10 Tips for Making a Teeny-Tiny Home Office Work

I'm a design and food-obsessed freelance writer and market research analyst, and a stay-at-home mom.

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Thanks to the snowstorm of historic proportions (aka snowpacolypse, snowmaggedon, SNOMG, and my favorite, Snowtorious B.I.G.), a lot of people who usually work in an office have had to work from home this week. As a result, a lot of people are probably also rethinking their current home office situation.

Working from home is, undoubtedly, easier with a dedicated home office space - even if it's a tiny one. Of course, if your home office is really small, organization is key and it's especially important to think strategically about storage.

These ten tips offer a good starting point for making a super-small office work - please share any additional tips you have!

by Aidlin Darling Design, LLP »

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1. All walls are storage. I like the way this office-owner created a wall out of a bookcase. Any storage is helpful, plus having actual boundaries for an office space can make working from home much more pleasant.

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2. Get vertical with shelving. Don't waste any space - make it all storage by adding shelves.

by Feldman Architecture, Inc. »

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3. Invest in a decent wall unit. Storage really is important, so if you're going to make one big purchase, make it a unit that combines aesthetics with space.

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4. Make the wall work for you. Allow your walls to become inspiration boards.

by megan arquette c/o beachbungalow8 »

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5. Cork it up. An extension of #4, covering open spaces in cork turns walls into very usable creative space.

by Amy Lau Design »

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6. Expand outside the office walls. Though it's nice to have office walls, there's no reason why you can't turn other parts of the home into overflow storage space.

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7. Put baby in the corner. (I know. I'm sorry about the bad joke.) Corner desks add extra usable workspace and make it easier to stay organized.

by Ish and Chi »

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8. Keep those drawers clean. It's amazing how much more organized and efficient we are when we're just a little neater. Recycle or store stuff you don't need - you'll work better without those piles of paper, promise.

by Roger Hirsch Architect »

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9. Downsize the chair. This is a simple switch, but one that makes a big difference. So many office chairs are enormous and bulky. Switch your behemoth for a smaller chair and you'll free up tons of space you didn't know you had.

by Asher Elbaz »

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10. Grab a window. If you can, give yourself a window. The natural light will keep you in better spirits - which makes working much more pleasant!

by W. David Seidel, AIA - Architect »

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You're right, David - that is the best use of space ever!

Browse more eclectic home design photos »

Comments

oldcharm Great tips-thanks!

3 years ago · Like

Becky Harris I cannot seem to get my home office under control. Thank you for the inspiration!

3 years ago · Like

j r Love the chair comment - now if only I can get my husband to agree!

3 years ago · Like

W. David Seidel, AIA - Architect My project must be the record holder for teeny-tiny office on houzz.

by W. David Seidel, AIA -...

Tiny Office

3 years ago · Like

Fine Art & Portraits by Laurel I sit on an exercise ball in my home office. My seat doesn't get tired, it's a good height, and maybe I'm getting a little core exercise.

3 years ago · Like

InterDesign Studio This room does double-duty, as full height storage with rolling ladder on one side and home office on the other side.

3 years ago · Like ·

Heide Hilde thanks for the inspiration

3 years ago · Like

megan arquette c/o beachbungalow8 thanks for adding my little office space to the line up! In case anyone is wondering- I created the surface, from two doors, laid across filing cabinets. The skirt- so easy to make- is velcroed on .

3 years ago · Like ·

sweetdreams Smart, functional and beautiful spaces. Thanks for the inspiration and the tips.

3 years ago · Like

eclecticgirl I like #7...
Great post!

3 years ago · Like

belinda1234 I have wanted to work in my home for as long as I can remember. I was recently hired for a home based job. I had no idea where I would make an office space. It is required that I have no interruptions and no outside sound. There is absolutely no space in my house where this is possible. My daughter suggested the closet and I laughed it off. After looking at this site and seeing the tiny spaces made into offices, I realized that my daughter had a great idea. I am going to clear out that closet, grab myself a can of paint, put in a few pieces of the leftover tile that has been sitting in the garage, put in a small desk that wouldn't sell in my garage sale, buy a cordless headset, and buy a small lamp and make myself a great little place to work. I am so excited!!! Thank you for the pictures and ideas.

3 years ago · Like

decormyway My spouse of 17 years is a messy keeper. His office is now tucked away UPSTAIRS in a small area. He does have a window , we built the home he said no window I insisted. You're welcome honey But the room is far from square nor are the angles of the ceiling symmetrical. It has been an array of paid bills leftover dishes and empty soda cans for far too long. Time to takeover and organize his space. Move over I'm coming in !!! I love the slate gray with black and taupe. A very masculine feel. But not to loose sight. It's about organizing not accesorizing. Painting bookshelves black and transforming them into a hutch. Picking through a yard of antiques in the hill country I came across an old wooden 6 pain window. Fits PERFECTLY I plan the attach the window to the front of the bookcase and apply hinges. My hopes are to create a hutch effect. A place to house his awards YET kept behind closed windows panes so that the soda cans don't become a part of his display.

I have a hurdle Looking for a DIY Idea How can i make a metal 5 drawer filing cabinet aseptically attractive? I am afraid to paint it. Afraid that it will scratch and end up with an aged look not so intentional

Currently the file cabinet is the standard beige. EEEEWWWW. So army office from my army brat days

9 months ago · Like

SchaiDesign Great ideas here. I like David Seidel’s use of space in the closet! If I may add, here is a great way to get an extra foot of desktop space back, and store an extra external drive or two as well!
http://www.moni-pad.com/

6 weeks ago · Like

Marcia Thanks to Pinterest, I combined a $10 dining table (real wood legs) and a vintage coffee table that I had (it even has a small drawer) and made an awesome desk...Just waiting for the weather to warm and dry up so I can paint it...taking lots of before and after pictures, I have a very small space and it's right when you walk in my front door so I want it to look nice! Hence the repurposed real wood furniture and not laminate-covered particle board...I also got a bookshelf at Goodwill for $5 I'm going to paint to match and put some fabric boxes in it for storage, hang some shelves, found a small vintage wood table (Goodwill, $3, painted peacock blue) for my printer...sorry, I have CABIN FEVER and can't wait to get it FINISHED!!! Moral of the story, any small corner can be an office and thrift stores and garage sales are better than new furniture when you're working on a small budget...paint can make just about everything beautiful!

6 weeks ago · Like