How to make a smaller room work?

[Reventon]

Well, after 8 years of working as a mobile massage therapist AND also seeing clients in my home I have come to the decision that it's time for me to rent a small space. I am so over having people in my home,, I will still keep the mobile practice running and I hope to have a couple therapists working in the new studio.
My husband works part time as a photographer and needs studio space so we figured we could share the space and help each other out.

We found the cutest place! It has a large room that is perfect for hubby's studio,, and it can be locked up and totally separate form my part of the office space.
So, then I have my choice of rooms for massage, one of them is nice, kindof long and narrow-- but I think it would be pretty awesome-- it's 15' by 9.7' ? But the second room is small-- 10' 2" x 7'.5"? Has anyone ever made that size room work for them? I figure when I am mobile whomever I hire to work in this space is welcome to use the larger room, but would really hate to not have all of the floor space "useable" I wouldn't need a sink or any storage in the smaller room.
So, can anyone give me examples of how they made a smaller room work for them? Thanks!! I would really like to have this space work out,, there is another small office right beside that 10-7.5 room and I guess I could ask about knocking that wall out, but I think that would make it a really strangely shaped space. And I would love to keep the costs down until I see how this is going to work for us.

Thanks in advance for any words of wisdom that you might have. :undecided:

 

[Deaner 2.0]

How to make a smaller room work?

We've got a similar thread going right now, which may also be helpful to keep an eye on, even though it covers a few other items... so, I am adding it, for general reference sake: Room size.

I actually work out of a pretty small room, but I can't seem to find any of my posts about it, so I would copy over the exact size. When I am back to work on Wed., I'll take a tape measure.

I have three work rooms in my office plus a few other rooms. My massage room is the smallest and I really love it for massage. For example: I use the walls to brace off of (with a foot), when doing a good portion of my deeper work.

A lot of the room size working for you depends on where the door is located and if it swings in or out. You can help yourself by doing something as simple as changing the swing of the door. If it swings in (mine does), it will take up much more room than if it swings out.

I know this doesn't help much, but I hope it is at least something to read until I get my dimensions.

 

[Glossy Hair]

How to make a smaller room work?

Thank you pueppi!! I actually did see that other thread, but it didn't say how they resolved using a smaller room. I am sure at other times I have seen other's comment on their room sizes and how they made them work, too but darned if I can find them now!!

I you don't mind measuring, I really would love to hear about your room..

 

[Kheph]

How to make a smaller room work?

Me too! (the other poster...LOL!), I am still pondering how to make it work, as the location is awesome.

 

[Xzara]

How to make a smaller room work?

Denise,, we will figure this out together!! lol It's exciting to ponder all of this..

 

[Precy]

How to make a smaller room work?

Sounds good Carol! It is always fun to have something to figure out related to our businesses. Trouble is, I am losing a lot of sleep pondering it all night long.... t015

 

[RockTheCasbah]

How to make a smaller room work?

Denise,, I am going over to the rental space today ( assuming he is available to let us in) and bringing my portable table and my stool so I can play around with the room. Have you tried that yet?

My main concerns are the door- which does open into the room, I won't need any storage in there as I have another larger room and a nice foyer and a storage closet, but will definitely want a space for some extra tools and essential oils and etc.

I would really love to hear how others have utilized their small spaces to the best advaneforum.xxxe.. ?

 

[LaurenOrSatan]

How to make a smaller room work?

Good luck today with trying out the room. I will be doing that this week also. Except for the nice foyer, are you sure we aren't looking at the same space??? (LOL!)

 

[JackHoleJaike]

How to make a smaller room work?

Denise,, I am going over to the rental space today ( assuming he is available to let us in) and bringing my portable table and my stool so I can play around with the room. Have you tried that yet?

My main concerns are the door- which does open into the room, I won't need any storage in there as I have another larger room and a nice foyer and a storage closet, but will definitely want a space for some extra tools and essential oils and etc.

I would really love to hear how others have utilized their small spaces to the best advaneforum.xxxe.. ?

Can you get on "Paint" on your computer and just draw out your room for us with the lines? Maybe we could all then pitch in with ideas, once we see it a little better.

Another option is to use a "room planner" and then transfer the pic to photobucket and send it over to us that way.

Here are a few other old threads that my be nice for cross-reference:

• What color is your treatment room?
• Teeny Tiny office
• treatment room design

And a few room size comments I found along the way:

My table is 32 ins wide; add on a couple of inches for the matress topper, blanket & linens & you only have 24 inches before hitting wall on either side. There's no way I could deal with that small a space. Same on the length.... only less when you use a face cradle. I couldn't do it. The smallest room I've ever worked in was 10 x 10, and then I had the table on a diagonal to accomodate my body mechanics.

I was just thinking about what I wrote about working in that size a room too. My room is 10 x 13, but it seems huge to me. Maybe 9 x 7 is okey dokey. I might just get out the tape measure & check it out on the livingroom floor!

I wanted a window and the price needed to be in a place that I could afford. The space I have is 13 by 13. It has a shared large waiting area for myself and other office's in my area. They are all counselor's........so it's relatively quiet. I painted the wall a nice warm brown color. I took the lights out of the ceiling lights. I have a small bookshelf, a desk, my table, a coffee table covered with a throw to put my roaster on, and a screen in front of the table to give the client some privacy.

There is a share kitchen very close to my room. And the bathroom's are nearby also.

My room size is 12x16, and it really depends on what you are going to be doing in the room, and what you want for storage in the room.

I love the size of my room.

I would HIGHLY suggest 12x11 or 12x12. The room previos to the one I have now was 11x8 and although the table fit lengthwise, I had very little room at the head and feet to manuver. Not ideal for using a stool or proper body mechanics. But again that is just my preference.

