Cramped Quarters?
7 Ways to Optimize a Small Office Space
Whether you work at home or from a rented office, limited space can make it difficult to create a comfortable and functional work environment. Inviting clients to your office can become embarrassing if you find it difficult to sit down yourself. If you’re suffering from cramped quarters, it’s time to reinvent your office space to one that is more professional and inviting. Here are 7 ways you can get started:
1. Consider what your office says about your business
Whether or not you like it, your office says something about your business. Whether it’s sloppy, creative, neat, or sterile, your clients will leave your office with a new opinion of your services as well. Before you make any changes consider the image you would like to project and go from there. Every item you bring into or take out of your office will be much more informed and could enhance the nonverbal message you’re communicating to current and potential clients.2. Think outside the box
You don’t have to buy office furniture from an office supply store. Consider other alternatives. Ikea has a good selection of streamlined furniture that can solve storage problems while maximizing the amount of living space your office offers. You may find pieces that are unusual yet highly functional, giving your office a quirky and personable feel.3. Measure before your buy
As you look for pieces that will enhance your professional image while optimizing the space you have available, be sure you measure before you purchase anything. You should know the parameters of your office and buy items that will fit nicely within designated spaces. And before placing furniture you can test a new office arrangement by taping the floor with the furniture measurements so you can see if your plan will indeed optimize the available space.4. Use storage bins
It’s important that you have furniture that will enable you to store everything you need to adequately do your job. Whether it be a filing cabinet or a stackable shelving unit, you should pick items that will work best for your particular needs.5. Optimize vertical space
In arranging an office, people often forget the value of vertical space. As you look to your walls, consider ways you can use that surface area to best serve your needs. Shelving can definitely be attached to walls, but that’s not the only thing. Some even attach their desktops to the walls in order to better optimize the space below which would be unavailable with a conventional 4-legged desk.6. Decorate
A little paint and some wall art can make even the smallest spaces more appealing. Consider adding a soothing shade to the walls that will add a punch of color to your office in a fairly unobtrusive (and inexpensive) way. Think back to that image you would like to project and decorate accordingly.7. Organize
You cannot optimize any small space without organizing its contents. In fact, you may be surprised at how this tip alone will make your office appear larger. Sort everything that appears homeless. Toss that which is unnecessary and file the rest. Hopefully the storage containers you have chosen will be suitable for all that remains.
Just because your office is small doesn’t mean it has to be uninviting. You want your work environment to reflect your professionalism and capability. Taking just a few steps to optimize your office space can make all the difference in the world.
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