Working from home has become a reality for many Americans over the past two years. While a fortunate few already had home office space, many others have had to improvise, carving out an area that would support their work without disrupting family life.

From touring homes for sale in Calistoga, CA, we’ve been impressed by how people are making remote employment work for them. If you’ve been making do with a temporary home office but would like something a little more permanent, here are five of our favorite tips for creating a home workspace in just about any room of the house. A nice bonus is that you’ll enhance your Napa or Calistoga home’s appeal to prospective buyers!

Establishing a Home Workspace

The ideal dedicated workspace exists in its own room. Do you have a room or area that rarely gets used, such as a guest bedroom, finished attic, or oversized walk-in closet? If so, it’s worth considering converting them to an office where you can close the door at the end of the day, keeping business and family separate.

If that’s not possible, here are some other highly doable suggestions.

  1. You have several options if you have a guest room but still need it for the occasional visitor. If you can give up the closet, remove the doors and transform the space into an office nook with a desk, filing cabinet, shelving, bulletin board, and whatever else you need to complete your work easily and efficiently.
  2. Another obvious spot for putting a mini workstation is in the living room, which is typically one of the largest rooms in the house. The goal is to make the workstation flow with the rest of the room’s decor. A well-equipped, organized desk placed where you have an outdoor view can make working from home much more enjoyable. Other clever ideas include creating “walls” with two desks to build a makeshift cubicle and replacing the console table behind the sofa with a larger, desk-sized piece.
  3. Does your home have a finished basement or attic? Not everyone needs natural light or views to enjoy their workday. If you’re one of them, both areas offer countless possibilities for setting up a workstation.
  4. Many people choose to work in their eat-in kitchen, converting the dining nook into their office space. Others use the kitchen island as a desk, but if you select this option, be sure to use comfortable seating, or your back may suffer.