Prices for commercial real estate are not getting any cheaper, and because many companies pay for office space by the square foot, they're looking to maximize the space they can afford. Indeed, office space is the single largest concern to facility managers and the second largest company expenditure after labor. Recent U.S. projects allot about 64, square feet--8 X 8--for a typical office worker, and some go as small as 6 X 6 feet.

Mergers, acquisitions, and globalization account for some office space downsizing as companies combine their workforces. Similarly, some growing companies are cautious about a downturn and simply try to squeeze more workers into the same space, rather than lease more space. A strong trend behind this shrinking personal space is the growth of team cultures. The need for collaborative workspaces is squeezing individual spaces, but fortunately with this work style, employees don't spend as much time in their individual workspaces.

Meanwhile, the tradition of larger individual spaces reflecting a higher status remains. Many large companies have standards that match status level with office size, but these standards are becoming simplified in the lean and nimble modern business mentality. Besides a measure of status, various analyses have shown decreases in job satisfaction when individual workspace is reduced, such as in the case of a move or a reconfiguration of furniture systems. Job dissatisfaction can translate into tardiness, absenteeism, and turnover. Workers of different generations have differing tastes when it comes to space. If given a choice between a big workspace or the latest technology in a smaller space, young employees will likely choose technology, and technology will be a large part of what retains them. In contrast, many older workers prefer the status of a large space plus privacy.

CLEAR THE CLUTTER

No matter what the reason you're feeling like pre-wizard Harry Potter housed under the staircase, you'll have to deal with your space situation. Whether you're stuffed inside a tiny cubicle or in a home where a walk-in closet is the only available space to convert to an office, there are ways to deal with small workspaces and make them livable and workable.

Organization is an all-important first task toward comfortably occupying a small space, and there are numerous how-to-organize references in books and on the Web. As many professional organizers will tell you, ruthless de-cluttering is the first order of business. After you've disposed of all that unnecessary stuff you haven't used in the last year and have been keeping just in case ... you are entitled to a period of grieving and celebration. Continue de-cluttering by minimizing personal items such as photos or favorite paper-weights. Hang photos on the wall or put them on a bulletin board rather than displaying them on the desktop. For packrats, de-cluttering can be a painful or almost impossible job, so maybe you need a clutter buddy to coach you through and ask you the hard questions such as, "What makes you think you'll ever need these eight-track tapes again?"

SPACE SAVINGS

You should now have all your necessary supplies, work materials, and office equipment in clear view. Begin looking for wasted space--look high and low. How much room do you actually need under that work surface for just your two feet? Can you fit a small set of shelves or some storage boxes under there? Now look up. Vertical space is an important element for working in a small area. Lots of space-saving accessories for furniture systems and offices have been invented such as literature wall racks, wire rack shelving, copy holders that attach to the side of a computer monitor rather a copy stand that takes up desk space, small drawer systems, and shelf accessories to hold small tools and supplies. Vertical space is important on shelves too. Adjustable shelves are great for using this wasted space, but you can also find accessories for fixed shelves that help accomplish the same goal. For example, check out Shelf Savers from Rubbermaid Office Products.

Check out office supply catalogs and surf the Internet for space-saving products. If you have solid walls, consider putting shelves above the door and on the walls. One way to install shelves in walls is to remove some wallboard or paneling and put shelves between the studs, which adds a few more inches to shelf depth.

FILING FEATS

If you have a choice of paper-filing furniture, keep in mind the space differences in vertical and lateral file drawers and shelf files. These configurations hold 38, 29, and 92 files per square foot of floor space respectively. Also, check out the various paper filing systems and products from companies such as Esselte (www.esselte.com) and Smead (www.smead.com), who also offer organizing tips on their Websites. Smead has recently introduced Arrange software and Viewables for tracking files, both paper and digital, and for printing hanging file and interior file labels that can be color-coded. File folders are available to hold a CD or diskette as well as paper, so an entire project can go in one file.

The more organized your files are, the more space efficient they will be. Rather than keeping a rotary card file and a business card binder, simply glue or tape the business card to the rotary file card or use the cards with slots to insert a business card.

Keep only the often-used supplies and files in your work area, and find another site to store bulk such as paper supplies and archive files. Reference books can be pared to a minimum if you are adept at researching on the Web.

ACCOMMODATING TECHNOLOGY

Technology is one aspect of the office in which modernization can improve available elbowroom. Flat computer monitors take up less space and enable you to sit farther away from the screen than conventional monitors. Consider a laptop or notebook computer to save even more space and an all-in-one printer, copier, scanner, and fax machine.

If printing is all you need, consider a mobile printer such as Canon's i80 with speeds up to 14 ppm in black and 10 ppm in color. It measures about 12 1/2 W X 7 D X 2 H inches and weighs 4 pounds. To go one step further, desks are available to hold the monitor beneath the glass work surface, like the one from Cuzzi SOHO Furniture brand. The space normally taken up by a computer monitor then becomes workspace.

THE FURNITURE FACTOR

One bit of wisdom from writer and artist Maria Palma is that small furniture does not make a room appear bigger. She says large, bold pieces of furniture draw the eye and create the illusion of a bigger room. Whatever your decor, get an ergonomic office chair that correctly fits you-get help from the dealer on fit (also see Product Focus: Office Seating, page 38 of this issue). For a home office, Palma suggests considering an armoire work center that can hold computer equipment and store files and supplies. The armoire office can be closed when not in use.

"Manufacturers have come up with systems that make efficient use of vertical space, such as Geiger's Settings line," said Mark Benhar, president of Manhattan-based Benhar Office Interiors. "By using wall-mounting rail tiles and overhead cabinets, we are able to hang tools such as phones, letter trays, and even computers, clearing them off the work surface."

In addition, Benhar explains that many office furniture manufacturers have made a switch to curvilinear work surfaces as opposed to traditional, deep rectangular work surfaces. These new surface shapes create a cockpit effect that works well with modern space-saving technology such as flat-screen monitors.

Using demountable glass partitions in private office settings versus traditional drywall construction will also make small private offices appear bigger and help make the most of small office spaces," Benhar added.

For high-volume reading, a guest/easy chair and hassock that double as your reading chair is a comfy answer. Be sure to light it well and put a lap desk nearby. If you want to also spend your computing time in an easy chair, check out the EasyChair WorkStation from Mack Bailey Enterprises. Beware, however, side effects may include frequent napping.

NON-CAVE LIGHTING

Although you will be working in a small space, it doesn't have to be a small dark space. Lack of light will make the space seem smaller and can do a number on your morale as well as cause eyestrain. If you don't have a window, lighting becomes even more important. If you do have a window, consider yourself an executive and choose a suitable window treatment with which you can control the natural light and avoid glare. If there is a window near your workspace, move any visual blocks so you can at least see the window and know if it's day or night, sunshine or snow.