Small Home Office Design Ideas
Do you have a small home office? Not having a lot of space doesn’t mean you can’t have a lovely and efficient home office design.
Consider these 8 tips for creating a small, yet fabulous home office:
- Create a Small Home Office Nook
- Stake Claim on a Corner
- Hang Home Office Cabinets
- Design a Desk Built for Two
- Create a Sit-or-Stand Workspace
- Keep Desk Accessories Clean and Simple
- Use Available Wall Space
- Purge Paperwork
Keep reading to discover new ideas for your small home office!
Create a Small Home Office Nook
Perhaps you don't have a dedicated home office and will need to create one in an untraditional spot in your home. One suggestion given by HGTV.com is to create an office nook underneath your staircase. You don’t need a lot of space to place a small desk and chair. To create visual interest, they decorated one wall completely with art and painted the opposing wall in an accent color.
Another option is to repurpose a spare closet into a small, makeshift office. The closet shelving is an ideal place to store books, papers, and even a printer perhaps. All you need is a narrow desk and a comfortable yet streamlined office chair. You can paint the interior a warm color to separate it from the rest of the room. When your workday is done, just close the door until morning.
Stake Claim on a Corner
If you are still searching for a designated area to place an office desk, don’t forget about the corners of the room. Although they tend to be dark, you can always buy a good lamp or choose a corner close to a window. If you are still desk shopping, you can purchase an L-shaped desk to take advantage of the space you've got. Wall shelving going up to the ceiling will also add plenty of storage space.
Hang Home Office Cabinets
If you have the space for them, hang a set of cabinets near your workspace. Having all of your office supplies, files, books, and paperwork kept concealed behind doors is going to go a long way toward increasing the neatness factor of your office. You don't need a whole row; installing even one or two cabinets beside your desk will do wonders for you.
Design a Desk Built for Two
What do you do if two people in your home need office space? Share and share alike, of course! The Spruce presents the idea of having a custom-designed desk for two. It is a simple, long, and narrow desk that covers most of one wall. It has secret storage compartments and four wheels that allow it to be moved around as needed.
Create a Sit-or-Stand Workspace
Another idea that The Spruce offers is to create a workspace that gives you the option of standing or sitting while you work. What the designers did was create a wrap-around, bar height desk by fastening wood to the wall with basic shelf brackets. This ingenious idea is perfect for those who often feel sedentary while they are at their desks. When you grow tired from standing or moving around, simply pull up a barstool and have a seat.
Keep Desk Accessories Clean and Simple
Resist the temptation to have stacks of paperwork anywhere on your workstation. Only keep the essentials (i.e. what you're currently using) on your desk. Your computer monitor or laptop belongs there. Ideally, you should have a sliding keyboard tray underneath to save precious desk space. Having a cup with pens inside makes sense, as does a small notebook and folder. One decorative item such as a small vase of flowers or picture frame should make the cut.
Use Available Wall Space
Everything else you can’t put on your desk can instead be strategically placed on the walls. Begin by hanging a series of floating shelves to help organize your things. Consider hanging wall-mounted light fixtures, calendars, to-do lists, a corkboard, or a file organizer to start. Don’t forget to add personality to your space by also hanging pictures or artwork.
Purge Papers
When you have a small office, there is no space to store extra items such as boxes of paperwork. If stacks of paperwork have got you down, it’s time to go through them and make a decision about what you are going to do with them next. Start by separating your paperwork into the following piles: shred, toss, file, or take action. Once you know what you are going to do with each pile, do your best to take care of each stack right away.
Final Thoughts
When it comes to designing an office in a diminutive space, it is all about paring down what you have and being creative with what remains. Remember to use your walls for vertical storage and to keep your workspace free of clutter. Be sure to add touches of color and personality here and there so your workspace matches your personality.