Home Office On A Budget

If you work from home or just need a space where you are free to get creative and enjoy your hobby to the fullest, you might be surrounded by thousands of different expensive images of offices. 

It can get a little disheartening when you have an idea in mind, only to find out that the mirror in the image was hundreds of dollars or pounds. 

But, you deserve a space that makes you happen to work in – and what’s more, somewhere that fills you with the creative juices you need to have the day you deserve. 

Working full time from home, from the kitchen table, can work for millions, but if you have zoom calls or a lot of work that needs quiet in order to get it done, then an office space is your best option. 

What are the benefits of a home office? 

The home office can serve as a place to think, study, take part in courses, and get your work done. If you don’t have one or are wondering how you can benefit from a home office, here are some of the ways a home office can improve your working life: 

Productivity – when you have the space to concentrate on what you need to do, it is easier to do it. You’ll often do it to a higher standard and a faster time too. Often people, noise, and distractions in the other parts of the home can have a much bigger impact than we think. 

Working time – if you have an office, you can use it any time of day to get your work done. If you need to take calls in the middle of the day, you can close the door and do them. If you have an amazing idea at 4 am – you can head to the office and work without disturbing the rest of the household. 

Separation – the moment you step inside your office, you will automatically switch into work mode. You will train your brain to be more productive and efficient here. 

So how can you create a home office on a budget that has everything you need or want? 

Plan

Before you buy anything, you need to plan where things will go and why. Creating a space that is designed for efficiency needs some time. It might be that you won’t have a single room that is dedicated office space – instead, you have a small corner of a room. 

Take your time and plan how it will work. 

Floor plan 

If you do have a room that you are going to use, instead of quickly buying and adding more furniture into it – think about what you really need. If you mostly work from a laptop or a computer, then you won’t need much more than a desk and a chair to get you started. 

Measure your space so that you can buy items of the right size, this way, you can make the most use of the space. 

What do you already have?

We might not always need to buy new. Instead, we can look at what we already have and move it to where we need it. When it comes to accessories and home office equipment – it might be spread throughout the home. 

Have a look at what you already have, and where possible, repurpose it. 

Thrifting

It is easier than ever to buy second-hand, vintage, and thrift furniture. You might find that you have fallen in love with a table that is just the right height and size for your office. There is nothing to say you need to have a traditional desk with drawers and more. 

Often keeping it simple can be more beneficial. 

Head to your local thrift stores, check online for second-hand furniture, and see if you can bag yourself a bargain. 

Keep in mind that you’ll need to cover the cost of delivery or have a vehicle big enough to pick it up. In some cases, the cost of delivery is more than the price of the item. 

Accessories 

The accessories that you have in your home office or around the working environment you are creating should be things that give you inspiration or make you happy. Creating a gallery wall with a range of pictures can look chic and be really budget-friendly. You can find a range of different and complementary frames at frames.co.uk. 

Plants and even pictures of plants can hugely positively impact your office environment. Not only do the plants help to clean the air (some plants are more efficient at it than others), but plants have a huge amount of benefits: 

• Reducing feature
• Lowering stress
• Improving your mood

All great if you want to do your best work in your home office. 

Clean 

One of the biggest tips to having a home office on a budget and somewhere that you are going to want to work is simply to keep it clean. Keeping it clean has a huge impact on your ability to focus, and aside from an hour or so, it costs nothing to do. 

Corkboard

A corkboard on the wall above your screen can help you to keep on track. It is much cheaper than the millions of paid apps and software, and you have full control over its aesthetics. 

You can add a corkboard to your wall using sticky velcro pads rather than screws or nails so that it doesn’t cause any damage – and you can remove it, update it, and put it back as often as you like. 

Tip: This should make the list of must-haves for your budget home office because it is proven that you are more likely to stay on track if you can see your goals. It can serve as a reminder of what you need to do and what you have already done. Plus, your future goals. 

How a vision board helps you meet goals.

Spend or Save

You probably don’t need that very expensive Monstera plant that just ‘looks nice,’ so this is an area you can save. However, you do need an ergonomic chair and desk combination that can support you while you work long hours. 

Decide where your money should go before you spend anything. Often accessories like rugs, shelving, plants, and other things should be on the save list – the cheaper, the better. But your chair, any electrical equipment, your desk, and lighting should be a small investment. 

In order

If your budget is super tight, and you can only buy one thing at a time, then you need to decide what should be in there first. Most often, it is a good idea to save for a desk first and use a chair from the dining table set while you save for the ergonomic chair of your dreams. 

Over time you will slowly build your home office to what you need. It is important to remember that you don’t need to rush and get everything – it can be working progress and can take as long as you need to get it done. 

Inspiration

Perhaps you are looking for an office that has a totally unique look, and you need to find sources of inspiration. TikTok and Pinterest can be some of the best places to look for ideas to make your office productive and beautiful too. 

There are so many benefits to working from home; if you’ve lost the love for it, or need a gentle reminder, here it is: Benefits of Working From Home You Forgot About – Busy Being Jennifer.