It’s no news that work-from-home is becoming common in today’s work culture.
However, not every individual can afford a separate workspace; that’s much needed considering the plausible distractions at home. That’s where a separate balcony space comes in handy.
A balcony can be turned into a tailored workstation in a few easy steps. You may require some preliminary work done before getting aboard with the idea.
However, once you have the groundwork out of the way, setting up the room is the last thing standing between you and your ideal WFH office space.
Hence, without further ado, let’s get into the things and steps needed to turn your balcony into a small office workplace.
Things to Ponder Upon
You might be excited to turn your balcony upside down and start working there. We get it. However, there are some things you need to plan and ponder upon before getting started.
- Space: The first thing you need to look for is the space itself. It’s common for balconies to have limited room for only a chair and a person. However, to make your “office,” you’d require a few additional things. Therefore, having a proper idea of how much space you have and which items you can easily stuff in the room is a must.
- Environmental Elements: The next thing to seek clarity on is the environmental elements your balcony is exposed to. Rain might be the most challenging factor to curb if you reside in a tropical region. You’d need to plan your space’s protection options accordingly.
- Segregation: It’s human to have distractions around the house, especially if you live with your family. Hence, you’d need to plan how to separate your home from your workspace.
- Power Supply: The power supply is the most crucial yet often-overlooked factor. Is there a corner you can convert into a charging station? Or will you need an electrician’s handiwork before you fill the space with your office furniture?
- Office Furniture: Once you have the above things planned, you’d need to figure out your office furniture needs. If your work is artsy and can be done on the floor, a desk and chair setup isn’t a requirement for you.
- Storage: You’d also have to smartly plan storage ideas due to space limitations. Could some of the furniture items double as storage units? How’d you utilize the vertical wall space?
- Liveliness: You need a workplace that inspires you to work because it’s close to other distractions. Hence, having some liveliness, such as greenery or design elements that motivate you to work, can make the space more personalized and creativity driven.
Steps to Turn Your Balcony Into a Workplace
Once you have pondered upon all the elements, the real fun begins. Here are the steps you need to take to transform your balcony into a workplace.
Plan It Out
If you’re okay with having an austere office space, by all means, go ahead, throw in a chair and a desk, and work away. However, if you want a proper setup, you must first plan everything out in detail.
Take the room’s measurements to decide what type of furniture would work well with the space, where you would place the furniture, how some design elements would cover the area, etc.
You must also pay attention to the color scheme to make the office well put together. However, it doesn’t mean you need to create an artist’s gallery.
Just deciding on a few bases and accent colors would do the trick.
For instance, earthy tones work well for a moody look, whereas blue and white would make up a bright and professional space.
You should also keep an eye out for all the little details that need fixtures. For instance, if there’s a leakage on the wall with the charging outlet, it’s an electrical hazard in the making.
You must also plan out the primary source of ventilation and where that would go.
Collect the Items
Once the plans are ready, start collecting the items you need.
Whether you want carpets on your floor or artwork on your walls, buy them out and play around with the layouts to figure out which one would work best for your work.
You must also buy wall paints if needed to make the color scheme work.
Furthermore, collect furniture items in advance. Look for items with storage spaces, such as desks with drawers or chairs with book space.
Walls are another great way to store necessary items. Hence, if you invest in a sturdy vertical shelf, your files can find a place to rest with some crafty pieces or pottery to add life.
However, don’t bring your office supplies in yet. That’d be one of the later steps.
Clean up the Area
The next step is to clean up the area, including the railing, walls, ceiling, and floor. Whether you broom, vacuum or dust it out is up to you.
However, ensure its looked after from floor to ceiling to transform it into a space where you can conduct or attend your work meetings.
If you need some leakage fixtures or color revival, now would be the time to call your handyman or buy a pair of gloves and get to work yourself.
Protect the Space from Environmental Elements
Once the indoors are well looked after, it’s time to place barriers from environmental elements.
Glass walls work well to touch upon sophistication while keeping the place open for light. You can also install Venetian blinds to add a professional office vibe to the room.
If you have an open ceiling balcony, get it covered with a full shade or invest in roof construction to add longevity to your workspace.
Create a Segregation
When you have blocked the non-living environmental factors from your office, you need to do the same for living beings.
Installing a sliding door that completely shuts you off from the home world or glass doors could help you create separation while giving you a sneak peek of your family every now and then.
Add a Charging Station
Here’s the need for an electrician we discussed earlier. Get a charging station installed in a way that allows you to charge multiple items quickly.
A single power station won’t cut the deal if you’re a creator who needs multiple devices at a time for shooting, editing, and posting content.
Start Filling the Ground
Once you have the skeleton setup, it’s time to add some flesh. Start with the groundwork and cover the floors with carpets or mats to make the office welcoming and warm.
Next, you must place all your office furniture and stack it near the charging station.
You can now bring in your office supplies and fill the storage units in your desk and chair.
When you have things on the ground all set, you’ll gain more insight into where you need the rest of your things to go.
Remember not to go overboard and fill in every horizontal inch, as you need ample space for movement. Hence, negative space is a good thing.
Cover the Wall Space
Now that the horizontal layout is all filled, or at least as much filled as you desire, direct your attention to the walls and start stacking up the things you need to go on your walls.
If you have office supplies, they can be placed on the shelf. A wall painting with some certifications can also fill the wall more while showcasing your achievements.
However, avoid your impulse to clutter the space.
If one wall space is filled, you can strategically place some items on the wall opposite to it to create symmetry in the room.
Lighten up the Room
After having all your desired items placed in the room, it’s time to lighten it up. Add some lights in the room with a perfect balance between the brightness and the design element.
A chandelier won’t be a wise option if you already have ample light coming in naturally from the glass walls.
Instead, a bright desk lamp would do the job better for a focused spotlight effect on the work.
You can add a chandelier with matching small ones around the room if your office space is moody and doesn’t have too much natural light.
However, instead of a bright one, go for a subtly diffused light setup to keep the mystique feel of the space intact.
Add Life to the Space
Finally, the last step is to add elements that bring life to the space or at least spark your creativity.
Plants usually do the trick. However, you’d need in-depth research on which plants would survive well in a moody setting and which need ample sunlight to blossom beautifully.
Succulents are always a good bet as they don’t require much space, water or sunlight. You can stack them on your vertical shelf to fill in the gaps where nothing is placed.
Dieffenbachia is another excellent indoor plant that adds life instantly to the space. However, they thrive better in abundant sunlight.
If plants aren’t your style, artistic pieces or custom-made furniture could do the trick.
For instance, if you’re into sports cars, having pictures lined up from some of the famous race events can speak volumes about your style and personality.
Final Thoughts
Your workplace should be your sanctuary, just like your home. Both spaces are rooms where you spend most of your life.
Hence, don’t let the space limitations of the balcony limit your creative juices or steal your attention by making you feel trapped.
Follow the steps we discussed above and create a professional yet peaceful space to help you thrive in your career. All the best.
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