There are numerous reasons why you may want to know how to set up an office in a kitchen. Kitchen office ideas are almost endless too, especially if you have free reign over design and decoration choices. First and foremost, it’s all about getting the balance right between your kitchen essentials and your office furniture and equipment. If both creatures are to share the same cave, they must respect each other’s space and part to play within it.
Keep on reading for reasons why you might want a kitchen office, and some kitchen office ideas and advice.
Reasons why you might want a kitchen office
Working from home
40% of the UK still works from home at least part of the week. If you are one of these people, then picking a spot in your home where you are most productive is important. A spare bedroom is often the most obvious space for a desk and chair, but not everybody has the luxury of a spare room. The kitchen on the other hand already has a lot of what you need – charging points, good lighting, storage, and easy access to the sink and fridge!
Keeping it about the food
If your business revolves around food, a kitchen office just makes sense. It allows for hands-on management, enabling you to oversee staff or food preparation without being disconnected from your office based obligations. If you have a small start-up company, then a separate office space may just not be viable.
Running a catering company
Catering companies often experience peaks of activity and business. Managers will need to oversee production whilst handling bookings at the same time. Takeaways that prepare ready-to-eat meals often require someone to manage orders and customer queries, and it makes sense for them to be a part of the kitchen environment.
Food blogging and creating content
The TikTok generation has taken over! Kitchen office ideas come to life on tiny screen devices! Almost everyone is an online chef these days! If you are producing recipes, videos, or reviews, then you may want to have a dedicated workspace within your kitchen. From the plate straight to the web!
Tips on how to set up an office in a kitchen
Define your workspace
Pick a space in the kitchen that is least disruptive to food preparation and high traffic areas. You obviously don’t want to choose an area right next to the cooker or stove! Even in a small kitchen, keeping paperwork, laptops, invoices and such away from food preparation zones helps with hygiene and efficiency.
Be smart and organised with your storage
The right office storage solution removes clutter, prevents injuries, increases productivity, and creates a more convenient working environment. This is never truer than in a kitchen! Office pedestals and filing cabinets are often required to maintain and organise important paperwork. If possible, try to work these into spare alcove spaces, corners, or underneath worktops to maximise on your available space.
For more information you can read another one of our blogs – Office Storage Ideas for Your Home.
Make use of vertical space
If floor space is limited, think upwards! Wall mounted shelves, pegboards or magnetic organisers can keep essential office supplies within easy reach without cluttering your work surfaces. Floating shelves above your desk area can hold books, paperwork, or even decorative elements to make the space feel more inviting.
Make everything seem seamless
If purchasing new office equipment is part of your kitchen office ideas, then go for similar materials, colours and surfaces that match the rest of your kitchen design.
Optimise your comfort and productivity
If you’ll be sitting for extended periods, get a comfortable chair with back support. A High Rise Counter Draughtsman's Chair may work in a small or tight space, but if you have the room then you should consider something with more support. For example, an ergonomic office chair. Also, this may not be an issue for most kitchen spaces, but make sure you have adequate lighting for reading and looking at your monitor. Task lighting or an adjustable desk lamp can help if required. Cable management will also prevent clutter and potential accidents.
Be wise with your choice of furniture
As mentioned above, for most office spaces where you expect to be sitting for long periods of time, an ergonomic chair is advisable. They offer additional support and comfort benefits in comparison to other office chairs. However, there are other things to consider, like keeping your office furniture clean and hygienic. For this reason, you may consider mesh office chairs, wood office chairs, or even leather office chairs. All of these options are relatively easy to clean and sanitise.
Use a kitchen island to its full advantage
If you are lucky enough to have a kitchen island then you may have a ready-made desk area ready to go! A kitchen island allows you to get creative with hot desking in large commercial kitchens. It’s also a handy spot if you only work from home occasionally, or only need to sit down and use a laptop every now and then. If you don’t have a kitchen island then finding space for a home office desk or small computer desk is crucial.
Create a visual divide
To keep your work area separate from the rest of the kitchen, you can use a decorative screen, a bookshelf, or even a simple rug under your chair to define your workspace. This can help you mentally shift between office mode and kitchen mode within the same room, swapping the keyboard for the chef’s hat instantly!
Be mindful of hygiene and safety considerations
This goes without saying, but keep your electronics away from heat and moisture! Laptops, printers, and other office equipment should be kept at a safe distance from the cooking action and any potential spillage areas. Your desk top should be made from a material that is easy to clean and sanitise, just like the rest of your kitchen. It’s also really important to ensure any paperwork or documentation doesn’t come into contact with food preparation surfaces.
Commercial kitchen? Put your stamp on it!
If you work in a large corporate office, or one with may employees and hot desks, then you should put your stamp on it and use it as an opportunity for branding. This is a great way of making employees and visitors feel connected to the company culture. Use your brand’s signature colours to decorate the walls and features, or maybe even include your logo or some branded lighting somewhere in your design. You can even include photographs of employees, or examples of the company’s achievements.
For more information read our other blog – The Best Colours for a Productive Office.
Make use of technology
If counter space is tight in a café or takeaway environment, a tablet or bracket-mounted screen can be a space saving alternative to a laptop or computer. Wireless technology also removes the needs for wiring and cables, reducing clutter and risk of accidents.
Let there be light
Most kitchens will have sufficient lighting as it is required for the chef and the kitchen staff. Whether or not you need additional lighting will depend on where you place your office setup within the kitchen. Perhaps some extra downlights, a task light or a lamp will shine some extra light on your office duties?
Contact Order Office Furniture today for more kitchen office ideas!
For more information on how to make your office space more productive and comfortable, no matter whether it is in your kitchen or anywhere else, check out our blog – How to Feng Shui Your Office for Balance and Productivity.
If you would like some more kitchen office ideas then please do not hesitate to get in touch. Call 0800 055 6209 or come see us in person and see our full range of home office furniture supplies. Simply book an appointment to visit our showroom in Huddersfield.
