Blog Post

Home Office Arrangement Ideas for Two

George Chowanec • Oct 13, 2021

As more companies adopt the remote work business model in Deal, NJ, and across the United States, it's more important than ever to arrange your home office for efficiency, productivity, and focus. Along the way, you may also be faced with adding a roommate to the mix!

Going about creating an optimal work environment for two people can feel like a daunting task, but it is completely doable with a little inspiration, creativity, and:

Finding the perfect space
Setting up furniture
Keeping your officemate’s needs in mind
Being flexible with the design

With these simple ideas, you and your workspace partner will feel even more at ease in a space that encourages both of you to thrive!

Finding The Perfect Space

You don’t have to live in a mansion to get the perfect workspace setup. Small homes, apartments, and homes with children attending virtual school all have useful workspaces—even in busy homes.

The best place to start is deciding where your home office needs to be. This space is about more than carving out desk space. It needs to meet your requirements and your officemates. For example, if you are on the phone with customers frequently, you need a quiet location away from traffic.

Sit down with your work-from-home partner and discuss each of your roles in your jobs. Here are a few questions to get started:

What do you need to work at your best?
Are you on the phone a lot and need a quiet location?
Do you need space to layout printed materials for mockups or other items?
How much natural light do you want to utilize?
What are your storage needs?
What type of internet connection requirements do you need, such as Ethernet or Wi-Fi?

Understanding each other’s work needs will help you both decide on the perfect location to set up your home office. The Decoist recommends utilizing corners in a room. You can each design a corner to meet your needs and any company security requirements. Dorm dividers, house plants, and floor lamps all create a peaceful, more secure work environment.

Setting Up Furniture

You and your office partner need to be efficient and optimize your workday, so that means you need to set up your office furniture just right. You don’t want to be uncomfortable all day, so finding and using the right chairs and desks is key to success.

Test out chairs and desks at your local furniture store. If you love to DIY, you can also look up how to make your own desk. You want to be sure your desk is the right height to avoid body aches and pains. Consider adjustable desks that can convert from seated to standing. The best way to see how a chair feels is to sit in it. Look for chairs that support your back and can adjust to your needs.

If setting up an office for two in the corner of a room isn’t your style, think about using a desk that stretches across an entire wall as suggested by the experts at The Home Edit. Doing so will help divide the space equally. You can even add a divider in the middle for added privacy and organization. It’s a trendy look and easy to accommodate two people. Just be sure you have enough outlets for two computers and other equipment.

Keeping Your Officemate’s Needs in Mind

Your job and your officemate’s jobs are different, and your companies have varying security and privacy requirements. While this can make it more challenging, it isn’t impossible. Get creative with desk dividers and privacy screens.

If you or your workspace partner are on the phone a lot, you can also try:

Noise-canceling headphones
Scheduling calls effectively

Also, identify a separate workspace location in your home or apartment for days when you both are on calls. That way you can each have a productive workspace in the event of extra busy work schedules.

Being Flexible With The Design

Being flexible with how you design your home office will help you utilize space properly to avoid desk & floor clutter. Streamlining your design but keeping it in your personal style will help you stay focused. For example, organizing files and securing them inside cabinets keeps them off your desk and safely stored. Documents you need handy on a daily basis can be kept neatly organized in labeled bins or wire baskets.

Hanging up art or your company’s values and goals are also great ways to keep you & your partner motivated. Add your personal style with photos of family or pets but remember to keep your desks as clear as possible. Be sure to incorporate good lighting with natural light, floor lamps, desk lamps, and overhead lights. You and your officemate will have a variety of equipment to keep charged, such as computers, printers, and phones. Utilize the space in your location well, so everyone has adequate power source usage.

Vertical space is often overlooked. Incorporating functional yet beautiful cabinets above your desks frees up floor and desk space. Plus, you can keep documents stored neatly and out of sight, which can help you turn off work mode when the day is done.

Some other ideas to create a functional yet peaceful workspace include:

Adding an air purifier or quiet fan
Having a small desk fountain
Utilizing house plants for greenery

Conclusion

Two people sharing a workspace at home might sound like chaos, but with a little creativity and thought, you can achieve the perfect work-from-home balance. Remember to communicate with your officemate and be honest about what you need to be most successful at work.