From: how is your "at home" room set-up? decorated?:

Mr room is 14x10. I move my table around - sometimes perpendicular to the window and sometimes at a diagonal in the room. I have hardwood floors. My stereo is in the adjacent room, but I have the speakers in the massage room. I don't like to listen to the sound of it changing CDs. I have a shelving unit covered with fabric and "hide" my sheets and supplies behind the fabric. I have some candles on a table where I keep my oils.

For the client I have a chair with a rug at their feet, tissues and a place for them to put their jewelry.

The room is pretty simple, but it works.

My home room is 10x11, I have hard wood floor with a area rung under my table. In one corner I have a chair for my clients with a side table(place to keep their jewellery etc and where I keep a bowl of candy), an Armoir is on one side of the wall where I store my sheets, oils etc and on top is the stereo, fake plant with mini lights in it, a nice oriental lamp and some little angel figurines. I also have another chair where I set my pillows and heating pad(which heats the pillow that goes under their feel ; )) I have some beautiful massage posters on the wall as well as my certificate. Nice soft curtains with a flower swag on top. The room is painted a sage green with a nice border around the top. I have an area set up in the next room with my computer, desk for them to sit at where I issue receipts etc.

 

[Timinator .]

How to make a smaller room work?

Okay, Thanks again pueppi, for the additional information. I took in my portable table, a stool and the headrest. and the room worked nicely.
So, it's small, I sure as heck need to keep any extra furnishings to a small scale but for a start up location, it's pretty nice. The other room is large enough to accommodate my bureau for linens and hot stones and etc.. in fact I could also do couples massages in that room so will make that the primary room.
If I get a massage therapist in there soon I will gladly offer him/her the use of the larger room when available and the use of my electric lift table and etc. I doubt that there would be too many occasions where we will both be working a the same time since I plan to keep my mobile practice going. And I would be fine using the smaller room on those occasions...

So, now it's up to me to find smaller scaled items to work in the room.
And another therapist.. hahah

Oh, and taking the table, headrest AND putting my husband on the table and closing the door helped so much, it gave me a real feel as to how claustrophobic it could get and it was actually nice. I think having a window in there helps.
The door swings in but it's to one far side of the room so plenty of clearance for the table. Oh! And if I decide to rent the extra space, he would be willing to knock out a wall to give me another larger room, I would need to pay for the extra square fooeforum.xxxe but he would take on the cost of removing the wall. He seems like a really nice landlord, very laid back.

 

[em101]

How to make a smaller room work?

I you don't mind measuring, I really would love to hear about your room..

My room is the small one: 12' 4" x 7' 10" - funny... I thought it was much longer. Must be why I can put my feet against the wall to block off of, so easily.

Husbands room (also room I used to rent out before I got married): 12' 6" x 12' 3"

 

[Smile <3 MJ]

How to make a smaller room work?

Hhmmm, that is still a good bit larger than this potential room. But since I will have the other room which is 15' X 9' 7". So that room will be the one for the linens and etc. Thanks again Pueppi!

 

[RenegadeAngel]

How to make a smaller room work?

That sounds like a workable space. The one I am looking at has a small and smaller space....

 

[Jennifer Babyyy]

How to make a smaller room work?

Wow, did I just have my eyes opened! my husband and I are finishing up a long day of email communications with the finance department of our local township (where I am hoping to lease the space that I have been talking about).
It will take 2 and half to 3 months for them to give my husband and I an appointment for just reviewing the application for massage therapy. Call me naive, but I thought It would just be a simple matter of filing, paying and maybe a week for them to get back to me.. sigh
Actually, we have to wait 3 weeks before we can get an appointment sit before them and "defend" my massage therapy business, then the board has 45 days to "think on it and review things" before we will get word as to whether or not we are approved..
I am probably not using the correct wording, but I am sure you all get my point..

I am just speechless..

 

[Pompal 09.]

How to make a smaller room work?

My very first room was about 8x6. It was an old house that was converted into a salon. My room was actually a bathroom with the tub and shower removed, and luckily the counter and sink were recessed or it would not have worked at all. The only things I brought into the room were my table which was slightly angled to allow a little more space at the head of the table, and a single chair. It was cramped, but it worked for just starting out, and it was nice to have the sink/counter in there. I think you could definitely make your space work!

I actually have a few pics.

In this one, the sink is located right by the chair. The tub used to be below the window.

And in this one, the curtain hanging at foot of the table is covering where the catty-cornered shower used to be. The foot of the table is practically against the wall!

 

[friendlyadvice]

How to make a smaller room work?

That's great that you made it work. It looks challenging to work on the feet and to get around the table. Cute room though!

 

[Juliet]

How to make a smaller room work?

I am just speechless..

*hug*

 

[PARVFAN]

How to make a smaller room work?

What a cute room! Thank you for sharing the photos, you made it very inviting and warm, I guess a small space CAN work!

 

[Benedict Y]

How to make a smaller room work?

That's great that you made it work. It looks challenging to work on the feet and to get around the table. Cute room though!

Yes, I had to work feet with the client face down and lift off table to work them. I had just enough space at the end to squeeze through to get to the other side. (I'm a Skinny Minnie) And thank you.

What a cute room! Thank you for sharing the photos, you made it very inviting and warm, I guess a small space CAN work!

Thanks. It worked, but I was definitely grateful to move on to a larger space!



I was also lucky to have a closet and under counter storage in that room, I would definitely suggest that if you don't have those features, to utilize the space under your table. You may have to make a skirt to cover it, so it's not unsightly.