5 space saving tips for small offices

When it comes to cramped workspaces, staying productive can prove to be a challenge. If you are surrounded by teetering piles of paperwork, your chair functions as a coat rack and you spend much of your time rearranging your desk to try and find what you need, now could be the perfect opportunity to take action. Luckily, there are plenty of simple, practical ways you can make the most of your limited space. If you want to create an organised, comfortable and practical work environment, here are five space saving tips for small offices. 1. Clear out the clutter A messy workspace can cause high levels of stress, impede productivity and have a negative impact on your quality of work. With that in mind, it’s important to make sure that your office is as neat and tidy as possible. However, when you are lacking in square footage, it can be easy for the clutter to build up. To prevent your office from descending into chaos, try and get into the habit of having a regular spring clean. Start by looking at your surroundings and thinking about what is essential and what is superfluous. For example, do you really need those novelty desk toys or that broken guest chair that’s been gathering dust in the corner? Go through all of your equipment, supplies and knick knacks and purge your office of anything you don’t need. As a general rule of thumb, if you haven’t used something within the last few months, it is probably not that important. Giving your office a thorough clear out should help you to make the most of every bit of space available, minimise potential distractions and help you work far more efficiently. 2. Use space saving office furniture One of the easiest ways to open up a small working environment is to use space saving office furniture. Rather than taking up valuable room with bulky fittings and furnishings, opt for narrow, slimline designs to utilise every sliver of available space. For example, L-shaped desks and space-efficient storage solutions such as full-height bookcases, modular filing cabinets and under desk pedestals can be a simple and effective way to transform redundant areas into productive ones. You may also want to consider getting workstations with built in storage. These multi-functional desks can extend your workspace and save you from having to buy additional storage units that eat into your floor space. Rollout desktops can also come in useful in bijou offices, as they can be conveniently pulled out when an extra work surface is needed and tucked away when not in use. 3. Give everything a home A disorganised office can be a barrier for any worker, but it’s even more of a problem if you are lacking space. In order to streamline your surroundings, it is important to make sure everything has a proper home. Keeping frequently used items within easy reach and storing less used objects out of sight can instantly make your space feel more efficient and functional. Remember that your desk should only contain essential, everyday objects such as your computer, keyboard, phone and some stationary. Anything you don’t use on a day to day basis can be put away in filing cabinets, organisers or drawers. As a result, you should find that you spend less time trying to navigate around the clutter and more time getting things done. Before you leave the office every day, take a few minutes to do a quick spruce up and make sure everything is returned to its proper home so you can start the next day with a clear mind. 4. Take advantage of unused wall space When you are starved of space, your desk can soon become a dumping ground for paperwork, stationary and everything in between. Exploiting empty wall space will help to keep your worksurfaces clean and organised and make the room feel far more spacious. Adding shelves to vertical space can provide handy places to store folders, books, coats and other office essentials while freeing up your desktop and floor. As well as using the space between the top of your desk and the ceiling, why not make use of the area below the desk too with low level shelving systems? Hanging display boards and whiteboards on the wall is also a great way to keep to-do lists and reminders within easy view. If you’re lacking a place to store your coats and bags, try adding hooks to the walls or the back of doors for some much-needed extra storage. 5. Use portable and modular furniture The key to making the most of a confined space is flexibility. Using portable and modular office furniture can help you to maximise each square foot and turn your office into a multi-purpose room. For example, if you don’t have the luxury of a designated boardroom, a set of stackable tables can be reconfigured to create a meeting space and accommodate any number of guests you require. By allowing for quick and easy changes in furniture arrangement, you can create a variety of flexible work zones as and when you need them. When the furniture is no longer in use, it can simply be stored away. Office screens and room dividers can also be used to change the function of a room and create pop-up work spaces and booths when more privacy is needed. Whatever small space challenges you face, it is still possible to transform your workplace into an efficient and functional environment. All you need is a little bit of creative planning and some smart furniture solutions - and the above tips should help you to achieve your goals. At Furniture At Work™, we offer a wide range of space saving office furnishings that are ideal for small or awkwardly shaped work environments. To find out more about the variety of products we provide, take a look around our website. You can also contact our expert team members by phone or email if you have any questions.