A small office space can feel suffocating if it’s not set up properly. However, by following these 10 tips for improving your small space it can be delightful!

Did you know that on average Americans work 34.4 hours a week, with 1 in 4 even logging 50+ hours on the job! Now that’s a lot of time spent in the office!

But what is your office actually like? Is it a tiny, musty smelling, grey cubicle filled with dated furniture, piles of paperwork and pens that no longer work?

If that’s what your office is like then it’s time for a change. A small dingy office like the one mentioned above is going to hinder your creativity and affect your emotional wellbeing.

But fear not, there are many of things you can do! Keep reading for 10 tips and hacks to improve your small office space.

So let’s get started!

1. Make the Best of What You Have

Make the most of your small office space by placing furniture around the edges of the walls.

When all the open space is concentrated into one area it’ll give the illusion of a bigger space.

There are many innovative designs available for furniture too. Such as corner desks, and smart storage solutions. No matter what style you’re going for, you’ll be able to find furniture that matches your theme.

You can also make the best use of your space by using common areas. For example, using the corridor area for phone calls.

2. Neutral Color Scheme

Colors can make a huge difference to how big an office space can appear. Lighter colors always work best and give the illusion of a bright open space, even if it’s a tiny cubicle!

If you want to use a bold color, be cautious, you could overwhelm your space and make it look more confined. You could try painting one wall a bright and bold color, but leave the rest neutral.

Certain colors are also known to provoke different kinds of emotions. So choose wisely! For example, blue is supposed to increase productivity, whereas green is considered restful.

3. Less is More

Accessories are key to making any space seem more trendy. They should always match your color scheme to create a harmonious look. But remember less is always more in a small office space.

You could put up some well-chosen artwork. It can create an aesthetically pleasing environment for you and your customers to work in. Or add an inspirational quote to get you through the day.

For a personal touch, fill your desk with photos of friends and family. Or have your favorite photo printed on a mousepad.

4. Bring the Outside In

Add a little zen into your life with indoor desk plants. When you’re stuck in a small office all day, you can start to miss the outside world. Studies actually tell us that office plants can increase happiness and productivity!

Not only do they make you feel great, but they can bring color and life into your office on a stressful day. Orchids are a great option. They bring color and class into your office but can be a bit tricky to look after. If you’re not so good at looking after plants try a cactus for an easy alternative.

Another zen related feature is having a small water fountain. It can add a calming effect to even the most stressful clients!

5. Have Stand-Up Meetings

Stand up meetings are practical for a small office space. In fact, the human body wasn’t designed to sit down all day. Crouching at your desk can even be unhealthy and bad for your posture.

You could have a tall table for quick meetings. Or try one of those fancy electronic desks where you can change the height with a few clicks of a button.

Short stand up meetings in a small place apparently result in more creative ideas. Which contrasts a lengthy, structured meeting where everyone is sat far from one another.

6. Be a Minimalist

Yes, get rid of all that unneeded clutter!

Clutter in a small office space can slow you down physically and mentally. This is especially true for your desk. Keep the space clean, neat and tidy and your office will look bigger than it is.

You may have heard the old quote “A place for everything and everything in its place”. Well, it should be true of your office space. Put everything away that you’re not currently using. Use organizers that you can hang or stack around your office. There are even over the door organizers and under desk organizers available.

Go green and try to reduce the amount of paperwork you need. Do it all digitally, you’ll save a huge amount of space, without the need for massive filing cabinets and other storage equipment.

Keep electrical cords and wires hidden and organized, not strung out along the walls. And label both ends of your cables. This will help you a lot if you ever have to readjust or remove any cables under your cramped desk space!

7. Wall to Wall Flooring

Instead of cluttering up your floor with small rugs, use wall-to-wall flooring that will be easy to care for. Small rugs can actually make a floor space look choppy and small.

Avoid hard floor tiles, although they are easy to maintain, they create an echo. This can make phone calls extra challenging.

8. Choose the Right Furniture

Forget your dream of a huge desk, go for something small scale and practical. Choose your desk chair with a view to comfort, as you’ll be sat on this for most of the day.

If you need extra seating for your clients or colleagues, don’t opt for a huge leather sofa! You could use a slim profile sofa or loveseat.

Multifunctional furnishings are also a practical way to use a small office space. For example, a hideaway workstation that can be closed up into a cabinet when not being used. Or use the top of a cabinet as a printer stand or end table.

9. Let There Be Light

A dim dark office can make your space seem even smaller. So try to make use of the light you have.

If you’re fortunate enough to have a window, use natural lighting to brighten up your office. Don’t use heavy drapes or blinds, keep it as open as possible.

If you don’t have a window or the lighting is limited use overhead downlighting. Such as spotlights, recessed lighting or a modern pendant fixture. Get a slimline desk lamp for those late nights at the office. And try to avoid floor lamps that take up extra space.

A fun idea is having twinkly lights hung around your office to get you through those stressful moments!

10. Sharing is Caring

Some communal office spaces can help you to keep your office uncluttered.

For example, some offices include shared printing facilities, conference rooms, and break areas.

This means you can ditch your own personal printer, coffee machine, and fancy chairs for clients, which will leave you with loads more space!

These offices based in Pittsburgh are a great example of that. Check out their website to find out more about them.

Dealing With a Small Office Space

As you can see, having a small office space isn’t the end of the world. From choosing the right colors, organizing things wisely, to getting a cactus to take care of, there are many ways to create the illusion of a bigger office space!

For a million more lifestyle hacks and tips, check out our blog!