Little Office Little Update - January 2024

A tiny workspace, 5 ft by 8 ft, meant every decision had to earn its place. The garage was split to create a dedicated room with a false roof, a full-length bench, extra power, and a gap in the bench for a spare fridge. The brief to the builder was clear: keep costs down and make the whole thing easy to reverse if needed for resale.

Make it usable

Everything was painted white for availability, cost, and brightness. The brickwork was sealed with masonry paint to keep dust under control. The concrete floor was sealed with thinned PVA, then finished with concrete floor paint carried slightly up the walls to form a seal. Plasterboard surfaces got a couple of coats of white emulsion. The bench was finished with wood paint for durability.

Computer space

A wall-mounted monitor saves depth and handles inputs from two work laptops, a desktop, and a Pi 400. Peripherals are shared via a USB switch (Amazon), with a powered USB hub mounted under the bench to make device swaps easy. A reclaimed office chair came from a local Harlow outlet, and a simple whiteboard earns its keep for quick design work.

Project space

Electronics and 3D-print finishing live in a separate area to keep modes of work distinct. Modular drawers from Printables handle components. On top sits Gridfinity (intro by Zack Freedman), a flexible bin system that makes it easy to reconfigure storage as needs change.

Next steps

More storage is planned with IKEA Skadis pegboards. Task lighting will be added at the monitor, above the project bench, and inside the 3D-printer enclosure. The large blank wall will get some lightweight prints or canvases to add character.

Thanks for reading. If you have small-space workspace tips or clever storage layouts, feel free to share them.


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