Before the pandemic, less than 5% of UK employees worked from home. Now, in 2024, 14% of employees work remotely and 26% work from home at least sometimes. This means that 40% of UK employees now work from home (at least some of the time).
In the early days of the pandemic, many made do with the dining table as a makeshift work space, but this isn't the best long term solution.
You might feel like there's not enough space, or budget, to create a productive home office space but we're here to tell you - there is. You don't need a dedicated room. And you don't need a huge budget.
So, here are our top tips to create a productive home office space (without breaking the bank):
No room? No problem
If you don't have a spare room which can be used as an office, there are still ways you can create a dedicated work from home space.
Define the space with an area rug
Whether you're creating a home office space in your living room, bedroom or dining room, you can still make it feel 'separate' to the living space with a stylish area rug.
When it comes to choosing an area rug for your work from home space, Rugs Direct suggest layering the rug with your furniture by choosing a rug that’s "about two feet larger than the desk size and large enough that the chair has plenty of room to move around on the rug."
Another option is to choose an irregular shaped rug which will add interest whilst still zoning off a section of the room.
IKEA has a great range of high quality and affordable rugs which regularly feature in special offers (we've seen as much as 30% off selected rugs recently). You can also try Dunelm, The Range, Argos and George.com.
Opt for multi functional furniture
If you're working with a small space, consider multi functional furniture. As well as cleverly maximising space, it's an easy hack to keep the costs down.
This Heritage Foldable Wooden Convertible Desk Bookshelf With Blackboard combines style and functionality. It makes a great space-saving solution that will complement any interior. There's plenty of storage space for books and stationery, a handy blackboard and the option to instantly turn the shelf into a desk. When you're not working, simply fold it away. At £82.99, we think this is fantastic value for money.
This IKEA BILLY Bookcase with desk and drawer is another great option at £105. You can push the desk in when you're finished working and store your office essentials on the shelves and in the drawer.
Utilise empty spaces
Is there an open space underneath your stairs? That could be the perfect place to set up your home office. Perhaps you have an awkward nook or even just an empty wall space.
Here's an example:
To recreate this home office space, all you'll need is some shelves (for storage and to use as a desk) and a chair. If the lighting isn't great, a budget friendly desk lamp will do the trick.
Prioritise the basics
When you're working with a limited budget, the first step is always to prioritise.
Comfort is key when you're sitting for long periods of time, so a comfortable and supportive home office chair is non-negotiable. Our top budget friendly recommendation is the Flexispot BS3 ergonomic office chair at £99.99. The chair features adjustable lumbar support to maintain the natural curvature of your back, as well as a three-position tilt adjustment to 40 degrees.
Whilst there are plenty of lower budget office chairs available, we think it's important to invest in a chair with adequate support, so it's worth spending more of the budget here.
When it comes to choosing a desk, you've got options.
If you're lucky enough to have a dedicated room for your home office, a desk can take centre stage!
The IKEA LAGKAPTEN/ADILS desk is a great choice at just £30. It's both lightweight and sustainable, available in a choice of finishes to suit your space.
However if you're setting up your work space in a corner of your living room or bedroom, you might need to be more creative.
Consider the Evelyn Folding Desk from Dunelm. An oak effect worktop is paired with a black metal frame for a contemporary look and at £49, it's practical and affordable too. This convenient desk can easily be folded flat to allow for easy storage when not in use.
The Kodak Wooden Wall Mounted Laptop Desk In White is another clever solution designed to maximise space, costing £79.95.
Once you've got your chair and desk sorted, you'll need to think about storage. A tidy desk and work environment is essential for productivity and without adequate storage, chaos is inevitable!
"To maximise storage, carefully consider what you use and recycle items that you don’t for a streamlined space" advises Philipp Nagel, Director of Neatsmith. So, the first step to organisation is a clear out.
Whilst a desk may offer some storage, there are other solutions to consider such as stylish floating shelves which are great if you're short on space - and super affordable! Or you could hang a wire rack or memo board.
A mobile storage cart is another practical solution that won't break the bank. If you're working in the living or dining room, you can simply wheel it out of the way at the end of the day, so your space is clutter free. This storage trolley from Amazon.co.uk will do the job for less than £15.
It's also good to pick up some desk storage or drawer organisers to keep your stationery in order. Consider this 4-tier desktop organiser from B&Q (for less than £10)!
Make it more visually appealing
Research has shown that a well-designed office can increase productivity by as much as 20%. As well as a comfortable and practical place to work, it's important to make it visually appealing too!
As humans, we tend to be happiest when we're outdoors which can feel a far cry from long days in front of a screen. So, why not bring the outside in? According to Hortology, desk plants can reduce stress levels and increase productivity (as well as giving you something pretty to look at all day)! And they don't have to blow the budget either. B&Q has a great range of desk plants on offer from just £3.50!
Think about colour too. If you have a dedicated room, consider the paint colours you use. Neutral or pale blue colours will improve focus, whereas greens evoke calmness which could help with concentration.
You'll also want to bring life into your space with some personal touches. Sharps explain that "our home offices sometimes run the risk of feeling a little artificial and sterile" especially when we're surrounded by technology. Why not inspire yourself with some wall art?
Make sure you think about your background too - it’ll be on show in every time you have an online meeting or video call!
Home office inspiration
If you're still struggling for inspo, search 'home office' on Instagram or Pinterest.
Here are some home offices we love:
We love the light and airy feel to this home office space! The plants (and pops of colour) make it an uplifting place to work, whilst the neutral palette and minimal aesthetic will ensure you can stay focused. We love the varied lighting options too.
This home office design shows that neutral isn't the only way to go! It's still organised and calming, with bold and uplifting colour pops. Again, we're big fans of the plants and art work.
We love this dreamy colour combination, desk plant (of course), and desk storage. This is clearly a functioning space, but it's also stylish, and doesn't look cluttered or chaotic.
