6 couples working from home together in their tiny apartments during lockdown show how they make it work

City dwellers are using their kitchen and living room furniture to create makeshift office setups.Mariah Kulak

• More people are working from home than ever before. For couples who live in city apartments, creating a remote work setup can be a challenge.
• Six couples shared their remote work setups with Insider and showed the innovative ways they're balancing living and doing their jobs all from the same space.
• Visit Insider's homepage for more stories.

"Don't work from the couch!" I read from my company's well-meaning email with tips on how to best work remotely, and keep a healthy work-life balance.

Sat on my couch, I looked up at the 400-square-foot apartment I shared with my partner in Manhattan. There wasn't one spot that could fit even the smallest of desks. We've got the bed, the couch, and two rock-hard folding chairs to choose from. So the couch it would have to be.

When offices in New York City, Philadelphia, Los Angeles, and other US cities closed due to the coronavirus pandemic, working from home became a reality for those who normally commuted daily. Now, non-essential employees are doing their jobs from home for the foreseeable future.

The internet is awash with tips on how to create the most productive work-from-home space. But for couples who live in crowded metropolitan areas, much of this advice is nothing more than wishful thinking.

One-bedroom apartments and studios weren't built with remote work in mind, so couples are innovating with special furniture, makeshift bathroom offices, and a bit of patience to make their long-term work-from-home setups the best they can be.