In the modern era of remote work, working from home is common. If you live with roommates, family members, or flatmates, you’ll likely have to share home office space. This can be a challenge. Without thoughtful planning and organization, it’s hard to create a productive environment where you can be effective. 

As a general rule, share office space at home by designating work zones, setting clear boundaries, and optimizing shared spaces. To enhance your flexibility, you could use portable furniture, consider repurposing rooms, and embrace mobile work.

There are so many elements to setting up a shared home office space. As I’ve done this myself living with a flatmate, I’ll go into 11 different tips. Some of these will apply to you more than others.

Besides setting up functional workspaces within your home, it’s also important to foster healthy communication and boundaries. You should communicate your needs to the people living with you, and vice versa should they also be on the digital grind. 

Achieving productive remote work for two individuals in the same space isn’t overly challenging.

To effectively share office space between two people, it is feasible to create personalized workspaces tailored to individual preferences. Besides clear communication and boundaries, use tools like noise-cancelling headphones and versatile furniture, along with adaptable mobile work.

Beyond two people, however, things could get more complicated. You are dealing with more variables in a confined space. With more users, there are potentially more distractions and less freedom. Hopefully some of the strategies in this article can improve the feasibility of your shared home office space.

1. Set up multiple work zones

When sharing a small office space with others at home, multiple work zones enhance flexibility. 

Having a variety of workspaces allows you (and your flatmates) to easily switch between areas, depending on the nature of your work, the time of day, and the distractions within the home. On the positive side, this flexibility provides you a change of scenery when needed.

Have the option of moving when you are unproductive or when someone else is occupying a certain space. For example, you might set up a quiet corner with a comfortable chair for reading, and a dedicated desk for more intense work in the kitchen. If there’s someone else using the kitchen but you have another desk in a corner of your bedroom, you could just move there. It’s no big deal. 

2. Set up workspaces for different work styles

Personalize each work zone based on individual preferences and work requirements. 

Everyone has different work styles. You may thrive in open spaces with background noise, but your flatmate might require complete silence and minimal distractions. This means you might position yourself to look out into the spacious living room or window for inspiration, and entertain some background noise while you contemplate over an article or spreadsheet. Your flatmate might prefer the corner nook and facing the wall with earphones plugged in.

Understanding and respecting the differences in everyone’s work styles is key to a harmonious shared workspace. 

In addition, having separate desks, storage, and lighting for each person can cater to diverse preferences.

3. Establish clear boundaries and predictability

During and even after the setting up of workspaces, it is important to communicate and understand each other’s boundaries. There is no skipping this step unless you want to live with a frustrated flatmate and potentially an enemy.

Establish clear boundaries. For example, boundaries include setting expectations for noise levels during certain times of the day, as well as being mindful of lighting choices that may impact others’ sleep. 

Better still, it’s good to have predictability. It helps that you do not intrude on your family member’s couch in the evenings if he or she plans to work there upon getting home from the office. Setting clear, predictable schedules isn’t completely necessary, but helpful.

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4. Use a designated shared office

Consider having a designated shared home office in a separate room. Sharing a room like this is space-efficient. 

A shared home office in a standalone room also ensures you can get work done without encroaching on personal living spaces, which is why a spare room is the best option for locating a home office.

If you use a designated room, you can do whatever you want with this room. Customize it however you like. This is unlike other rooms like the living room, bedroom, or kitchen where it has been set up for other purposes. Your shared office should be well-equipped with all the tech and tools, organized to accommodate the needs of multiple flatmates or family members. 

Consider investing in ergonomic furniture and cool-white lighting to make that room as productive and comfortable as it can be.

5. Take turns working in common areas

If a designated shared office is not feasible or you’d like more options, consider taking turns working in common areas such as the living room or kitchen table. 

The living room is typically the largest room in an apartment, so it can be made use of with some creativity and rearrangements. The kitchen can be a practical workspace when your other flatmates are out.

Taking turns ensures that everyone gets to use the more spacious and comfortable areas in the living room productively. Of course, communicate and have somewhat predictable work hours to avoid conflicts.

6. Use space-efficient office furniture

In smaller home spaces, utilizing space-efficient office furniture is essential. 

Opt for furniture serving multiple purposes, such as a foldable desk or wall-mounted shelves. This not only maximizes the functionality of the space but also allows for easy storage when the workspace is not in use.

Also opt for furniture that takes little space but offer great functionality. For instance, to maximize an unused corner, one or two people can possibly share an L-shaped corner desk workspace.

7. Use portable office furniture

Portable office furniture gives you extra flexibility when you share office space with others at home. Here are some examples:

• Lap desk: Enable you to work anywhere on your lap – on the couch, floor, chair (or even on the bed, though unideal)
• Rollable side desk: They are essentially small portable desks with wheels – you can place your laptop and work while seated on the couch or bed.
• Ergonomic chairs or recliners: You can sit and do reading and light web browsing, away from a designated desk.
• Laptop stand: It might be able to convert a cabinet or coffee table into a functional space for your laptop, allowing you to read or do light web browsing.
• Foldable table: You can store it anywhere and set it up anywhere you like, changing your desk location if you like.

These portable furniture allow you to adapt your workspace to different areas within your home. 

They cater to various needs and preferences when multiple people are sharing home workspaces.

8. Repurpose a spare room (or build one)

If space allows, repurposing a spare room as a dedicated office can be a game-changer. 

Transform an underutilized room by shifting out storage and converting it into a functional office space.

If you have utmost control over your apartment, you can repurpose an entire room or even create a new room. If you require permission, check your rental agreement or ask your landlord whether you have the flexibility to build a wall and create a separate workspace, perhaps in a new separate room.

9. Prioritize (multi-)functionality over aesthetics

In a shared home workspace, prioritizing functionality over aesthetics is key. When you are living with others, focus on creating practical and efficient work areas that meet everyone’s needs. 

For instance, turn your bedroom into an office if you live with flatmates or family members who have separate bedrooms. It can eliminate potential clashes in workspaces.

While this goes against the principle of single-use spaces, being super flexible and embracing multi-functionality will do wonders when living with others. 

10. Use noise-cancelling headphones

Noise-canceling headphones are a valuable investment when sharing office space. 

A pair of headphones or earplugs that does a decent job blocking out noise is almost a must-have when you are living with multiple family members or flatmates. 

You want 100% control of the noise entering your ears and mind. How critical this tool is depends on their habits and level of cooperation when it comes to keeping noise levels low.

Noise-cancelling headphones provide a private and focused auditory environment. If you have a few hundred dollars to invest in a really good pair, you can probably work anywhere in your home without getting auditorily distracted. They are particularly useful in open-plan living situations, besides working remotely in places like the airport and noisy cafes.

11. Work mobile

Last but not least, for ultimate flexibility, consider working in a mobile fashion. Utilize strategies like taking a walk while working or using your phone for certain tasks. 

Several apps and tools are designed to facilitate mobile work. There are productivity apps with mobile app versions like Google Workspaces and others. Such apps allow you to adapt to different settings while maintaining productivity. 

You can also schedule certain types of work to get done while commuting or taking a walk. For example, you can make phone calls, brainstorm a particular problem, or plan your calendar whilst being on the move.

The more flexibility and adaptability you can create when sharing a home workspace with others, the better and more productive you will be.

Summary

In summary, successfully sharing office space at home requires thoughtful planning, communication, and adaptability. 

By implementing these ideas, you can create a productive environment that accommodates the needs of everyone in the shared space.

If you’d like more tips on setting up your home office, check out our comprehensive guide to get your workspace up and ready in no time.