Budget-Friendly Space Planning Tips for the One-Person Business
Here’s how to make sure your space works for you (and not just being aesthetically pleasing!).
Last May, my husband-to-be and I bought a house that we could see us and our future family grow into nicely. We were fortunate that we picked it at the right time, but now we’ve got some space to spare. I know I’m lucky to have extra space to utilize for a small office when a lot of self-starters might not. So this post isn’t going to be about how to use all the space you have, but rather a few tips on how you can organize with what you have to have a positive impact on your work flow type.
Me, personally, I’m a “everything has its place” and I know where everything is. To an outsider, I recognize how MESSY it looks. I personally like to think of it as an organized mess but I know I’m not alone in that. You see, I really enjoy making a mess and then piecing together new combinations. So yes, my shelves are mismatched, different heights, different placements around the room, holding different things. AND some things that should be categorized together are not in the spot you expect (ahem, sometimes like HEB). If this sounds like you, come on!
Start getting things at varied heights
You’ll start to see things even when you’re at different heights. Take a look around and where do your eyes wonder? Sure, maybe it start on the computer screen. But then when you’re not on the screen, you’re probably look down or at your desk - maybe even looking above the screen on the wall or the open window. Where do your eyes go next? Perhaps the wall next to you, the ceiling, or even the floor around. Now, do the same exercise when you’re standing at your desk. Walking into and out of the room. You’ll start to get a better understanding on your spatial awareness. If you’re in the creative field like me, you need a lot of different visual cues for inspiration and exploration. Starting getting your visual cues at different heights. High on the wall, stacked up and down the book shelf, sticky notes on the bottom of your computer screen.
Find dual purposes
I have recently started the market scene myself, gathering up some of the Studio Shop items and taking them on the road! Now, because I’m starting off I don’t have a big budget (any budget really) for home office furniture AND furniture / displays for the market stall. So this is where it’s important to find pieces that are multipurpose. The side tables I have holding my photoshoot area, as well as occasionally my painting spot (it’s by the window and has great natural light), are the tables I use to bring to the market. The plate stands that I use to hold my inventory while I create them are also the ones I take to the market. My glass drinking jars that hold my color pencils and pens are also the ones I’ll bring for visual interest holding flowers and weighing the table cloth down. That basket in the corner that’s holding my paint & tile samples - yea, that’s coming with me to put under the table cloth at the market booth to add some height to the table.
Get thrifty - yea sure, but what does that mean?
“Budget-friendly” is in the name of the post, so I’m sure you were expecting to see a “just get thrifty or go on marketplace, blah blah blah” so there it is. BUT I would also encourage you to scour the weekend garage sales or maybe you find a local up-and-coming woodworker and see if you can collab on a new shelf piece or checkout stand. You also don’t need to buy a bunch of display pieces either for our home office or your market stall. Get thrifty with colors, textures and layering. Experimenting with different combinations of these concepts with what you already have. Try to avoid things that are the same color or texture, this doesn’t have to be a furniture catalog where you can buy the whole set. BORNING. That’s not going to bring you any creativity. Mix and match, when done tastefully, can not only have a positive impact on your space and work flow, but it can also set you up for success in thinking that way for when your up to the new challenge.
Space planning is a fun exercise that most interior designers and architects provide to their clients when looking to revamp or start a new space. Did you know that’s a service that I offer? I’d love to take a look at your design challenge and explore how we can meet your goals. Let’s chat about it!
Getting things at various heights, explained with this autumn crate :)
