Space Sharing: Tips & Tricks to Maximize the Space in your Home

Everything has turned upside down lately, due to the Covid pandemic. Not only are we terribly concerned about our health, and the health of our loved ones, but many of us find ourselves working from home, and perhaps sharing our space 24/7 with spouses, kids, parents and/or pets (who seem to be the ones most delighted with this togetherness)!

In this blog post, I will share a few helpful tips to help you maximize your space, so you can create different functional zones within your home and work/live together more comfortably.

Photos via: Belo Rio Studio & decorloving.com

1. Create a bubble diagram to effortlessly plan your space

If you are currently sharing your space with others, I suggest doing this exercise together, so everyone feels included. You will each be more likely to approach any changes with a positive attitude, if these are decided collectively.

Grab a piece of paper and draw circles or squares to represent the different spaces and zones within your home or apartment. In design jargon, this is known as a bubble diagram (see example).

Determine the best areas for relaxation vs. focused work for each of you individually AND as a group. You should each select your ideal spots, based on your needs and preferences. For example, you might need a more private zone to make conference calls, whereas your high school kid might choose a blend of “chill” and work, thus choosing their own bedroom or the den.

© Natura Interiors

2. Define “zones” within your space with existing furniture and objects

Once you have all decided how your space will be allocated, use existing furniture and objects to define distinct zones.

Open bookshelves are particularly useful because they will retain a sense of openness, while dividing a room. Something as simple as a rug, with a furniture grouping (aka. conversation cluster) on top, can create a perfect relaxation zone.

Photos via: thekhazana.net & heatherednest.com

3. Set up an efficient mini-office at home

A dedicated work-space is essential to those of us who are working remotely, and it helps create a sense of order and routine. For a mini-office at home, you need two main things: comfort and (relative) privacy.

Be sure to have a comfortable chair, with good seat and back support. Add a cushion, if necessary, to support your lumbar area. Make sure your work surface is at the right height, so you are not crouching over your laptop. Natural light is ideal during the day, and a task lamp is crucial at night.

For privacy, you can use a screen, bookshelf or curtain, to separate your mini-office from the rest of the space. You can also tuck your desk in an unexpected spot, such as an attic or under the stairs!

Photos via: thenordroom.com & something.turquoise.com

4. Choose the right lighting for each area of your home

Each zone within your home will have a specific function, it will require some adjustment in terms of lighting.

Consider the activities that each person will be performing in the space, and select lighting that will help to perform each task. For example, add a desk lamp at the kitchen island, if that will be your “work table,” or a floor lamp for reading by your mom’s favorite armchair.

Photos via: centsationalgirl.com & Brooke Lark

5. How to best plan your circulation space

In terms of circulation, you should ideally provide 3ft of space around furniture groupings and zones to move around comfortably. There is nothing worse than to bump into the sharp edges of a table (or someone’s elbow) as you navigate through your home!

If your space is very tiny, consider placing furniture groupings against a wall, and create a central corridor in your room instead. Think of comfortable circulation space as the necessary breathing space of your home.

Photos via: domino.com & casavogue.globo.com

7. A tip on how to work and live together (without killing each other)

What I have found most helpful during this time of uncertainty, and constant coexistence under the same roof, is open and clear communication.

First figure out what YOUR preferred routine and schedule are. Then share this (kindly) with your housemates, and ask them to do the same with you. Together, come up with rules on noise and working vs. fun hours. It is so much easier to set and respect each other’s boundaries, when there is open communication.

I hope these tips have helped encourage you to effectively plan your shared space. Most of all, stay safe, and remember this situation will end one day...I promise!

Feel free to leave a comment below or send me an email at info@naturainteriors.com if you have any questions about how to reorganize your space! Don’t be shy, I am more than happy to answer your questions :)

Warmly,
Alejandra