Have you ever seen those tiny house shows on HGTV? You know the ones where they inexplicably are able to convert like 400 sq. feet, or less, into some sort of mini luxury bungalow. It’s quite fascinating really. Do you feel like you operate out of an office version of a tiny house, but without the cool storage space, and thoughtfully planned layout?
Papers overfloweth,lack of storage is a gigantic problem, and you can’t seem to find a solution that offers professionalism, but doesn’t resemble your great-grandpa’s office furniture and design? Well then keep reading for, “9 Ways to Make Your Tiny Office Space Seem Larger”.
Sure, if you’re operating as a small business it may make more sense to operate out of a small office space. Especially if you only have a few staff members, or if you are a solopreneur. So here are some ways to make your office space seem bigger.
1-Use lighter colors on the walls- This one may seem evident, but if you’re in a small space you want to make things seem brighter. Using warm, dark colors will make your space seem way too “cozy”…aka, like the walls are coming in on you. This advice doesn’t just stop at the walls though. You also want to keep it light with the flooring. This can seem counterintuitive because most people opt for darker hues to keep the floor from appearing dirty. However, regular cleaning can keep the lighter hues looking fresh and new. If you’re overly concerned about the lighter floors though, you could opt for a light colored tile. Tile makes for easy clean-up and maintenance.
2-Keep furniture away from the wall-By keeping your office furniture such as desks, cubicles, sofas, etc., up against the walls you make the entire office space seem congested and cramped. By merely pulling those office furniture pieces out just a few inches you create an illusion of more space.
3-Ditch the curtains-Curtains are phenomenal in rooms where you want to add texture and softness; like in a bedroom or living room. When working with a smaller office space the key is to keep everything clean and airy feeling. As an alternative you can find some lighter-hued window shades to open up and brighten your office space.
4-Using matching office furniture-If you’re working with a small office space, keeping things matching makes the room visually easy on the eyes. Also, use high-functioning furniture such as Tayco’s new Switch Cubicle Solutions which are EXACTLY what you have been scouring the office furniture world for! They offer a slim design and powerful performance.
Switch boasts a modern cubicle style layout that optimizes on space with numerous storage options, and also adjustable height desks and panels. The acrylic and tempered glass on top of the panels assures both privacy, and a continued flow of natural light to keep your small office space light and airy feeling.
5-Keep patterns simple-Sometimes we want to add crazy pops of pattern to “liven” up a space. When it’s a small office space though simpler is better. Much like with matching office furniture, it is easy on the eyes and eliminates “visual chaos”. Try to keep to one bold piece/pattern in a smaller office space.
6-Kick the clutter-It’s easy to get rolling throughout the day and slowly accumulate more papers and piles across your desk. Eliminate this as much as possible by having, “a place for everything, and everything in its place.”
Again the Tayco Switch line offers promising options to keep you organized and clutter free on your desktop.
7-Optical Illusion- Using mirrors in a small space helps the rooms feel as though it has more depth than it actually does. It also helps reflect light to make the room feel brighter.
8-Add shelving, and add it high up-Adding shelves helps to keep things from being stored on the floor area. Storing things on the floor makes the office seem more cramped and cluttered.
Adding the shelving up higher to the ceiling, draws people’s eyes up, and makes the room seem taller.
9-Stay away from bulky desk chairs-We’re not saying you need to give up comfort, or even ergonomics, but you may not want that over-sized, plush desk chair if you’re operating in a tiny office. Instead consider using the Express 8920B Task Chair (with mesh back and custom color seat options); which will pair nicely with Switch cubicle line from Tayco.
Implement these 9 tips for tiny offices, and your space will seem like it grew over night! Even just lightening up some walls, getting your desks organized, and getting furniture that fits your space well, will pack a powerful punch in opening up your office.
Interested in checking out how the Switch office solutions may work for your office space? Contact us for more information! Know that you need a better office solution, but not sure what? Take advantage of our Free Space Planning. We’ll use over 20 years of experience to get you the best layout possible!