Small bureau with foldout desktop for small apartment office space

Create a Productive Office Space in Your 1 Bedroom Apartment

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Working from home has become increasingly common, and if you’re living in a 1 bedroom apartment rental in Kamloops, you likely don’t have the luxury of a dedicated home office. Many apartments in our city were constructed during the 1980s and have limited space with layouts that make setting up a standalone workspace challenging or impossible.

Whether you’re a freelancer, operate a home-based business, work from home occasionally, or are a student, having a clearly defined workspace typically increases productivity.

A dedicated home office space has many benefits:

  • Helps keep work-related clutter out of your apartment’s main living spaces, such as the kitchen, living room, and dining table
  • Minimizes distractions, making it easier to concentrate and maintain focus on your tasks
  • You’ll be more organized because all of your work materials are together
  • Establishes a clear boundary between work and free time, which can improve work-life balance
  • Makes it easier to “switch off” at the end of the day, reducing the temptation to work during your free time

While we offer a 1 bedroom apartment plus study at Summit Village Residences, not everyone can afford the additional monthly rent. With that in mind, we’ve provided some tips for setting up a dedicated office space in a 1 bedroom apartment.

Tips for Creating a Dedicated Office Space

Multi-functional and/or smaller scale furnishings are the keys to creating an office space in a smaller apartment. The following ideas are landlord friendly.

Hidden “office” in a wardrobe or cabinet

You can purchase a purpose-built office-in-a-wardrobe or you can make one yourself.

Jules Yap, the creator of ikeahackers.net, has created step-by-step guides for a hidden office in an IKEA PAX wardrobe and a concealed workspace inside an IKEA BILLY bookshelf. Both setups have many configuration options, including adding drawers and shelves for extra storage. Attach a slide-out keyboard tray to the bottom of a shelf and you’re hidden desk awaits!

Stealth on a shelf

Buy a freestanding bookshelf with a hidden desk or get creative and buy ladder shelving on Facebook Marketplace and create a stand-up or sit-down shelf-desk.

Get in the cloffice

Most 1 bedroom apartments have a bedroom closet with sliding or bi-fold doors. If you’re a single person that doesn’t have an extensive wardrobe, use of the closet’s free space and create your own closet-office. Get ideas from these Google photos. To stay on good terms with your landlord, opt for a “no drill, no screws” solution and don’t remove the closet doors. Measure the width and depth of the closet, buy a small desk with shelving on Facebook Marketplace and you’re done!

Balcony office

Working from your balcony is a possibility for at least 3 seasons in this part of BC. In Kamloops, December and January are usually the only months when temperatures drop near or below freezing. A small table or small desk (if your landlord allows it) and a chair are all that you need.

Rent a 1 Bedroom Apartment at Summit Village

Summit Village Residences is located in Kamloops’ Lower Sahali neighbourhood close to shopping, services and restaurants. If you’d like to rent a 1 bedroom, apply here. A representative will contact you within a few business days.