For those of us who are not commuting to an office, either from time to time or every day, but working from home instead, it’s often challenging to create a productive environment. Especially when you haven’t got a huge amount of room to work.

Here are some top tips from Lifehacker.com to make the most of your available space and get things done.

To find and create a space where you can be most productive, is probably the hardest bit. Especially when you share your home with a housemate or your family, you have to be creative when it comes to finding a suitable works space in a house where every room has a purpose already.

First of all, make sure every tiny patch of wall or an unused corner can be used. If you are not planning to have a permanent home office, you can create an area which you use when needed but does something else when you don’t. It’s important that your “go-to” spot can be set up easily and is ready for work in no time.

Many people struggle to be productive when working from home as there are plenty of distractions. From kids and pets to the telly and other forms of entertainment. It’s always tempting to take another break. Therefore, it is vital to clearly define when you’re “on” work and when not.

You can work with a sign which says free or busy or use headphones. It’s just important that there is clear communication and people around you know that you are in working mode. Your working space should be comfortable and dedicated completely to your work—at least, while you’re working. Try to give yourself a spot that’s clearly a working space.

Once you found the right space, make sure you get rid of non-work related items that just distract you. Books, games or even a comfortable blanket, should all be moved somewhere they won’t tempt you while you’re trying to be productive.

If you require to take phone calls or Skype calls, make sure your home office looks decent and the noise level around you is as low as possible. Using a headphone and preparing the room beforehand are recommended.

With a bit of planning and preparation, it’s fairly easy to remove most distractions in the house. However, there are often other “ever-present” distractions, like road noises, the kitchen, or construction work. In these cases, it’s all about focus. For many headphones and some quiet music can help immensely. It’s also useful to make a plan for specific work times and specific break times.

Working from home can be a real joy and even may help to increase productivity. But that doesn’t mean it’s easy to get things done when we’re distracted by family, the doorbell, or even the pantry calling your name. Think ahead, prepare for distractions, and carve out a comfortable, well-defended place for you to settle in and be productive, and you’ll manage to get things done.

By the way, if you ever need to create more space for your home office but haven’t got enough room in your house,  we can help.