They say it takes 21 days to form a new habit, with the pandemic pushing the world into almost two years of virtual conference calls and client meetings, it seems like this new habit of doing the work/life balance from our homes is well-formed and here to stay.
As our abodes become ground zero for all aspects of our existence—social, business, and academic—we find that there’s a small matter of available living space that needs to magically expand to accommodate the in-house office, school and living areas we now require.
We may not have a magic wand to give you extra square footage but we do have a few space-saving hardware store finds that may just give you back those few precious inches that will make your mini-world (aka your desk) a bit more functional.
Hang it up!
Since horizontal living space is now at a premium, maximize the vertical real estate you’ve got with hooks. Whether they’re the stick-on type or the sturdier ones you drill in, hooks can help clear desks of extra clutter.
Headsets, chargers, cables, and handy storage containers stuffed with writing supplies can dangle quite easily and efficiently on the sides of your workstations with these little miracle workers.
Try the different kinds available: S-hooks, cup hooks, hooks with magnets will all extend your storage space.
Power Station
With our virtual world comes gadgets with plug-ins (the physical kind) which require a power-up every now and then. How do we solve the problem of all those tangled up power cords tripping us up?
Hello, multiple plug extension cord!
This multi-plug (you can get as many as 6 on one strip…maybe even more!) device organizes all of your necessary plug-ins in one location. Less cable clutter!
But wait, there’s more.
By attaching this electrical strip under your desk (or on the side depending on the space available) with 3M Velcro adhesive tape (or double stick tape, either one works!), you can now charge up numerous gadgets with ease without having to fumble under the table for that elusive power outlet.
Tip: Hide the main cord of the power strip by snaking it on the underside of the desk and taping it down securely to eliminate unsightly wire hangs.
Universal USB Adapter
For a non-techy mom like me, this was a fabulous find at the hardware store. Not only did it allow me to ditch bulky adaptors (which were so heavy they never quite stayed in the wall sockets), they immediately minimized socket traffic and congestion!
Charging two to 3 gadgets in two inches of electrical real estate was now possible—a perfect pairing with the extension cord hack I mentioned above.
(There are multiple extension cords that already have these built-in but I find these individual ones are more portable.)
And it only costs around Php200 ($4)!
Velcro Adhesive Kits
Is it just me or are these multiple-use 3M Command adhesive Velcro strips the most useful item ever?! I’ve used them to attach kids’ art canvases, murals, brooms (with the hook attachment provided) and corkboard sheets to my walls/desks/doors.
It’s been around for awhile but it’s still managed to prove its importance year after year in our household!
This year, I used them to store my children’s white boards on the side of their desks. So convenient!
One less item to clutter their desks! Yay!
Caster wheels
Ever since they invented the wheel, the world has never looked back. In this case, the caster wheel has changed the way we can arrange work stations in our home.
Heavy, immobile bookshelves and mismatched wooden drawers are transformed into moving dividers and portable storage that can easily be moved around or hidden away under beds and tables. It also makes sweeping and mopping the floor underneath so easy!
Another plus in our books!
So, next time you take a trip to the hardware store, keep an eye out for these space-saving finds—you just might gain back some of that prime desk real estate you’ve been missing for your work-from-home/school-from-home set-up.
Marie Kondo would be so proud!
