10 budget-friendly home renovation ideas if you’re working from home

Home renovations are worthwhile investments as our families grow and priorities change because it allows our homes to stay functional and keep up with our needs. These past couple of years, more people started working at home because of the ongoing health emergency. Working from home is not something we’re used to, but there are ways to make our homes suitable for a work-from-home set-up.

Insulate your work area

Unlike most corporate offices, regular homes are not climate-controlled, so you have to contend with changing temperatures while working at home. This may not be an issue for some but can make working at home uncomfortable for others. One of the best ways to avoid constantly changing home temperatures is by improving your house insulation.

Plugging air leaks is the easiest way to improve insulation in our homes, and you can accomplish this by installing weather strips in your windows. You can also use caulk to seal off cracks and air gaps around window frames. These can help prevent outside air from entering and changing your home’s interior temperature.

Air drafts from doors can also let in outside air, so take care of them. A door snake or door stopper can help seal off your door to improve insulation.

Insulate your attic

If you have an attic, it is another area you need to concentrate on because it accounts for heat loss in many homes. You can use spray foam insulation to prevent heat loss in your attic. Another cost-effective alternative is using reflective insulation foil that you can install on your attic ceiling.

Upgrade your windows

One of the challenges of working at home is maintaining a quiet working environment, especially if your house is in a busy neighbourhood. You can improve the soundproofing properties of your home by upgrading your windows.

Single pane windows let outside noises in, and you can replace them with double pane or triple pane glass to resolve this issue. Double and triple pane windows have gas pockets between sheets of glass that helps block out sound. Aside from making your house more soundproof, double or triple pane glass windows can also improve your home’s insulating capabilities.

Upgrade your window treatments

Upgrading your window treatments is another cost-effective way of blocking outside noises to have a quiet home office. Thin curtains cannot block outside noises so consider replacing them with thick curtains or drapes. Aside from helping keep your home office quiet, upgrading window treatments can help improve the aesthetics of your home office.

Spruce up your garden

Although hiring a draftsman can be expensive, you can spruce up your garden without spending a ton of money. Trim excess leaves on trees and plants to have a neat-looking garden. You can also add some flowering plants that elevate your garden’s appearance when they bloom.

Another idea is to add a set of tables and chairs in a shady spot where you can do some work if you want to have some fresh air. Having an outdoors work area is also an excellent way of experiencing a change of scenery when your indoor work area starts to get boring.

New storage options

Adding new storage options is an excellent home renovation idea to have a storage area dedicated to work-related documents and items. A new storage option can help secure sensitive work documents and prevent them from getting misplaced or mixed with personal documents. It can also help keep your work area clean and uncluttered.

A cheap option is installing open shelves because they’re just wood planks you need to install on your wall. You can then use storage boxes to organize sensitive documents and prevent them from spilling out of the shelves.

Upgrade your lighting

Proper lighting is vital to any home office because a dim or poorly-lit office can hamper productivity. When setting up a home office, your existing lighting fixtures may not provide optimum lighting. Swap your fluorescent lights with LED lights that are brighter and more energy-efficient. Bright lights are also important if you attend many video meetings so your officemates can see you properly.

You can also install dimmers for mood lighting if you work better in a dimly-lit environment. Dimmers can also extend the life of your bulbs because they lower the amount of time your bulbs use maximum energy.

Repaint your home

Repainting your house can make it look fresher and inspire you to work better. Bright colours can provide positive energy and improve your productivity. A fresh coat of paint can also give you an excellent background during video meetings. You don’t need to repaint your entire house, if you are working on a budget, you can repaint the area you’re using as your home office.

Refresh your wallpaper

Refreshing your wallpaper is an excellent option if you don’t want to repaint your home office. Look for a wallpaper that you like but consider something that will give your home office a professional look. Textured wallpapers look more sophisticated than flat ones, so you might want to go that route.

Another idea is to have a featured wall in your home office. Use a different wallpaper colour, pattern, and texture on one wall to make it stand out. You can use the featured wall as your backdrop during video meetings.

Install a kitchenette

Having a kitchenette is an excellent idea if you want to work at home with minimal interruptions. With a kitchenette in your home office, you can prepare a small meal or a snack without going to the main kitchen.

For a budget-friendly kitchenette, install a pull-down table where you can keep a microwave oven and a small coffee pot. You can fold away your kitchenette if you are not using it. If you have a more extensive budget, go for a proper kitchenette with a sink and a small stove where you can cook a small meal.

Final thoughts

Transitioning to a work at home set-up can be challenging, but there are budget renovation ideas to help make your transition easier. Renovating your home office can also provide you with a work area with everything you need that inspires you to be productive. With the help of these budget-friendly home renovation ideas, you can transform a regular space in your house into an excellent home office without going over budget.