Dining Table or Box Room - Hive Mind Needed

[DinosaurFineosaur]

Since lockdown began I’ve been wfh from our dining table. This involves using my laptop on a stand, several notebooks, folders and files all around me. I also have a proper office chair because I had back pain when trying to use a normal dining chair, which means Mon-Fri one of the dining chairs sits randomly in the living room and brought back at the weekend when the office chair takes its place. I have a rug under the office chair to avoid ruining the floor and this is rolled up and stored in a corner at the end of the day on Fridays. The downstairs of our house is pretty much open plan/free-flowing from kitchen to dining area to living room and it’s a really nice space to work in, mainly because it is flooded with natural light from an enormous window right next to where I sit. We’re pretty rural and at the top of a hill so I also have the most amazing view from here. It feels like premium office space!

BUT

The packing up of the “office” and getting it all out again on Monday mornings is a bit of a faff. I’ve always been a stickler for eating around a table and this is now not possible during the week because of all my work stuff so we’ve gotten a bit too used to balancing trays on our laps in front of the TV. DH works out of the home but has a midweek day off when he ends up creeping around the house, trying not to be seen or heard in the background of my meetings, or watching TV with headphones so he doesn’t disturb me. It’s really not ideal. We also have no private front garden; our house looks out onto a communal green square (large secluded garden at the back though), and lots of our elderly neighbours tend to congregate there during the day for a chat. I know they are doing nothing wrong and I can’t complain but they are bloody loud (one had always shrieked like a fishwife, one is deaf as a post so everyone needs to yell so that she can hear and the social distancing is making everyone talk louder anyway). The fishwife neighbour also has a really annoying habit of standing and leaning against my window when she is chatting to the others which not only amplifies the noise but really makes my blood boil at the lack of respect/distance for other people’s property. These chats happen on average twice per day for 30 minutes at a time and drive me to distraction.

We have a box room upstairs and I know the sensible thing would be to clear this out (it is full of junk) and turn it into an office. It would allow DH more privacy/freedom in the home and would get my away from noises and distractions and give us back our dining room. It would also allow me to buy a second monitor which would really help with my work – I’ve been avoiding doing this because it wouldn’t be so easy to pack away. The drawback with the box room is exactly that – there is no window and no natural light at all. I find my mood is definitely affected by natural light (or lack of) and I find the idea of being in that room quite depressing. We’re in Scotland where the days are getting much shorter anyway so the thought of being shut away all day and missing what daylight we have, only emerging when it is dark, is not a good one. Furthermore, there is no central heating in that room, which is also likely to be a problem in Scotland in the winter.

I should also note that I hate wfh and the nature of my work makes me quite stressed anyway. I’ve been struggling with reminders of work right there in my living space and can’t switch off from it so the idea of being able to shut the box room door on it all and keep the real heart of the home a work-free zone is definitely appealing but, on the other hand, the current set-up is a reminder that this is hopefully temporary whereas the effort involved in creating a dedicated office is a rather depressing sign that this is indeed the new normal and I don’t know if I’m ready to give in to that just yet. My current set-up also means that I never work at weekends (I used to often go into the office to get things done) because everything is packed away. I do work late in the evenings but weekends have become my time again. I worry that I’ll fall back into bad habits when it’s all set up and waiting for me.

I know the box room makes so much sense. Should I just bite the bullet, strap on hot water bottles and get one of those SAD lamps? Hive mind help!

I'd set up box room and make as nice as possible inc an electric radiator. Then much easier to take a few work things out from it and sit at dining table if you want to on a sunny, quiet day?

I couldn’t work in a room with no light. Can you move anything else around? Move your bedroom chest of drawers or wardrobe into the box room to make room in your bedroom for a desk?

@iguanadonna

I'd set up box room and make as nice as possible inc an electric radiator. Then much easier to take a few work things out from it and sit at dining table if you want to on a sunny, quiet day?

This. Set it all up as your base, work a bit from the dining room in the day.

