Sydney spare room home office, NSW workplace design style, Australia interior work space products

Set Up a Home Office in Your Sydney Spare Room

13 September 2024

Now that remote working has become commonplace in Australia, more people need a space at home where they can focus on complex tasks without fear of interruption. While this can be a tall order in smaller homes, with a little outside-the-box thinking, it’s possible to create an acceptable workspace in almost any type of Australian home. To create your own work-from-home space, follow the tips below.

Setting Up a Home Office in a Sydney Apartment

We’ve chosen an apartment in central Sydney as an example because it’s more of a challenge than a large, freestanding property in the suburbs, but no matter what type of home you live in, you can follow the suggestions below to create a functional home office without taking up too much space.

Invest in Essential Office Furniture – Take a look at office chairs, desks and storage units online to see what’s available in your price range and what might be suitable for your new home office. An ergonomic chair is a must, but if space is at a premium, you may be able to use existing furniture rather than buying a new desk and storage units.

Be Realistic – While it may be easier to edit video files and prepare presentations with a high-def multi-monitor setup, a single laptop and perhaps one additional monitor is a more realistic goal if you’re designing a home office for a compact apartment.
Utilise Existing Fixtures and Fittings – If you already have an empty cupboard next to a handy workspace, think about using it to store your stationery and other office essentials instead of buying new storage units. If you have an empty built-in wardrobe, you could use it as a framework to install a compact home office, with shelving above and a shallow desk underneath. The whole “office” can then be hidden from sight at the end of the day simply by closing the sliding wardrobe door.

Reach for the Sky! – Going vertical is a great way to save space in small apartments. Consider installing your monitor on a small shelf above your desk and your printer on a small shelf underneath. In this way, you can create more free space on the desk itself.
Find a Location Near a Window – If you can, set up a small desk and comfortable chair next to a window in your apartment. Natural light will improve your mood and make you more productive.
Upgrade Your Internet Connectivity – It won’t be necessary for everyone, but in many cases, it’s a good idea to upgrade your internet package when working from home. Ensuring there is no drop in performance for other members of your household will make them more likely to support your remote working lifestyle.

If there are other members of your household at home during the day, noise may be an issue. However, you can mitigate this problem by using headphones and adopting a soft tone when speaking on the phone. With a little cooperation, anything is possible.

Comments on this guide to Sydney spare room home office article are welcome.