofa/chair. Especially if you work with texts. There is always a temptation to merge with the pillows and hang out on YouTube in a soothing atmosphere or take ten tests like “which Disney princess is your closest in spirit.” I've fallen into this trap many times. Now I have organized a home workplace at a regular desk.

Life hack 1. Working from home all the time is tiring, so I compiled a map of coffee shops within walking distance and with stable Wi-Fi.

Life hack 2. Find places with happy hours - for example, at Point 242 there are discounts on coffee until 10 am, at Doubleby - until 12. This will motivate you to leave the house early. And it’s good to start the day with a cup of good coffee.”

Katerina Karslidi, editor-in-chief of the portals Cinemaholics.ru and Film.ru

Ideally, if the chosen corner has enough space, a lot of light and you can look out the window. So it’s better to insulate the balcony than to clear out the pantry.

“The favorite trick of designers is to turn a one-room apartment into a two-room apartment, turning the balcony into an office. Replace double-glazed windows, install heated floors, and insulate the walls. Just keep in mind that heating radiators are not allowed on the balcony.”

Margarita Simonenko

Don't sacrifice form for functionality

Remember: furniture serves you and your needs, not you. Invest in a comfortable chair, a beautiful table, and stylish wall shelves that will fit into the interior. Don’t turn the corner into a soulless “cubicle” - no matter what, you’ll want to run away from your home office.

“Light-colored furniture is suitable for a small apartment; dark furniture looks more bulky. A glass table looks weightless and visually expands the area. But weigh the pros and cons: the glass tabletop is unusually cold and requires careful handling and more careful maintenance.”

Margarita Simonenko, designer-architect of the service of ready-made construction solutions "TNOMER"

“I spend most of the day at my desk: I work, rest, eat, and turn on movies at night. Initially, the corner was designed for my husband: he needed a place for both a computer and for working with papers. Therefore, the keyboard moves back, freeing up space. There were other requirements for the place: that it occupy a minimum area, be protected from the dog (that’s why the table has a long back wall so that the dog doesn’t get under it and pull out the wires); so that I could sit next to my husband. It’s more convenient for us to communicate, watch memes and TV series: while one is working, the other is resting. Everyone is busy with their own business, but at the same time together, and not in different corners.

The table was not designed for a child at all. Now we think that the surface could be made longer. If we had one more workplace, my daughter could easily sculpt or draw between us. During full gatherings, we remove the keyboard under the monitor and sit the child on our laps. Previously, dishes accumulated in the middle of the table - now children's pencils and toys. And yes, a child’s rock painting instantly appears in an untidy, open notebook.

I like the monitor stand on my desk - I hide little things under it: some cosmetics, workbooks and pens. Previously, we stored office supplies in a bedside table with a drawer, but now it is sealed with tape: protection from children’s hands.”

Anna Maslennikova, freelance developer on maternity leave

Appreciate the vertical

“You can save space by using the vertical: choose a high bed under the ceiling, and organize the workplace directly under it. This scenario requires additional lighting, especially if the corner is away from the window. Install a sconce above the table or place a floor lamp on the side.

Place everything that can be hung on the wall: replace the bedside table with shelves, a regular table with a wall-mounted tabletop, mountains of papers with vertical storage systems or labeled boxes stacked on top of each other. Put current tasks on a magnetic board.”

Margarita Simonenko, designer-architect of the service of ready-made construction solutions "TNOMER"

Hide the table

“The table is the central part of the work area and requires the most space. The problem is solved if you hide it in a closet or chest of drawers. A retractable or folding tabletop is even more compact and is also easy to clean. The simplest solution is a secretary or bureau.

You can also use a window sill as a work desk by expanding it slightly. Or make a hanging tabletop that visually lightens the space.”

Margarita Simonenko, designer-architect of the service of ready-made construction solutions "TNOMER"

Maintain order

Tame your technology. If you use the entire arsenal of office equipment, one table will not be enough for you. Consider where the printer, scanner, and speakers will be located, whether they will have enough sockets, and whether it is possible to replace several different devices with one multifunctional one. Can you do without them altogether? For example, to scan documents, an application on a smartphone is sufficient (Doc Pro - Book Scanner to PDF, Scanner Pro, etc.). You simply take a photo of the document, and the program enhances and saves the image.

Manage your wires. There are special clips and cable holders, or you can get by with regular office clips. Label the same cables.

Organize chaos. Think about where to store office supplies and other small items. Place nearby what you should always have at hand. Personally, it’s easier for me to start if I have a stylish notebook in front of my eyes (not necessarily a Moleskine). An anti-stress toy that is pleasant to twirl in your hands can help the developer concentrate. Place the rest in labeled boxes.

“One-room apartment in Novosibirsk, the owner works mainly from home. He lives alone, so the work area is not fenced off. During the day there is enough natural light: it falls from the window on the left, the apartment is on the 10th floor. Local lighting is provided in the evening and at night.

The workplace is a built-in table with a Wi-Fi router hidden under it. The cabinet serves as a stand for the printer. The home office fits seamlessly into the interior and does not take away from the space.”

Separate personal and work

“The brain needs help to focus. If it is difficult to divide the space (as in a one-room apartment), build conditional boundaries. For example, create two accounts on your own computer. Use one for professional activities - block some time-wasting sites there, remove shortcuts for games. The other is for a “free lifestyle”. It will be easier for you to maintain productivity in your work profile because you will have to take a conscious action to switch to procrastination.

Examples of other life hacks: change into more formal shoes or put on a shirt and suit, change the chair to an office chair, set a timer for a time intended only for work tasks.”

Maria Shumikhina, psychotherapist and coach, board member of the International Association for Psychoanalysis of Business and Organizations.

conclusions

Knees cannot replace a table, and a sofa cannot replace a chair. Invest in comfortable furniture.
Even in a one-room apartment you can find a separate corner for work. As a last resort, screw a folding tabletop to the wall and bring a folding chair.
Anything that can be hung on the wall, hang it on the wall.
Keep your workplace tidy: recycle excess papers, sort out wires.
Separate personal and work space.

Bonus tip: Even in the perfect workplace, remember to take a break!

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