Apartment for Freelancers – how to find the perfect space for a home office
Has remote working become a permanent fixture in Polish companies for good in these post-pandemic times? According to GUS (Statistics Poland) data, at the end of the second quarter of 2022, only 3.8% of employees were working online in Poland. The majority of these are IT freelancers. Working from home presents many challenges. One of them is ensuring that the freelancer’s apartment is home-office ready. Is it possible to have a comfortable apartment and an efficient work space in your own home?
Home office – it should be so much easier!
No travel costs, flexible working time, a sense of independence – a freelancer’s work from home aspect has many advantages. But every rose has its thorn. Working at home has its challenges too.
The main problem that people working from home point out is the separation of home and work space. It is primarily about having a place for office work. It’s hard to focus at the kitchen table, which suddenly becomes your desk. On the Internet, you’ll even find guides on how to perch your laptop comfortably on an ironing board in the utilities room or corner.
There are, of course, other reasons as to why the home environment is not conducive to concentrating – after all, there’s always something to be done at home – you need to put the dishwasher on, unload the washing machine, clean out your wardrobe.
There’s also no one checking up on you or breathing down your neck to see if you’re actually working during office hours, or if you’re trawling Ebay or gossiping on the phone with friends. That’s why remote working requires great self-discipline and time management.
Apartment for a freelancer – room layout
What should an apartment with a home office look like? First of all, you need to remember to clearly separate your work space from the rest of the apartment. And this isn’t just about physically separating ourselves from where we relax in front of the TV, or sleep.
The ritual of “going to the office” is also important. Knowing that we are in a space that is used only for work helps us focus on what needs to get done. And when we leave this space, we’re letting our mind know that it’s time to take a break.
So, ideally, there should be a separate room that can be used as a home office. Living in a studio apartment or having a living room and a bedroom at our disposal means there’s nothing else we can do but turn part of the room into an office space.
In this case, it’s worth choosing a space that can be isolated from the rest of the room, e.g. with a screen, a book case or acoustic panels. However, you also need to keep natural lighting in mind, so the best place for a desk is near the window. Daylight gives us energy, and our eyesight will thank us despite being in front of a screen all day. And we’ll be visible during online meetings with clients or co-workers.
Home office – work-friendly arrangement
Colours have a big impact on our mood – they can calm us down, add energy, or irritate. So, when it comes to the home office space, it’s worth thinking carefully about the colour scheme. Calm, neutral, colours – such as white or light beige – are your best bet because they’re least likely to distract you. However, add some vivid accents to avoid monotony. You can add accessories in colours like bottle green, fuchsia or gold.
It’s also a good idea to add plants to your home office. Pot plants not only look beautiful, but also clean the air. During a break from work, it’s actually worth looking at plants, because the colour green soothes tired eyes.
Also, a home office is where you spend a lot of time, so you have to enjoy being in the space. So, be sure to add knickknacks that improve your well-being – a photo from a crazy trip with friends or a poster of your favourite painting.
One thing’s for sure – if you’re living and working in the same space, good design is key. You work better in a beautiful interior. Maybe it’s worth considering consulting an interior designer who’ll help you design your dream apartment - fit for a freelancer?
Co-working space – when you miss the hustle and bustle of the office
A report by OLX website and ARC Rynek i Opinia (Market and Opinion) Research Institute shows that up to 44% of respondents indicated limited contact with colleagues as the biggest disadvantage of working from home.
An alternative to remote work from home can be using a co-working space. There are people who work efficiently when surrounded by the stimulating sounds of an open space or the awareness that someone is working in the room next to them.
Co-working is also a great opportunity to make new professional friendships. A cup of coffee at Coffee Point helps kick-start conversations, and where you can exchange experiences, or even establish business relationships.
However, renting a co-working space is an additional cost of running business. So, is it possible to combine the two options in a freelancer’s apartment – home office and co-working?
Apartments for freelancers for rent
Nowadays, buildings and even entire housing estates are being built with the needs of people who work in a remote or hybrid models in mind. These rental apartments allow for the trouble-free arrangement of work spaces. Tenants have planned dedicated corner for a desk, free access to the Wi-Fi, and modern interior design.
Common areas in the building may also have designated co-working areas, where there are desks or workstations, and a coffee machine within easy reach. Perfect for people who want to work in the company of others.
Balcony, garden or patio access would also be beneficial for freelancer apartments. The opportunity to work outdoors is something that every freelancer will appreciate - particularly on a warm summer day.
Urban Home – what our apartments for freelancers look like
At Urban Home we offer apartments for freelancers in Warsaw and Wrocław.
In Wrocław, there are studio apartments and apartments with a dedicated bedroom at Traugutta Apartments – only 800 metres from the Market Square.
In Warsaw, we offer studios and apartments with separate bedrooms at Rubikon Apartments in the district of Włochy – a quiet, green area, but with excellent access to the very heart of the city.
All our apartments for rent have facilities for tenants working remotely – Wi-Fi access and a place for co-working. Professional interior design with carefully selected colour scheme, and furniture layout ensures comfort even in studio apartments.
In both cases, access to the co-working zone for tenants is free of charge.
Freelancer apartment – professional company rental is your safest bet
Are you a freelancer and want to rent an apartment where remote working will be a pleasure? It’s rare to find an apartment from a private owner that will meet your expectations, and owners are rarely people who know how to handle rentals.
A much better solution may be renting an apartment from a company that provides professional rental services. Our apartments at Urban Home are offered as part of a professional rental.
- Fair agreements verified by lawyers.
- Quick formalities – the possibility of renting within 48 hours.
- Convenient rental service – resident assistant available 24h/7.
Find out more about Urban Home professional apartment rental.
You can also contact us right now. We’ll answer all your questions and discuss the rental terms and conditions for freelancer apartments.