Build a Home Office On a Budget

MarieClaireMaison

More and more people are working from home these days. This is possible, in large part, due to technology. Some companies will let you telecommute two or three days a week, or you might have your own business. Whatever the situation, if you do some of your work from home, you will need a home office. Putting together a home office space doesn't have to be expensive, though. You can build a home office on a budget.
First: Find a Space
The first thing you need to do is find a space for your home office. It is actually possible to put a home office in a closet, or find a way to define a corner of a larger room as your home office. The key is to find an area, whether it is a 5'x3' space just big enough for your desk, or something a little larger. You can use screens, or clever arrangement of your furniture, to define the boundaries of an office in a larger room. A dedicated room would be nice, but it's not necessary.
Next: Figure Out What You Already Have
Your next step is to figure out what you already have. Some bathroom vanities, for example, can make good desks, or printer stands. If you have an old vanity, you can cut on the bottom to make it shorter -- a better height for a desk. My dad actually made the desk I took to college from the bathroom vanity countertop when he remodeled the bathroom. He made some legs, and attached them to the bottom of the counter-top. Other items you might use include making a desk by putting a sanded and stained board across two small filing cabinets. If you put your home office in a closet, there might be a shelf just the right height: Instant desk!
Other items that can be used in your home office include framed pictures that you might not have put up, old book shelves (great for storing office supplies or using as a printer stand), kitchen chairs you aren't using and extra wastebaskets. Figure out what you already have, and see if you can use those items to create your home office.
Finally: Buy What You Need
After you have figured out where you will put your home office, and after you have determined what you already have to use, it's time to buy what you need. To keep things inexpensive, you can shop yard sales and thrift stores. You can repaint items, or sand and stain them. This way, you can personalize what you put in your office, dressing it up so that it is attractive. Clearance sales are also great places to look for items that can be used for your home office. With the right planning, you won't have to worry about spending a fortune to create a comfortable and attractive workspace.
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