by Rachel Smith
19 December 2014
Some of us are lucky enough to have an entire room to devote to a home office (with a door you can close at the end of the day). For others, the home office might be just a laptop on the dining room table – or a cafe table, even! – which may suit you just fine.
Me? As a creature of habit, I like to have space – for my books, my wall calendar, my printer. That said, I’ve worked from the tiniest home offices – one in the world’s smallest sunroom, another just a desk in a corner of my bedroom – so I’ve become kind of obsessed about small but functional workspaces.
On that note, I want to share three gorgeous but small home offices that show it’s not about the size of the area but what you do with it. Inspiration, I hope, if you’re setting up or revamping your home office in the new year and don’t have a big space to work with.
1. The wardrobe workspace
Perhaps one of the smartest uses of space ever – if you have a spare wardrobe you can convert to a workspace. This example – in San Francisco – is beautifully decked out with chunky timber shelves and a matching desk, but best of all, it can be closed off when not in use.
2. A study alcove
Do you have a tiny nook or alcove that’s essentially ‘dead’ space in your house? Why not customise it into a permanent workspace? I like this one because of the light (you can’t go wrong next to a window), the shelves above for enough storage (but not too much that you’ll cram it with junk!), and a desk just big enough for a computer and a keyboard. Ideal for any minimalist who just needs the bare essentials to meet deadlines.
3. Under the stairs
This often wasted space (or dumping ground for the vacuum cleaner) can have brilliant potential for a home office area. You could convert it to an amazingly sleek yet cosy workspace like this one that has everything you need – including shelves for books and notes. Yet, it’s also handily tucked out of the main thoroughfare. Perfect.
Have you created a tiny but functional workspace in your home? If so, I’d love to hear your tips in the comments.
Great ideas Rachel! Thanks for sharing!
No worries Jane, glad you liked 🙂
Gives further inovative meaning to flexible work spaces. It would also be great to know the size of the smallest wardrobe successfuly converted. I also suggest that the room with a window would benefit from blinds – to reduce glare – and the room under the stairs might need a fan to make it less stuffy.
Hi Deborah, there are lots of space-saving home offices to check out on Houzz and also Apartment Therapy has some too. I agree about the fan!!
I used to do the “under the stairs” thing for an office when surprisingly I had a much larger house to live in. Now that I have moved to a much smaller house in Newtown I have actually built a separate studio in the back yard. Funny how life works out.
I would love the space for a backyard studio. Lucky you!