As more of us get used to, and enjoy, the benefits of working from home, we have to become savvier with how to use our space. Not everyone has room to create a spectacular home office, away from the hustle and bustle of daily life. If that’s you, it might be time to make your kitchen work even harder by adding in a workstation for your office life.
Use the kitchen Island
Whether you have a kitchen island or a freestanding table, both can be easily repurposed to become a home desk. They are already highly versatile with a plethora of drawers and nooks normally used for cutlery and plates, pots and pans. But consider using a drawer for your laptop and notebook, and you have somewhere you can store your work tech when not using it, and a large enough work surface when you do.
Whilst the main kitchen counters are usually covered with kitchen appliances or are too close to sinks and taps, your kitchen island can be quickly cleared for your 9 to 5 before transforming back to its main purpose for the evening meal and nightly catch up with your family.
Pick a Great View
As one of the largest rooms in most homes, the kitchen is filled with natural light – great for keeping you energised throughout the day.
Depending on the shape of your kitchen and where the appliances sit, aiming for a seat near the window will work wonders for your productivity. Numerous studies have shown that natural light in office spaces improves worker satisfaction and productivity. This is especially important when you factor in the dark mornings and evenings of our winter days. Squeezing as much natural light into your workspace will work wonders for your day to day health.
Reuse that Storage
The kitchen is packed with clever storage solutions for your work materials, from under-counter nooks to spacious cupboards and pantries. Not only that, you can hide your whole workstation in the cupboard. By rearranging the shelves you can easily make space for your laptop and printer, and the back wall of the cupboard is a perfect place to pop chalk or whiteboard. The best part of a cupboard or pantry office is at the end of the day you can just shut the doors and your kitchen has returned to its original use, with the office hidden until the next day.
Add Some Greenery
Create the best possible work environment for yourself by bringing a little bit of the outdoors inside. A vase of fresh flowers or some verdant potted plants can add a splash of colour and natural beauty to your surroundings, lifting your spirits on those days when the hours seem to drag.
If you’re not one for real plants in the house, then fake plants can be a wonder also. Not only do they look the same, but their materials are also great at capturing dust. Just remember to give the leaves a clean once a week.
Break Out
Throughout the day, it’s good to step away from your laptop for a few minutes here and there. While a change of scenery will be welcome during your lunch hour, it’s worth creating a small ‘time-out’ area for the occasional breather. This doesn’t have to be in your kitchen, but if you’re pushed space, it certainly can be.
You might choose to move an armchair into a cosy corner, or perhaps you’ve got a window nook that only needs a cushion or two to become your perfect space. Once you’ve set it up, you can sit back and relax.
Another positive of this small break out area is it’s great to move to for those informal zoom calls or a catch with your partner. Moving around throughout the day will keep the blood flowing and help those ideas percolate.
Working from home isn’t everyone’s ideal situation, but with a little imagination and a spot of help from the experts at KellyVision, you can turn your kitchen into a home office you can be proud of.