Add Space to Your Home Office With These Handy Tips

Add Space to Your Home Office With These Handy Tips

The living room is the heart of your home. It is where you entertain friends and family. It is a room to relax with, where you read your favorite books and watch your favorite movies. It is the spot where you plan family gatherings, make snacks for dinner and catch up on all the news. It is the first impression your guests will have of your home when they arrive. Let’s face it, your living room needs a makeover.

So what do you do with an open plan living room with a small dining area pushed far off to the side? Many experts suggest adding a home office to that space. In fact, any vacant office space in your house makes you look like you are organized and efficient. Here, offer up 9 simple ways to create an office in your living room.

A Work Station For Your Computer: You’ve had that big bulky desk in your living room since you were a child. You may not use it anymore but it still looks nice and can serve as a great work station. Put a chair behind your sofa that has a good amount of back support. An adjustable height desk is also a great choice that you can move around as needed.

A Computer Desk

It’s time to bring your office to home! Locate your computer on a low cabinet that utilizes most vertical space. Make sure the desk has room for all your paperwork as well as a few filing drawers. Invest in some shelving for your CD’s and other items that go along with your computer equipment. Don’t put the computer on top of your dresser, as this is a very bad idea…use a small living room table instead. This desk can either be stacked underneath your sofa or moved to another spot in your house.

Living Room Furniture

Pick out furniture pieces that match the style and design of your living room decor and color scheme. This way, when you sit down, the pieces look like they belong together. Don’t purchase several pieces that clash. If you must buy several matching items, consider having one accent piece and then purchasing the matching pieces from that store. This way, you can coordinate all the items you purchase.

Living Room Wallpaper

Use your living room as your blank canvas. There are so many beautiful options available in wallpapers today. Try to find something that reflects the style of your home office. Or, choose a plain but elegant background. Either way, you will love the way your walls look when you update with new wallpaper.

Office Chairs: Pick out the most comfortable, high-tech sofa you can afford. You do not have to buy an expensive leather office chair. Just pick one that is comfortable and functional. Then add a few feet to its legs (so it takes up less vertical space in your living room furniture), and you’re all set.

Once you update your living space with new furniture, update your desk as well

If your sofa or chairs are too high, you’ll be putting yourself at risk of repetitive knee, back, neck, and shoulder pain. If your desk is too low, you’ll also be in danger of slouching, which can lead to similar problems. Take a cue from your favorite writer, and get your office space ready for the future!

If you don’t know what you want to do with your desk, consider purchasing a mechanical keyboard. Mechanical keyboards are stylish and very affordable. A mechanical keyboard has the benefit of being able to function like a traditional desktop computer but affords the benefit of a full key rollback. This means that you can easily go back to using your favorite keys, instead of having to learn to use the special arrow keys on your computer.

If your living room furniture currently is made of heavy wooden or plastic, why not expand the living space? You can easily buy an L-shaped desk. An L-shape is very useful because it allows you to make sure that two people can sit at the desk and still have enough space to chat without bumping into each other. (An L-shape can even be converted into a mini table if you want to use it for reading books or magazines.) If you are concerned about space, an L-shaped desk is definitely the way to go.

If you would like to make a small room look larger, you can purchase a corner desk. Corner desks allow you to make the most of the space that you have available in a small room. They are also very stylish and can easily add style to any home office. You can even buy them with a pull out tray for easy storage!