I have considered the bedroom idea but it honestly makes me feel quite anxious and ill. Work makes me so stressed anyway that the thought of my office being right there when I wake up in the morning, or a looming presence as I am trying to go to sleep just isn't going to work. Also, on a practical level, DH often works late shifts so when he is off during the week, he sleeps late. I start around 7.30-8am so would have to turf him out of bed in order to work.

I would set up in the box room and get some good lamps, then migrate to living area occasionally with lap top for a change or make sure you take a proper lunch break in the living area. I couldn't be doing with noisy neighbours twice a day having a chat outside. Also not fair on husband not being able to use the living area when at home .

Also having a second screen makes a massive difference

Box room, make it a wonderful space.

make sur eyou take a coffee break in your dining room looking out at your view, repeat at lunch with a brisk walk

get a SAD lamp(s), be clever with lighting, eg reflecting off the ceiling, so room looks and feels light and airy, repaint room if necessary, get the second monitor and shelves etc,

make it a lovely space. Even if you only WFH for a few weeks more, you have created a nice work space. Instead of thinking of it as extending your wfh time, think of it as creating a space for you.
You can use it in the future for working, crafting, reading, playing computer games, whatever your thing is.

And, naff as it may seem, think about a 'fake window' on one wall, so when you see it out of the corner of your eye, it looks like a window.

The only other thing I would say is where is the nearest window? if the main bedroom door is open, is there a lot of light? Landing window?
How dark is it really?

Are any walls in the box room suitable to have a window installed or perhaps you could get a skylight? If it's likely you're going to be working from home for the foreseeable I'd make the room as comfortable as possible.

Box room - definitely. Then on sunny days take your laptop (minus the second screen) and go and sit in the kitchen or wherever. That's what I do. My box room is tiny but has a desk and everything. I've worked from home for about 6 years and wanted to be able to shut the door on work at the end of the day. Second screen makes a MASSIVE difference.

Box room for calls etc, dining room table for other stuff. Can you put a plant or something in front of your window to stop the cheeky cow from leaning on it? I wouldn’t like that.

Can you angle a mirror or two so that you beam some light and a view from another room into the box room?

Thank you all. This is the kind of logical talk I needed. Hadn't thought about box room as base and dining table as satellite but it does make a lot of sense.

There is a small skylight in the box room but due to the angle and overhang from another part of the roof (it's an odd shaped house) it doesn't really let in much light, plus at any given time there is a seagull standing on it. The landing window is nearby though and lets in loads so as long as I kept the door open, it should be ok, although I wouldn't get any direct view of a window. Funnily enough, it was the light which attracted us to this house and determined the sale for us and everyone comments on just how bright it is when they visit. The box room is the anomaly but we only ever planned to use it as a big cupboard so it didn't bother us and obviously was not thinking about wfh although from time to time we discuss making renovations, installing a window and central heating but then we balk at the cost. I do like the idea of creating my own space though and am already thinking about photos I can frame for the walls....

Still not quite sure about the heat issue though. We do have an electric heater but DH gets grumpy about the cost of running it.

Not sure there's anything I can do about the cheeky mare next door . At least if I'm upstairs I can pretend it's not happening.

I have a terrible eye for decor - I mean, I know when something looks good but not good at visualising in advance. I'm definitely up for repainting the room - it's a pale green at the moment but paint is chipping and flaking off the walls and the previous owners' kids have obviously had stickers which have been pulled off, leaving patches. It's the only area of the house that we haven't yet touched because it was only ever used as storage.

I agree and understand that it needs to be light and airy but how do I do this without it appearing too cold? Light colours seem to create space but not warmth. Any suggestions? There is a dark grey carpet in the room which is fairly new and good quality so I definitely want to keep that.

A few prickly cactus in a narrow window box might stop someone using your windowsill as a support?
Or a wet paint sign? Only work for a few days though.

Thinking about that landing window.

is there anywhere you can hang a mirror to reflect it?
Even on th einside of the box room door?

You would then have the light from the reflection, but also, if you can see the reflection, it would feel as if you could see out of the window. Maybe even chaneg which side the door hangs so that light form that window gets into the room more.

Another thought is to replce that skylight with one of those light funnels/pipes which seem to bring lots of light in. (but you can't see out.

