Brilliant Ways To Create A Functional And Comfy Office Space At Home
When it comes to working from home, it can be helpful to have a designated workspace. While not everyone has an extra room to dedicate to an office, there are ways to set up a functional work area in just about any home. One idea is to transform the space below a staircase or in a closet into an office. Another option is to use tricks like a "ghost chair" or floating furniture to take up less space in a room that has multiple purposes. Read on for more ways to create a cozy home office.
Transform A Closet Into An Office
One way to create a workspace at home is to turn a hallway closet into an office. This closet has been transformed by taking out the hanger rack and adding in floating shelves. A small desk fits perfectly into the space.
Wheels make it easy to maneuver the chair in and out of the space. At the same time, the chair is low enough that it will fit snugly underneath the desk so that the door can close.
Create Separation With A Curtain
If all of your closets are occupied or you simply don't have the room you need for a dedicated office, you might consider using a curtain to create a partition. You can set up the office area in a corner or along one side of a room.
Put up a curtain rod and pick out some drapes that have a design that complements both the work area and the room it sits in. You can work with the curtains closed if space will allow. Or keep the curtain open while you work and closed to hide the office clutter when not in use.
Construct An Office Nook
Sometimes, rooms aren't the basic rectangle or square shape. If there's a room in the house with a cutout or a nook of some sort, it might be possible to convert it into an office.
This person simply mounted some planks of wood to the wall so that it fit into the nook. Now they have a desk and work area that makes use of space that could have otherwise been wasted or overlooked.
Use Narrow Furniture
A simple technique to create the illusion of having more space than you do is to use narrow furniture. This desk is shallow and has thin legs so that it doesn't crowd the corner of the room too much.
Though the desk doesn't take up much room, it does offer a couple of shelves beneath to offer storage without appearing overbearing. The legs of the chair match those of the desk so that the work area looks neat and tidy.
Make Use Of Wall Space
Another smart way to make use of available space is to implement a shelving design like this one. Floating shelves can become works of art in their own right, but at the same time can boost the functionality of a space significantly.
These shelves consist of brown and white squares and rectangles that transform the entire wall into storage space. Rather than needing an entire room to work in, this technique made use of just one wall in the house.
Utilize Floating Furniture
Similar to floating shelves, floating furniture can be a great way to give the illusion of more space than there actually is. In this case, a white floating desk blends into the wall so that it's barely noticeable.
Since there aren't any desk legs, the chair can neatly fit underneath and there is more legroom while seated. Above, floating shelves make use of the wall space so that the rest of the room feels free and open.
Hide The Office Behind Sliding Doors
Similar to the closet office we saw previously, this office is tucked away behind sliding doors in a storage space. While office knickknacks are appropriate in a work space, it can be nice to hide all of that away when you're trying to relax.
This design enables the resident to close off the office to reveal a clean and crisp living room space when the workday is over. Having that separation can help shift your mind away from work mode.
Get A Bookshelf Desk
While many offices feature books sitting on shelves above the desk, this one does just the opposite. The books line the wall below the desk so they are still accessible and are showcased as a part of the design, but they are also out of the way.
By keeping the books underneath the desk, the owner was able to fill the wall space above with pictures and artwork that otherwise wouldn't have a place. This design also prevents the need to take up space with a clunky bookcase.
Choose Furniture That Blends
If your home office is going to be inside another room, it makes sense to choose furniture that blends well with the decor of said room. In this case, the room is both a home office and a living space.
To blend both functions together, the designer placed a comfortable bench in front of the desk that can be utilized in either space. They also chose a desk that has a homey design rather than one that looks industrial.
Get A Wall-Mounted Monitor
Another way to take up less space in an office is to use a computer monitor that can mount onto the wall. This gives a much cleaner look and provides more desktop room.
Just think about what it difference it makes having a mounted television versus one that has to sit on an entertainment center. Plus, you'll find that having a monitor at eye level has a positive effect on how your neck feels at the end of a workday.
Create A Working Space For Two
If you already have an office space for one person in the home and suddenly need room for another person to work there, it may be worth considering having a dual office. This room is a great example of how efficiently you can transform a room to accommodate two or more workers.
A long countertop along a wall takes up limited space and provides ample room for both computers. Shelves are built-in below and a table extends out between the chairs to create separation and additional counter space.
Use A Ghost Chair
A ghost chair is simply a clear chair that gives the illusion of invisibility. It's incredible what a trick of the eye can do for interior design. This office space not only has a clear chair but also features a mirrored desk.
The combination of the two features causes the home office to stand out as little as possible. While it is still visible, the furniture looks less cluttered and opens up the room.
Place A Desk Behind The Couch
One way to add a work area to a living room that won't dominate the space is to place a desk behind the sofa. In this room, the desk lines the back of the couch so that it isn't obvious while people are sitting and talking.
At the same time, the position of the desk enables the person working to still be able to look out at the living room and enjoy the comfort of the fireplace and the surrounding design.
Angle Your Desk In A Corner
Something that can make a room look cluttered is having big, bulky items directly next to one another. To add some style and intrigue, you might consider placing a desk at an angle.
In this case, the desk's position gives a view of both windows and makes the room feel less angular. You'll also notice that the green accent color in the blinds is also present in a throw pillow on the couch and in the chair, tying the space together nicely.
Use A Corner Desk
Corner desks are a great way to capitalize on as much space as possible because they offer work surfaces along two adjacent walls. With all of the extra desktop space, you can afford to have a desk with less depth that won't protrude into the room so far.
Additionally, the shelves floating above the desk make use of not one, but two walls for additional storage space. Below is more built-in storage in the additional space, thanks to the L-shaped style.
Create An Office Below The Staircase
For those who live in a two-level home, there is likely some storage space beneath the staircase. This homeowner had the brilliant idea to transform the area underneath the stairs into an office.
If you had enough room, built-ins and an L-shaped desk are a great way to maximize the workspace. Those who use the area under their staircase for storage might be able to move those items to the garage for the sake of having a work area in the house.
Transform An Entryway Into An Office
Some homes have wide hallways or entryways where there may be enough space to fit a small desk. Photographed here is an entryway office that makes use of the space in such a way that it almost seems like the area was built for a desk.
Just as many homes have an entryway table with photos and a lamp on top, you may be surprised to find that there's room for a small desk at the front of your home.
Build An Office In The Bedroom Closet
Rather than having an office in the living room, it sometimes makes more sense to set up a work station in the bedroom. The problem is that working in the same place you sleep may have negative impacts on your ability to relax when the day is over.
That's what makes this design so brilliant; you can simply hide away the office area when needed. Furthermore, you could choose an office chair that functions in both spaces so that it acts as a lounge chair when the closet door is closed.
Create A Bar-Height Desk
This design is simple to pull off, but can make a huge difference in terms of functionality. A shallow, L-shaped wooden desk is mounted to the wall so that it doesn't stand out in the room or clutter the space.
Bar stools give the design a social feel but also provide the opportunity to get some work done. By day, the area can serve as a place to work, and by night it can easily transform into additional space for guests to sit.
Place Furniture Near A Sliding Glass Door
Typically when a room has a sliding glass door, furniture isn't placed against that wall. But as this photograph shows, as long as there is room to open the door, furniture can be arranged in a flattering way in front of the glass.
Utilizing the space in front of the glass door gives the opportunity to fit a desk where you might initially not have thought there was room. Additionally, if you set up your office space in front of the door, you can have a view while working.
