How to Work Remotely in a Small Home Office Space

With more than half of Americans working from home at least one day a week, home office design is a hot topic. Conventional wisdom regarding office space is that bigger is better, but the right furniture, lighting and design can make all the difference when you don’t have a lot of space to work with.

A 2022 American Opportunity Survey reveals that 58% of Americans are working from home at least one day a week. Because these individuals will spend at least 20% of their workweeks in their home offices, they need spaces that foster productivity and organization.

Individuals who have limited space available for a home office may feel at a disadvantage. But is a small home office a limitation? Let’s explore how office size affects work and what people with small offices can do to maximize the available space.

Does Office Size Matter When Working from Home?

In the workplace, office size often indicates job position or seniority. Top executives tend to get the largest offices, so a more spacious office becomes a sign of success. When people working from home compare their available workspace with a CEO’s corner office, they might feel disappointed. This perception doesn’t mean the small office is less conducive to productive work.

Many workers in offices spend their days in cubicles. Standard sizes for these workspaces range from 6 feet by 6 feet to 8 feet by 8 feet. Even in small apartments and houses, remote workers can typically find an area around this size to establish their workspace.

Without major remodeling or moving, remote workers can’t do much to create more space in their homes. Instead of focusing on size, they can create a setup that allows them to work comfortably and an organizational system that enables efficiency. Ultimately, these things matter more to performance when working from home. After all, a large home office full of clutter and lacking key equipment is unlikely to contribute to success.

Best Products for a Small Home Office Setup

Before getting into small home office ideas for specific rooms, let’s review the essentials that every small office setup should include.

Ergonomic Chair

Ergonomics isn’t just a buzzword. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) stresses that ergonomic furniture can reduce the risk of musculoskeletal disorders among office workers. 

Designed to conform to the contours of the spine, ergonomic chairs offer support for the entire body, making tailbone, back and neck pain less likely to occur. Look for chairs that have multiple points of adjustment for fine-tuning the height and positioning.

Paul Arad, global managing director at Acrylicize, says use of household items such as pillows can help provide comfort and back support while sitting in a non-ergonomic chair. 

He also recommends items like a rolled dish towel to act as a “makeshift keyboard palm support to add comfort while typing.” He says, “A smaller towel such as a face washcloth can be used as a mouse palm support while mousing.”

Laptop Stand

To combat eye strain and reduce pressure on the neck, a computer screen should be slightly below eye level. A laptop stand makes it possible to raise a laptop computer to this height. Ones that tilt also allow remote workers to adjust the screen position throughout the day to minimize glare.

Desk (That’s the Right Height)

Whether working from home at an actual desk or a dining table, height matters. The desktop height should allow for a comfortable arm position and a clear view of the screen, and workers also need enough legroom. For desk dimensions, OSHA recommends:

• Keyboard height of 22 to 30 inches for seated tasks and 36 to 46.5 inches for standing desks.
• Under-desk clearance depth of 17.6 to 24 inches for stretching out legs.
• Under-desk clearance width of around 20 inches for knee room.

Optional: Video Conference Background

People working from home can expect frequent video meetings and need to consider the appearance of their workspace. 

When setting up a workspace, Diana YK Chan of My Marketability recommends that remote workers “avoid things such as showing your bedroom, bed, kitchen, TV, etc. that will not give the right vibe.” If creating neutral, professional settings isn’t possible, teleworkers can invest in freestanding or wall-mounted backgrounds.

Small Home Office Ideas

Let’s explore some ideas for working from home in specific spaces.

Closet Office

• Make up for a lack of natural light by using daylight LED bulbs in ceiling-mounted fixtures.
• Keep files and office supplies in bins or baskets on built-in shelving.
• Stash small odds and ends in hanging organizers, and use the closet rod for extra storage space.

Bedroom Office

• Reserve a specific area for work and use a rug or different paint color to visually separate it from the rest of the room.
• Face the desk toward a wall or window rather than the bed to reduce distractions.
• Let dressers and chests do double duty as storage space for extra office supplies.

Kitchen Office

• Store everything for work in large plastic tubs or rolling luggage. Unpack at the start of the day and repack at the end.
• Buy an ergonomic desk chair with wheels that can roll to another room or into a corner after work.
• Establish a “do not disturb” or “come in quietly please” signal like a decorative object placed near the doorway to limit interruptions.

Living Room Office

• Position the desk against the back of the sofa to make use of unused space.
• Choose an L-shaped desk and convert an empty corner into a workspace.
• Stash supplies in storage ottomans and benches.

Hallway Office

• Install a floating desk that folds flat against the wall when not in use.
• Place files and supplies in a rolling cart that can wheel out of the way at the end of the workday.
• Turn wall space into storage space with bins, baskets and shelves.

Basement Office

• Provide additional lighting with a desk lamp.
• Paint the walls a light color that reflects light and brightens the space.
• Increase air circulation with a desktop or ceiling fan.

Final Thoughts on Small Home Office Setups

What employees do to organize and arrange their home offices is more important than the size of the space. By using the small office ideas above, remote workers can make the most of the space they have available.

For those working from home, the amount of privacy a space provides is also more important than size. Setting up a workstation in a busy area like the kitchen may allow for more space but can mean added distractions.

Remote workers who can’t find a quiet spot to establish a home office have options. Wearing earplugs or noise-canceling headphones may be helpful. Other ideas for working from home in shared spaces include using screens and partitions to temporarily block off an area of a room and establishing quiet hours that everyone follows.

Top Takeaways

How to Work Remotely in a Small Home Office Space

• Small offices can be productive workspaces with the right layout and organizational features.
• An ergonomic chair, laptop stand and an appropriately sized desk are the best furnishings for a small home office setup.
• Lighting is an important consideration in basements, closets and other areas that don’t receive natural light.
• Remote workers need to consider the appearance of the space or use a background when choosing a location for video interviews and meetings.

(Reporting by NPD and Timothy Mably)