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April 15th 2020
Have you ever considered turning your attic into a home office? For many, there couldn’t be a more appropriate time to do this. As recent events have seen many workers having to take up the responsibility of working from home. So we’ve repurposed this blog piece with a view to aiding the many of us out there, who are now working out of an office from home.
In most homes, the attic is virtually wasted space. You may have some boxes and unused decorations taking up some room, but in reality, there are much better ways you can use the space. If you need a home office, using your attic can be the ideal way to create one without having to give up another room.
So how do you go about turning your attic into the perfect office? You will start by preparing the space, move on to filling it with the necessities, and finish by adding accessories and giving the room personality.
No matter what your skill level is, this is a project you can take on and complete yourself. These tips can help you get started, but don’t be afraid to get creative and alter these ideas so they fit your needs and make the office your own.
First, clear out the attic. If you are using it for storage, find new places throughout your home to store the boxes. Now is the perfect time to clean out and get rid of things you don’t need and don’t use.
One easy way to do this is to create three piles of stuff: keep, throw away and donate. As you move things from your attic, add them to one of these three piles. If you haven’t seen something or needed it in months, it is probably safe to get rid of it.
This process will help you downsize and make it possible to use your attic for something other than storage. With the room cleared, you’ll be able to take the room from extra space to a beautiful home office.
Now it’s time to prepare the floors and walls. If your attic already has a wood floor, you can fix it up and use it for your new office. First, use a floor sander to sand the floor so that it is smooth and free of imperfections (you can hire one here: Floor sander to hire). Then, you can finish the floor with a coat of paint or a stain, depending on what kind of look you are going for.
Many attics don’t have insulation and, if this is the case for yours, you should add it now. Insulation will help you regulate the temperature in your office so it will be comfortable all year. Next, you can install drywall yourself and finish it with paint.
While the room is completely empty you can map out where furniture will be, where you will hang shelves and which areas you want to leave open. Even if you aren’t artistic, you can make a simple sketch of a bird’s-eye view of the room and use boxes and circles to represent where you will place your furniture.
One tip is to use one sheet of paper for the floor, and then cut shapes (representing furniture) from another piece of paper so you can easily arrange and rearrange the furniture as you choose the best layout.
When you do this, consider all the pieces you want or need to have in the office so that the move-in process will be easier. This will also help you discover what pieces you might need to purchase and help you find the best way to make everything fit.
You can’t have an office without a desk and chair! Now that you know where you want your furniture, you can start moving it in. Put the furniture in logical places, but keep in mind design elements like balance and contrast.
Your desk and chair are probably the two most important pieces of furniture in your new office, so pay special attention to where you put them. Consider things like the view, accessibility and power outlets when you set up your desk.
Other pieces of furniture you might consider adding to your office include work tables, extra chairs, lamps, coffee tables, end tables and bookcases.
Chances are your dream office includes lots of storage. It seems like storage is something we can’t get enough of. When you make your sketch and set up your furniture leave plenty of room for shelving and other storage solutions.
Some do-it-yourself shelving and storage ideas include:
• Installing a ladder on your wall(horizontally or vertically) and using the steps for shelves.
• Stacking crates against a wall for storage space.
• Giving an old bureau a makeover, removing the drawers and adding storage baskets or bins.
• Building your own custom shelves with lumber and paint.
Storage and shelving can take up a lot of space in your office and still add to the design and even make a statement. For example, an entire wall of shelves can become more attractive with added accessories and good organisation.
To make your dream office a reality, you need to use decorations and accessories to give it character and personality. Use art, plants, rugs, accessories and collections to breathe new life into your attic. Even though it is an office, you still want it to be aesthetically pleasing and comfortable, and these little touches can make your office more than just a space to set up your computer and store paperwork and books.
As you add accessories think about how they go together. The most attractive rooms have a certain flow and style that is achieved by filling them with things that work together to convey a feeling. For example, choose a colour palette and general style and make sure everything you add fits in.
Even if you’re not a designer, you can still create a beautiful office by choosing decorations and accessories that reflect your personality. Keep in mind that not all of your accessories need to “match,” but they do need to “go” together.
These steps can help you transform your attic, no matter its condition, into the office of your dreams. Start with structural elements like the floor and walls and then add furniture and accessories to add personality to the space and make it not only functional, but beautiful.
Lauren works in our Ecommerce Team, with over 6 years of experience at HSS. She brings product knowledge and is able to give her advice on the right tool for the job no matter how big or small.
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