Well ... my lovely husband is creating it really! He's in the middle of building a little garden office for me so I can finally have a proper space to work from home. Until now, I’ve been squeezing my laptop onto the kitchen table between lesson plans and coffee cups!
It’s not a huge space, so I’m trying to be really thoughtful about what to include. I’d love to know - what’s the one thing in your work from home office setup that you couldn’t live without?
Could be something practical like a chair that saved your back, or something small that just makes the space feel good to work in. I’m putting together a shortlist before we start kitting it out, and would love some ideas from people who’ve been there.
What a great question Rita and you got me thinking!
A top contender for me, as I also work from home in a small space, is my MSI PRO 34" curved monitor that I only bought recently. It has a smaller footprint than the two 22" monitors I replaced and way better picture quality. I can highly recommend it. I honestly look forward to switching it on in the morning ... I need to get out more. lol.
In my opinion, having good lighting is underrated, I have a dimmable desk lamp. Poor lighting can actually cut your visual sharpness by about a quarter, which is basically your eyes begging for mercy. And a small whiteboard is essential for me to keep track of tasks and deadlines. I used to have my office in a separate room upstairs, but now it's squeezed into an alcove in the lounge, so I can keep an eye on my husband (he had a major operation recently).
@diane thank you Diane. I’m big on decent lighting too. Spending hours trying to read my student’s tiny hand writing made me pay attention to proper desk lighting!
Welcome to the forum :-) I love this kind of setup planning. I started my own small-space work area about a year ago, tucked in the corner of our living room before I moved to a slightly bigger spot.
If I had to pick one must-have, it’d be a good laptop stand. It sounds basic, but getting the screen to eye level changed how long I could sit and work without neck pain. I pair it with a wireless keyboard and mouse so I can move around more easily.
Keep it simple and functional - you’ll tweak it as you go. The best setup is the one you actually enjoy working in.
That sounds brilliant - ¡qué guay! I’ve always wanted a little garden office setup like that. I worked from a small corner of our flat for years, so I get it about needing to be intentional with the space!
My best purchase was a monitor arm. It freed up a surprising amount of desk space and let me move things around without feeling boxed in. Second place would be a good set of noise-cancelling headphones - helps me focus even when there’s noise from the street or neighbours.
If you’re tight on room, think vertical. Shelves, hooks, or a pegboard can make the space feel bigger than it is. I thought that stuff was a bit “Pinterest-y” at first, but it actually makes a big difference.
Can’t wait to see how your garden office turns out. Post some pics when it’s ready!
I love this project, a garden office sounds dreamy! I’ve found that how a space feels can make as much difference as what’s in it.
Something I really underestimated at first was smell and sound. A small diffuser or candle helps me switch into "work mode" without needing a whole routine. I’ve got one with eucalyptus and lemon that just wakes my brain up.
Also, if you can, add a little music or ambient sound setup. I use a mini Bluetooth speaker and play café background sounds or soft music. Some people like no background sounds but for me it makes working alone feel a bit more connected to the world somehow.
It doesn’t have to be fancy - just little touches that make you want to be there. You’re going to love having your own space. 💛
Thank you for the brilliant ideas! I hadn’t even considered half of these things before starting this thread.
Olivia, I love what you said about the atmosphere. I’m completely with you on the diffuser idea. My Mum had one in the living room that smells like oranges and cedarwood although that did get a bit rancid after a while. I think they need to be kept quite clean! And café background sounds? Genius. I’m definitely trying that!
Between the lighting, the monitor arm, the peg board and the ambiance, it’s starting to feel less like a "tiny shed" and more like a proper workspace. My husband will be very chuffed that everyone’s so enthusiastic about his project - he’s already talking about fairy lights and I’m not sure if he’s joking or not!
Thanks again everyone, I’ll post an update once we’ve got it looking a bit more presentable.