Colours, so, you have a dark grey carpet as a base, now, don't laugh, but a soft salmon pink would be warm and go with the carpet. An almost beige type pink if you know what I mean.
You already have an office chair, what colour? That will be a big colour statement in the room so you need to take it into account (black would be perfect with the carpet!)

Or, thinking of your photos, is there something/colour in there to pick up on?

There are some really good ideas on here!
I love the sound of your house dinosaurfineosaur

Dulux Jasmine white is a warm white (heading more toward a cream) I have this in a north facing room and it does provide a cosy touch.

Lighting is the key to your new office. Can you replace the door into the room with one half glazed or fully glazed to allow light from the landing? Mirrors on the landing to help reflect light toward the office and in the office. Also natural light lighting to make it feel like daylight. Look at basements for inspiration on lighting where there are either no or few windows.

Re the heating situation, my Dad is one for being very warm (understatement) he has an electric overblanket, one that you put on top of the bed or on top of you. It might be a better solution cost wise for staying warm. Or a more energy efficient electric heater. Your Dh has no right to get grumpy at the cost of you staying warm. There is nothing worse than being cold, says I sat with my thermal socks on. Toasty.

Get one of those mirrors that look like a window if you can hang it where the light from the landing reflects

I wfh permanently (though normally I travel for work) and am a big fan of migrating round the house as the fancy takes me. I do have a proper office, but equally will work in the sitting room sometimes, or in dh's office if I have a big video call as the backdrop and lighting is better, and sometimes I sit in bed if I feel a bit grot and I have a load of voice calls

I would consider spending money on putting in a window or enlarging the skylight, and adding a radiator, if you will be WFH for some time. I would expect it to add value to the house if you turn a dark, dingy, unheated cupboard that needs constant electric light into a useable room.

I would use light reflecting paint in off white (eg Dulux space + light) on 3 walls and Farrow & Ball Borrowed Light (a pale sky blue/grey) on the wall that your desk faces with a painting or mirror (above eye line when you are working so you aren't staring at yourself!) or a shelf with plants or something lovely. Feature walls might be out of fashion but it gives you a view and a focal point instead of a window. Their website doesn't really do the colour justice though so look at other images on the Internet.

www.farrow-ball.com/paint-colours/borrowed-light

I would also furnish the room in a homely way to make it feel more cosy (and warm), ie like a library or study rather than an office. A wooden table or desk rather than a laminate desk from Office World, plants and pictures, a rug, brightly coloured anglepoise lamp (if you need a desk lamp) or a decorative floor lamp. I have a sheepskin rug thrown over my leather office chair, which is both cosy in a practical and decorative sense. Ikea has good (cheap) storage like wooden magazine files, mini drawers and boxes, metal boxes, wicker baskets that feel less officey than plastic ring binders.

I would also recommend using daylight bulbs.

I'd do the box room then make sure I got out at some point each day.

Dulux do light and space paint which is more reflective than the usual off-while pastels. We had a dingy hallway with old neutral 80s wall paper and could never have anctipated that the long, tunnelly hall could feel light, warm and airy!

At the opposite end of decor, DS1 has a box room that has just enough floor area for a bed and a wardrobe. The carpet and one wall are navy blue, and the furniture and other walls are white. It looks crisp, neat and cosy. A narrow mirrored strip on the wardrobe breaks it up and adds depth.

Gosh, so many ideas here. I'm so glad I posted. I'll definitely look into those light and space paints and have a fairly good idea of where to hang a strategic mirror. New windows, radiators are a long way off financially but not out of the picture altogether.

I'm on annual leave this week and can't go anywhere due to local lockdowns so am going to use the time to do something practical with this space. Have been clearing out the junk in between posting here - 3 charity shop bags filled and loads of stuff moved to the garage already. The room is actually starting to feel nicer and slightly bigger than I thought. There may even be more light coming in from the skylight than I had originally perceived!

Agree with previous poster about half glazing the door to bring in more light. Can you claim some costs towards heating? Presumably you are saving money by not commuting so extra heat at home is off set .

Oh I’d fill it with plants too.