4 Ways to Create the Home Office of Your Dreams Without Putting a Dent on Your Budget

There’s no place like home to work, and it can help you maintain a healthy work-life balance when done right. You’re spared commuting, you can enjoy a flexible schedule, and working from home is known to lower stress levels and increase productivity—on top of many other benefits. Among the best ways to guarantee this is to create a working environment that’s set up for success, focus, and inspiration. Here’s how to do so without breaking the bank.

Stock up on essentials.

At the most fundamental level, a great home office must have the bells and whistles and tools that not only make it possible for you to do your work, but also do it efficiently. Inc. points out some well-chosen electronic equipment like laptops and printers are a best start. You’ll also need basic supplies like paper, pens, the ubiquitous stapler, and many more, which vary according to your work functions.

It might seem like stocking up your home office with essentials will put a sizable dent on your budget, but it really doesn’t have to. Consider purchasing your office supplies from sites like eBay where you can find pretty much everything that you need, brand-new or secondhand, at reasonable prices. You can even save more money by searching out eBay cash back offers and coupons, so make sure to do your research before hitting that check-out button.

Furnish for comfort.

Your home office needs furniture as much as it needs equipment and supplies. At the very least, you will need a good desk and a comfortable chair, and maybe even storage. Thankfully, you can also affordably furnish your home office in many ways. For one, consider re-purposing furniture you already have. For another, you can opt to go secondhand by shopping in used furniture stores or scouring the internet and your local online marketplace for pieces being unloaded by other people.

While sticking to your budget is clearly a priority, it’s just as important not to scrimp on quality. Spine-Health explains that your chair, in particular, needs to be ergonomic for your general comfort and long-term health. You can even find functional and comfortable chairs for less when you take the time to shop around and search for great offers. For instance, major office retailers like Staples offer free shipping on qualifying orders when you spend $45 or more.

Cut the clutter.

Did you know that clutter is one of productivity’s worst enemies? Indeed, there’s nothing more distracting than a messy work space, which is why it’s a must to keep your work space clean and clutter-free. Doing so not only helps you focus and gives you more space to work, but it’s also generally better to look at. So consider investing in practical and affordable storage solutions. Staying on top of the mess is also essential so they don’t build up over time.

Strike a balance.

Finally, it’s a well-known fact that working out of your desk can contribute to a sedentary lifestyle, which will do more harm than good to your health. Unfortunately, this is often overlooked. When you’re busy working, you will find yourself invariably sacrificing physical activity and healthy movement for lack of time, tiredness, and more, and this just won’t do.

One great way to ensure that you get the right amount of physical activity daily, despite working long hours, is with an under-desk elliptical. This is truly a great addition to your small home office because it doesn’t take up much room as it goes under your desk. You can then use it throughout your day to work your muscles while sitting and working. Another idea is to invest in a standing desk. Shop around and consider sizes and customer reviews on performance and durability before getting one—within your price point, of course.

Working from home can be a real joy, especially when you have a work space tailored to your personal tastes and needs. Thankfully, you don’t need to go broke doing it, either. Make use of these simple and cost-effective steps today to start creating the home office of your dreams.