How to Maximize Space in a Two-Person Home Office

Place desks on perpendicular walls to open up a small space and avoid a cluttered look. Matching desks and chairs will give your office a cohesive style. Office Depot advises arranging two desks face-to-face in the center of the room to create an “island” surrounded by open space for storage or even a couch for breaks. If staring at each other is distracting, place a divider between your desks for privacy. For additional personal space, place the desks back-to-back.

Because you need to fit two desks into your home office, opt for compact or space-saving furniture. You do not want your desks and chairs to be so big that they overwhelm the space. Writing desks are a good option as they tend to be smaller. Consider whether it’s beneficial to have two separate desks or one long desk designed for two people. If you are using another room such as a living room or guest bedroom as an office, folding desks may be the solution. You also can stow them in a closet if necessary.

If you have plenty of wall space, consider a one-wall layout to optimize space. This configuration works well if your home office is within another room. Put two desks against the wall with a storage cabinet or bookcase in between or go with a long desk big enough for two, with each person having their own workstation. If you cannot find a desk to meet your needs, MyDomaine.com suggests building a custom desk with a piece of wood or other tabletop and filing cabinets underneath.

Share your office supplies, when feasible, to cut down on clutter. Items such as printers, shredders, fax machines, and writing utensils are ideal for everyday use. Put the shared office supplies and electronics in a spot accessible to both of you.

Organization in a two-person workspace is essential for efficiency and productivity.  Avoid clutter by taking advantage of vertical space for storage. For hidden storage, install custom cabinets - all the way up to the ceiling if necessary. A pegboard is also a great idea to store items you need to keep close. The result will be an open floor that gives the illusion of additional space. 

Depending on the type of work you both do, installing one desk and other furniture types can save space. One person could work at the desk while the other reads in a comfortable chair or uses a small bistro table for sorting through documents.

Floating desks are a great space-saving solution. Since they mount to the wall, your floor space is open, giving you more room for filing cabinets or rolling drawers.

With two people in a limited space, wires, cords, and cables can create chaos. To avoid cord clutter, use wireless keyboards, mice, headsets, printers, and speakers. For the cords and cables you still need, Moneycrashers offers an easy, inexpensive way to organize them - using bread tags and zip ties. Label the bread tags to prevent pulling out the wrong cord. Tie the cables together with the zip ties and hide them behind your desk or along the baseboards. If possible, place the desks close to electrical outlets to avoid the need for extension cords.

Clutter is distracting, whether it’s your own or someone else’s. Ensure that your shared office has strategic organization and storage in place to give you both room to be productive. Keep pens, paper clips, and other items in a cup or desk organizer. Sharing a space is hard, but sharing a room with someone who is untidy is especially difficult. You and your partner should commit to decluttering your workspace regularly. A few minutes every day keeps the mess away.

Paper documents can clutter your desk and take up too much space. In today’s digital world, it’s easy to go paperless. Digitalize documents as much as possible and store the files on your computer. Use an online calendar such as Outlook or Google to keep track of your schedule. Make purchases and pay your bills online and use digital signatures for important documents. By reducing your paper usage, you will find that additional space will magically appear!

A monitor stand helps prevent neck strain by bringing your monitor up to eye level. It also frees up space on your desk. If your screen is smaller, a laptop stand serves the same purpose.

If you have a separate workspace, you may be tempted to store items you don’t have a place for in the rest of your home. It’s not a good idea, even temporarily. Not only will these items take up valuable space, but they can distract you from your work.

Make use of a corner to locate your desks. Arranging two desks on either side of the corner allows for some personal space. Alternatively, you can utilize an L-shaped desk.

Floor lamps take up too much space. Ideally, you can take advantage of natural light. Otherwise, use recessed LED lighting, desk lamps, or hanging pendant lights. Proper lighting is vital in a home office to prevent eye strain. Ensure that each person receives the same amount of light.

The most significant benefit of sharing a home office is the space you save, but finding a suitable layout enables you to perform at your best and succeed professionally. Use the tips in this article to set up the perfect two-person workspace.

Sources

• https://www.moneycrashers.com/make-home-office-small-space/
• https://www.mydomaine.com/small-office-ideas-5082389
• https://www.officedepot.com/cm/collections/work-space-for-two