Store as much as you like for as long as you like
Store as much as you like for as long as you like
If you’re just starting up in business, you’re probably counting the pennies and working out what your essentials are, and what you can afford to go without for the moment, and at the top of that list will probably be office space. While office space is lovely to have, it’s often expensive and requires a long-term commitment that you might not be able to make right now. So many businesses are founded from the kitchen table, and spend a few years being run from home before making the move into an office space. But studies have shown that you will be much more productive when working from home if you have a dedicated space to work in – a home office, if you will. But where do you find space in your house to fit an office? Well, we have some ideas we’d like to share with you, and are a couple of examples of the areas of your home that could become your cosy home office.
A loft is an ideal space for a home office. It’s separate from the main house, on a completely different floor, which allows you to separate out your work and home life nicely and switch off properly after hours. It’s also already insulated and heated, so all you need to do is reinforce the floor if it’s a bit rickety. It’s actually fairly easy to convert a loft into an office from there – just pop your furniture in and you’re good to go! And because it’s likely you have an angled ceiling due to the eaves, it can make a really cosy little space for you. Loft conversions are becoming more and more common as the pressure for housing space in the UK grows, so this is a great option for you.
A garage can be a great space for a home office, but it will probably require a lot more work to convert than a loft or a guest bedroom. Since garages tend to be quite cold, you will probably need to spend some time putting in insulation and laying a nice warm floor, not to mention getting some form of heating in there for the colder months! But once the basics are in, you’d be amazed at what you can do with the space. For some natural light (and a nice view), you could replace your garage door with one featuring a window at desk height, making it a much more pleasant space to work in. Just don’t forget to fit some curtains or blinds first! You can also add in things like a sofa or meeting tables, giving you the capacity to meet with clients in comfort, and without the need for them to traipse through your home to get there!
This is potentially the simplest conversion you can do, which is one of the reasons the spare bedroom is the most common home office space. You already have the bare bones of the space, and you likely won’t have to change a lot to make it fir your needs. Sure, you might need to replace some furniture swap out the bed for a desk and chair, a little filing cabinet and other finishing touches, and your office can be ready in as little as a day. If you don’t want to lose your spare bedroom altogether, you could add a sofa bed to give you the functionality of a bedroom while adding some comfort to your office space. And if you need anywhere to keep the old furniture, you can always pop it in storage.
Of course, depending on the type of business you run, you may have some things that don’t, or can’t, live in your house fill time. Stock is a common problem for home workers, along with paperwork and extra supplies that can end up taking over the house. This is where self-storage really comes into its own. Renting a storage unit with Blue Box is a fraction of the cost of your average office space, and means you have the flexibility to store what you need, when you need it, and access it at any time you need to. Self-storage has been the perfect companion to home working for years, and we would love to help you achieve your goals. To find out more, just get in touch with the team today.