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With all the talk about how impactful standing desks have been to people across the globe, it’s easy to get excited about owning one. After all, who would not want all the physical and mental benefits that come from using these desks? Even so, you may have concerns about if this setup can work for your small space. If this sounds like you and you need help figuring out just how to make standing part of your work routine, this guide is for you.
Making the Most of Your Small Space
Working with small spaces can sometimes feel limiting, especially when you want to jump on healthy trends, such as working while standing. But do not worry – it can be done. Here’s how:
Find a Suitable Desk Size
Standing desk manufacturers have been working day and night to meet the varying needs in the job market. Luckily for you, that means that there are several options that have been designed to fit small nooks, be it shared workstations, small home offices, or all other spaces where size is an issue.
Here’s what you do: take note of the space that’s available for a desk, how much space you will need for standing, where you will place your chair when standing, and measure out this space. Then, carve out how much of it you can allocate to the desk and work with these dimensions when filtering desk options based on size.
Prepare Your Space for Optimal Use
Introducing a standing desk to a small space can feel overwhelming. But you can easily make this transition smooth by making the following changes:
- Declutter the space. Are you holding on to things that you do not need? Go through your workspace items and determine what needs to be in the space and what needs to go;
- Tidy the space. Having items strewn across your workspace can make it feel smaller than it really is. Now is the time to use the existing shelves or install some new ones. A good way to do this in a small space is to install shelves right above where you will place your desk so that items are out of the way yet easily accessible;
- Buy cable clips or trays. While a workspace may be tidy, visible cables can be a glaring distraction that can make your workstation feel busy. Get some clips to help you secure the cables. If possible, you can buy wireless peripheral devices for your monitor to reduce the number of wires in the setup.
Tidying up the space will also help you figure out whether your new standing desk should feature storage add-ons.
Customise the Space and Desk Setup
Working with a small space does not mean that the setup has to be plain. If anything, you can use small touches that will have a lasting positive impact on your workspace aesthetics, making your workstation a place that also brings you joy. How?
- Customise the desk. Rather than go for the default colours, why not go for a colour that brightens up your space? Along the same line, choosing an electronic desk option enables you to control the sit-to-stand transition with the push of a button, which is another space-saving mechanism. As such, a white height-adjustable desk frame would serve both the purpose of function and visual appeal;
- Add lighting. Small spaces often do not need much lighting since general lighting usually works the trick. However, introducing task or accent lighting goes a long way in making the space feel comfortable, which adds to your productivity. Plus, it reduces eye strain;
- Go for a creative touch. Are you a plant lover? Would you like a picture of a loved one on the desk? Adding some of these uniquely personal touches is another way to own your space and distract yourself from the overall size limitations.
Once the desk is in place, you will have the chance to see how the setup plays out and determine what changes to make to your workstation for optimal comfort and productivity.