Having your own workspace can be a substantial expense, especially when you’re getting started, so think carefully about whether you really need it.
It might be impractical to work from home if there’s not enough space, privacy or quiet. If you do decide you need a separate space to work in, consider:
- An affordable monthly budget for rent
- A good location that’s a manageable travelling distance/time from home
- The type of space you need; studio, office, workshop etc.
If it’s too much of a commitment, financially and legally, to rent your own space; a subscription to a coworking space or network of spaces might be better. Think about:
- What facilities (PDF 663KB) it needs to have; floor area, light, power, heating, shower etc
- Whether you want to be close to other creative practitioners/small businesses
- If you want to be in the same building (like a studio complex) as colleagues, or in a broader neighbourhood with other creative businesses.
- How near it is to printers, fabricators, manufacturers, studios, favourite cafés etc.
There are different ways to find suitable space, including:
- Walking the area you want to work; look for studio, office or workshop complexes
- Looking for unusual buildings and spaces and asking who owns, rents or runs them
- Searching online on studio/workshop platforms like London-wide Space Studios.
There are also ‘meanwhile’ spaces in buildings that are offered to artists/creatives - relatively cheaply - for a limited time by organisations like Hotel Elephant (south London) or Hypha Studios (nationwide).