Transform your spare room into a striking ergonomic office with our spare room office tips, advice and inspiration.
Need an inspiring, well-organised, healthy space for homeworking but don’t have a dedicated office or study? Setting up a small office in your guest room is a great solution. This way you have a comfortable, private room to work during the day that doubles up as a comfortable place for guests to stay when they come. But before you get started, there are certain ergonomic factors you’ll need to consider including space, lighting, equipment and positioning.
Spare room office benefits
Make better use of available space in your home
Enjoy greater privacy
Fewer distractions
Comfortable, familiar surroundings
Spare room office challenges
You’ll have to move out when guests come
Fitting in office equipment alongside a bed/futon
May need to blur background for video calls
Keeping a multi-purpose space tidy
Things you’ll need for your spare room office
Spare room office desk ideas
Your home office guest room needs the perfect desk — one that’s perfectly suited in size and colour to its surroundings. So what do you need to look out for?
Space
How much space do you have? If you plan to be working in your spare room office for long periods of time, make sure you have enough room to move your equipment around in a way that best suits you and the tasks you’re completing.
Type
We sell three types of home office desks:
- Static desks - fixed height
- Sit-stand desks - height-adjustable
- Sit-stand platforms - a height-adjustable platform that sits on top of existing surfaces
Finish
What kind of vibe do you want your spare room office to have? The colours and finishes of your office furniture will make a difference. We sell desks with all kinds of finishes, including corporate blacks, whites and chromes, as well as warmer, homelier wood-look finishes.
Make sure you have enough space to set up correctly:
Desks for your spare room office
Spare room office chair ideas
It’s important to have a comfortable, adjustable desk chair for your spare room office. While it’s OK to work while sitting on your guest bed for very short bursts (taking a call, for example), it’s better for your health and mindset to use a bedroom desk chair.
What features should you look out for in a home office guest room chair?
- Measurements — always check the specifications of the model to make sure it’s not going to crowd your guest room and make it hard to get in and out.
- Ergonomic features — a swivel base means less twisting (and risk of injury) for your body. We also recommend height adjustment and back adjustment as standard. Movement mechanisms, seat slide adjustments and in-built lumbar support all allow for a healthier sitting position.
- Fabric finish and colour — as it’s going in your guest bedroom, you’ll want a chair that fits your aesthetic. Many of our ergonomic chairs come in a range of colours, so always check the drop-down options to find your favourite.
Spare room office desk chairs
Spare room office accessories
Once you’ve arranged your desk and office chair in your home office guest room, you’ll be ready to add storage solutions, ergonomic accessories and homely details, such as plants, ornaments and photos.
While homely touches will help your guests feel comfortable, try to keep your office area minimalist. The less clutter you have on your desk, the easier it’ll be to move your screens, keyboard and mouse to find comfortable working positions and postures throughout the day. Plants can boost your productivity, but think about installing wall-mounted shelves and pictures to save space on the desk itself.
Spare room office mice, keyboards and laptop stands
Spare room office storage solutions
Tips for working productively in your spare room office
Now that you’ve set up a healthy ergonomic office in your guest room, it’s time to get to work. But working from home can bring its own challenges, from feeling isolated, to not getting enough physical activity. Here are our top tips for being productive while maintaining a good work-life balance in your home office guest room:
1. Be scrupulous with hygiene
A messy, cluttered environment can affect you more than you realise. Establish a morning and evening cleaning ritual that includes:
- Making the guest bed (if it’s been used), opening the windows and running the vacuum around to help alleviate stuffiness.
- Wiping down your workstation and equipment with antibacterial spray, especially if you’ve had guests visiting.
2. Stand up and move around every 30 minutes
Computer work tends to be sedentary. That’s why it’s vital that you get up to move and stretch regularly. Frequent movement is great for your physical health but also your concentration. Use a sit-stand desk to change postures, or set an alarm to roam around the house or garden.
3. Leave your spare room during lunch
A good way to make sure you move lots and keep your spare room hygienic and smell-free, is to eat elsewhere. Have your lunch in another part of the home or — if possible, head out for a walk and a total change of scene.
4. Close your laptop at the end of the day/hide papers and devices
Concealing your work things can help create a psychological barrier between work and home. Hide your work things in a drawer, or organise them into a pile. This way your spare room is always guest-ready and you won’t feel tempted to over-work.
5. Don’t work in bed
It may be tempting (and relaxing) to work while lying down on your guest bed/futon sometimes, but try not to make this your go-to workspace. Even though no-one can see you, getting up, showered and dressed can have a dramatic effect on your state of mind. At a desk you’ll feel more fresh and energised to work to your potential.
Need more small office inspiration?
Lacking a spare room? Don't let that ruin your work from home plans. Discover how to transform your living room, bedroom, or study into a healthy, comfortable, inspiring work space.
