As a work at home mom you understand what it is to have to try to fit your business in around the needs of your family. You also understand that, for your business to be successful, it needs a dedicated space—even if that space is just a corner of the dining room or basement—and if your home is like most in Chicago, a small corner of the basement.
For some, particularly freelance writers (wink wink), this isn’t the hugest deal. All you need then is a space for your computer and a space to keep your files and contracts. But what if your business is bigger? What if you’re a crafter or you’re selling physical products that you need to keep on hand as inventory? How do you make a tiny corner office space feel big?
1. Mark Your Territory
You already know all of the tricks to decluttering. You know how to clean a room up and out. But what about a corner?
The biggest problem with a corner is that the rest of the room’s detritus has a way of creeping in. Your kids’ school projects wind up on your desk. Your chair gets reappropriated for a fort. Your husband tosses the mail onto your laptop’s keyboard.
Rather than get angry and start hollering at everybody to leave your stuff alone or setting up masking tape on the floor a la Les Nessman, take steps to make the space off limits. Set up a baby gate on either side of your desk to literally divide it from the rest of the room. If you can afford it, invest in a roll top desk and keep the top closed when you aren’t working.
2. Go Off-Site
You work from home but that doesn’t mean that everything that relates to your business needs to live in that same space. Storing some of your business’s materials off-site is a great way to save space while not having to give up things you need. Most Chicago self storage units are easily affordable—it’s likely that this is true wherever you live as well.
Use the storage unit for the supplies you want to keep in bulk (paper, toner, etc) and old files (the IRS says you have to keep certain files in hard copy for at least seven years). If you are selling a product you can keep it there and ship your orders once or twice a week. If you’re a crafter, keep your extra supplies there.
3. Conditioning
You are going to have to remind your family to respect your space. One way to do this is to set up new spaces for things like the mail, your kids’ backpacks, etc. Creating a new space helps people know what to do with the things they used to toss where you are now working.
You’ll also simply have to remind your family over and over again that you are trying to work and that your work space needs to be respected. It will take time, but they’ll learn—especially when you’re bringing in the money that helps them get the things they want and need!
Be patient. Get creative! There are lots of ways to make a small space feel big (and wholly yours)! These are just a few of them.
“remind your family over and over again that you are trying to work and that your work space needs to be respected.” this is something I am still working on. It’s getting better but distractions are also a problem for me sometimes. Shiny syndrome lol
My home office is my bedroom and my kids pretty much respect my space. But, I do most of my work while they’re at school therefore I can dedicate my time to them while they’re at home. But, I do like the offsite storage idea, my room is SO cluttered it’s starting to look like a newspaper and shipping box factory blew up in there.
I work at home and away from home. It is hard to find a space to concentrate and get things done.
I wish I had a small office. Something bigger then my desk anyway.
This is perfect for my small house/small office (which is in my bedroom!)
Thankfully at our current home I have a dedicated full-size office, but I remember how difficult it was before I did.
We added a sun room onto our home, which isn’t finished yet, but when it is half of it will be my office. I cannot wait! It’s in the kitchen or wherever I carry my laptop, right now. :/
Well put together post! I will actually save it for future
reference. Thanks a ton!