OVER THE PAST two years, many of us have worked from whatever space was available at home – from makeshift desk setups to full-blown home office areas.
However, as is often the case, the scope to make big changes as the pandemic progressed and working-from-home became the norm was smaller for those who are renting. Desks were slotted into kitchen corners, and spare bedrooms were upgraded to multifunctional spaces where you could take one step from your desk to the bed.
A reliable broadband connection became more important than ever, with workers who moved property during the pandemic having to ensure their interest was setup as early as moving day, which is a service offered by providers like Sky.
To learn from those who have already created a space they love, we asked three renters to share their home office/study space. From the importance of a good chair to adding personal touches, here’s what they had to say…
Stephanie lives in a two-bed apartment in Navan, Co Meath with her boyfriend. She has been working remotely since July 2020, and wanted to create a space that was both comfortable and functional.
I work from our spare bedroom in the apartment. My boyfriend bought me my office desk as a birthday present and I bought myself an office chair. It’s a little tight as it’s a small bedroom with a double bed, but I love having my own space.
Having a place where I didn’t have to tidy away and unplug everything at the end of the workday was very important. I wanted it to be comfortable and functional, which is why I purchased the office chair.
I like that it’s a private space so I won’t be disturbed on a work call if my boyfriend wants to boil the kettle or take lunch, and I love that I can close the door and walk away at the end of the day so I can separate work from home.
Mary lives in a one-bed apartment in Dublin 3 with her fiance. They both work from home, so optimising the space they had available was a top priority.
About a year into the pandemic/working from home I got a new job, which gave me a chance to re-do my space to a more permanent setup as I better understood what I needed – including upgrading the Ikea kitchen chair to a proper desk chair. It’s a small space, but I have tried to maximise it as much as possible by keeping it clutter-free. The correct lighting and chair makes such a difference.
Working from home definitely took some getting used to, but I have tried to make the most of it. Our kitchen table has the backdrop of pictures of our family and friends which is always nice to see. I also have some beautiful artwork from my nephews which brightens up my day. I make a conscious effort to tidy up the table as much as possible in the evening and on Fridays to separate the working day/week from our normal apartment.
Conall lives in a house in Dublin 9 with his partner. He started working from home earlier this year, and is grateful for the extra space that allows him to have a separate working area.
I had a different job throughout the pandemic which required me to go into the office, so this is the first time I’ve worked from home. My partner already had an office setup and a good WiFi connection as she’s been working from home for the past two years, but she found that she prefers working in the kitchen so I was able to slot in and use the desk and chair that were already there.
Having a room that I could go into to put my head down and work was really important to me, as I didn’t want to get into any bad habits like working from the couch. I’m lucky that we have enough space in the house to create a separate working area, as well as the fact that it gets lots of natural light during the day. I try to keep the desk as clear as I can, but no matter how hard I try, piles of paper and coffee mugs tend to gather there during the day.
Tick one big thing off your list before you move in with Sky’s exclusive new home offers and get your Sky TV and Ultrafast Broadband setup for your move in day. Find out more here. Terms and conditions apply.
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