Learn to build this pocket office at www.homedepot.ca
When Pascale Grisé heads to work, she walks down the hallway of her one-bedroom apartment, opens her white louvered closet doors and sits down to her computer.
It's a jam-packed space, complete with an inspiration board full of favourite photos and countless scarlet-coloured magazine boxes stuffed with files, Vogues and Harpers Bazaars.
Despite its tiny footprint, the well-ordered, 10-square-foot alcove contains just about everything the Montreal-born, New York-based fashion stylist needs to conduct her busy professional life.
And it's an example of the growing number of home-based workspaces in microscopic settings. Welcome to the pocket office.
Given the dual reality of major job losses since last fall and subsequent spikes in home-based businesses, many Canadians have no doubt faced the challenge of creating their own micro-workspaces in unused corners, behind closet doors and under basement stairways.
In the past, the suburban dad's den may have been the home-office ideal, but space, as Grisé's Manhattan digs illustrate, is precious in many homes these days. As a result, both designers and retailers are responding in greater numbers to the need for smaller-scale, ultra-flexible office gear.
Firms such as Belkin and Function Works, for instance, offer a host of multifunctional stands, tables and pads for turning any surface or corner into an ad hoc office, while the Home Depot, famous for its raw materials and variety of furnishings, now rounds out the space-building process with in-store and online design advice, including step-by-step projects.
"What people should be looking for," says Frank Turco, manager of colour, trend and design at Home Depot Canada, "is found space. It could be a landing on the staircase, under floating stairs or in a closet. The kitchen has also become an office or workplace, with islands and peninsulas serving multiple functions."
Turco's directive for the space-challenged: Go vertical. One of his suggested scenarios involves a glass-topped table for a desk, floating shelves above it and a two-drawer cabinet on casters underneath.
Alex Bates, creative director of product development for Chicago-based West Elm, calls a small corner of her bedroom her home office. Perhaps it's that setup's efficiency that inspired some of the company's recent scaled-down furniture, including a 30-inch mini-me version of its popular four-foot-wide Parsons table. The perfect micro-office desk, it can be tucked under stairs or in almost any corner of the house.
"Think outside the box - literally," says Bates, referring to both furniture and unorthodox accessories. Baskets, for instance, are her preferred filing system. "You can be set up at your dining table and company comes and you can stick everything in a basket and set it under the sideboard and you look so organized."
Besides layout and furnishings, the right technology can also go a long way toward maximizing space. The latest software, Internet services and Smartphones, for instance, will cut down on storage requirements, virtual files being much less space-consuming than bulky filing cabinets.
"At the core of every contemporary office," says Willi Powell, strategic development manager at Apple Canada, "are two things: the phone and the computer." If Powell "could have only one thing, it would be an iPhone," which he calls "a powerful little tool." He also cites the benefits of Time Capsule, a new automatic-backup device that has a capacity of 1 TB, enough to store a sizable amount of data.
Of course, it's also advisable to make your pocket office as personalized as possible, outfitting it with enough stylish touches - a sharkskin desk set, a vase of flowers - to make you want to spend time there.
No matter how adaptable we become as home-based workers, after all, we will always need a space, however tiny, for recharging both our BlackBerrys and our brains.
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Tips for creating the perfect pocket office
GO VERTICAL
Overhead cupboards or floating shelves allow you to pack considerable storage into tight quarters. Choose taller, narrower filing cabinets over squatter models to maximize floor space.
BRIGHTEN THINGS UP
Make sure that your micro office is bright and welcoming through good task or overhead lighting. In higher-traffic areas, experiment with non-office-looking lamps and sconces to integrate work and living areas. [-rule-]
Be (WELL) SEATED
Instead of the standard swivel chair, why not outfit your pocket office with a funky ergonomic or exercise stool that slides easily under a desk? In more formal areas, consider a stylish, well-padded dining or armchair. Whatever kind of seating you choose, make sure that it offers good back support.
ADD FABRICS AND PATTERNS
Toss a silk cushion or elegant throw on your chair to inject a shot of glamour to your nook. For extra oomph, close off an alcove with sumptuous drapes or paper the back of non-descript bookshelves with beautiful sheets of wallpaper.
GO WIRELESS
If you're the restless type, invest in a wireless router, which will allow you to use your laptop almost anywhere in your home and even out on the deck. Eliminate clutter on your desk top and tangled wires underfoot by using a single charging station to refuel BlackBerrys, cameras and other electronic devices.
THINK INSIDE THE BASKET
For a softer, prettier alternative to cabinets, use boxes and baskets to file and organize papers and folders. Choose a single colour or design to make a strong, cohesive statement.
PERSONALIZE YOUR SPACE
Whether it's travel mementos or snapshots of your kids or buddies, line your home-based hub with things you love. "It helps make work more fun," says Alex Bates of West Elm. "You can look around and see things that will inspire you as you take care of your work."
Special to The Globe and Mail