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WFH give me ideas please!

15 replies

HappyJellyBaby · 15/01/2023 11:16

Would love some ideas and suggestions on where you all WFH.

New temporary WFH job starts in a few weeks. Because it's temp and not too well paid, I don't want to spend loads on desk, chair etc. However, I'm struggling with where to work in our quite full house. I will need laptop, notebook and possibly separate keyboard, and a quiet space as I'll mainly be minuting meetings.

DH WFH mainly, in the study and he works in HR so he really needs an undisturbed space for meetings and calls.

In lockdown I worked at the kitchen table, hated having to clear everything up every evening, I am the very hungry caterpillar when food is so close, and DH invariably came in for a cup of tea the moment anyone phoned me, but I could do this again. It seems the obvious answer really.

We have a 100cm wide space in the sitting room where I could squeeze in a narrow desk. The IKEA ones would fit but look super flimsy. This is also the kids playroom so would have to work on keeping it tidy (toys tidy in day, my stuff away in evening), and if DH is looking after the kids I would have to move into his office. They are nursery age ATM so will be out for my full working day.

Upstairs we have 2DC rooms and our room, all quite small and full of furniture and no space bigger than 50cm wide. Hall and stairs are literally just a passageway. Conservatory and utility room are unheated.

Overall the house just feels really full already and I don't know where to put myself! I have been decluttering like mad the last year which has made a huge difference, but creating a whole workspace through decluttering alone would be a tall order. What I need is a desk that turns into a cot or a sofa!

OP posts:
JJJSchmidt · 15/01/2023 11:20

Personally i think that you and dh need to share the study using blurred backgrounds and headsets for calls. Potentially hugh quality headphones for you that as well as playing your meetings will block outside noise.

Giggorata · 15/01/2023 11:23

As its temporary, you can set it at the right height for a chair, an ironing board in the bedroom? If you're using Teams, you can add one of the appropriately office looking backgrounds .

When I WFH, I had a davenport desk in my sitting room, which is the quiet room in the house. They are tiny, but big enough to work on with a laptop and hold a surprising amount of stationary stuff in the drawers and desk bit.

HappyJellyBaby · 15/01/2023 11:38

JJJSchmidt · 15/01/2023 11:20

Personally i think that you and dh need to share the study using blurred backgrounds and headsets for calls. Potentially hugh quality headphones for you that as well as playing your meetings will block outside noise.

I'm afraid we would drive each other crackers! DH never ever stops talking if I'm in sight!

OP posts:

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HappyJellyBaby · 15/01/2023 11:40

Giggorata · 15/01/2023 11:23

As its temporary, you can set it at the right height for a chair, an ironing board in the bedroom? If you're using Teams, you can add one of the appropriately office looking backgrounds .

When I WFH, I had a davenport desk in my sitting room, which is the quiet room in the house. They are tiny, but big enough to work on with a laptop and hold a surprising amount of stationary stuff in the drawers and desk bit.

Davenport is a great suggestion, we have one in the study (behind the bookcase . . .) which would fit in the sitting room. Drawers are too heavy for little hands to open. Sounds like a great solution.

I don't think I could work on an ironing board for 4 months although more doable for just the odd day here and there.

OP posts:
TaRaDeBumDeAy · 15/01/2023 11:43

Does it matter if the IKEA desks are flimsy if it's only temporary?

UhhhhhhhOK · 15/01/2023 11:53

A bar or drop leaf type table?

www.ikea.com/gb/en/cat/bar-tables-20862/

I guess it depends on if you can also stand up to work. It’s handy at reducing sitting on your butt all day

OnceAgainWithFeeling · 15/01/2023 11:56

I travel 2-4 days a week. DH uses the purpose built garden office. I have a small sit-stand desk at the back of the living room for days I work from home. Sitting at the dining table all day would destroy my back.

It’s small but sturdy. And less than £30. I’ve added a laptop raiser and drawer from ikea (about £15).

YULUKIA Height Adjustable, Steel, wood, White, 69CM(L) 48CM(W) 110.5CM(H) amzn.eu/d/4OK7RpT

LlynTegid · 15/01/2023 12:16

Do you or your DH have any discretion in the time of day you can/will work? You could have some time in the study, or even just on the days he is not WFH.

Christmascracker0 · 15/01/2023 12:22

I’ve had those cheap IKEA desks for years and several house moves - they aren’t flimsy! The bonus is the legs unscrew so can be packed away if it’s only temporary.

I also had a folding desk from Amazon for a bit, which was great for a small space. But I’m not sure if I’d want to work on it all day every day.

HappyJellyBaby · 15/01/2023 12:23

TaRaDeBumDeAy · 15/01/2023 11:43

Does it matter if the IKEA desks are flimsy if it's only temporary?

Just don't want it to be wobbly and irritating or I might as well use the kitchen table

OP posts:
HappyJellyBaby · 15/01/2023 12:25

LlynTegid Not really, he is full time and I am 30 hours and we have two kids to juggle as well. I could evict him to his office I suppose!

It sounds like the IKEA desks are the way to go if the davenport doesnt work out. The £30 one looks like a great option.

OP posts:
Landlubber2019 · 15/01/2023 12:28

How old are your kids, mine are teens so I bought a desk and worked from their bedroom for a long time. It was only a problem in the school holidays!

HappyJellyBaby · 15/01/2023 12:30

Landlubber2019 · 15/01/2023 12:28

How old are your kids, mine are teens so I bought a desk and worked from their bedroom for a long time. It was only a problem in the school holidays!

One room is a box room and the other is a single, they are 4 and 1 so in theory this could work but in practice there isn't space sadly.

OP posts:
Draconis · 15/01/2023 13:30

Could you use a heater in the conservatory?

Glittertwins · 15/01/2023 13:36

The desks we have here are actually dining tables from ikea. Got a little 70x70 cm one that fits a large monitor and external keyboard/mouse on it

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