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hermesmg11

Office layout help

2 years ago

We are building and need to figure out where built-ins will go in our office. See photo for room dimensions/layout. Where would you put built ins, desk, etc.

We’d also like to have a small sofa or recliner and tv somewhere, but not required. I can’t picture the space so maybe the room isn’t big enough.

How would you set up this room?

Comments (17)

  • 2 years ago

    How do you plan to use the office? What kind of desk do you need? One with storage? What kind of builtins? Shelves? Cupboards? drawers? Books, paperwork, art/work supplies. objets?

    The windows are high? so you can have something beneath?

    Would it work to move the door to the wall along the hall?

  • 2 years ago

    This will serve as a work-from-home office space. The desk will need storage and we’ll need somewhere for a printer set up, either in the desk or in the built in. We need a small amount of storage for paper, art supplies, board games. The built ins will also be for aesthetic purposes to provide some warmth with the wood built ins and for books, photo, art etc.

    The windows aren’t high so there wouldn’t be much room underneath them. We want to keep the door where it is for easy access to the foyer.

  • PRO
    2 years ago
    last modified: 2 years ago

    "How would you set up this room?"

    It is not my room. I suggest you find out the needs of the person(s) whose room it is and design it to meet them. Start with determining their occupation.

  • 2 years ago

    I’m the person using it. I need an office space. Just looking for layout ideas. Thanks for your super helpful comment.

  • 2 years ago

    How does the work-from-home person like to set up? I like open space beyond my screen, work best at a table, while DH likes to work against the wall, in a corner, though he has started liking his computer on a ”return” so he has an L setup, and his eyes have some variation in distance. His headaches lessened.

  • 2 years ago

    Not super picking about that @bpath
    L set up is nice for space. We do like to have a good backdrop behind so ideally not having the window behind us.

  • PRO
    2 years ago

    The room is not set up great for an office--it's very small and seems overpowered by the large triple windows, the large double entry doors, and the bump-out from the broom closet. You might want to work with the architect to re-arrange it/make it bigger/or adjust the sizes of the doors and windows.

    If possible, move the broom closet elsewhere and adjust the window sizes so that you have room on that far wall for built-ins. An L-shaped configuration with a desk built-in on the window wall might work.

    Here's an office I just did for a client with two L-shaped built-in cabinets and desks. It has lots of file cabinets and a roll-out for a printer. It's a much bigger room though.


    Home Office · More Info


    Home Office · More Info


  • PRO
    2 years ago
    last modified: 2 years ago

    "I’m the person using it"

    "while DH likes to work against the wall"

    How many people will be using the office? It is information like this that needs to be supplied in the beginning for anyone to provide viable information. Perhaps if you shared the tasks you and anyone else using the space perform during a average workday, other people can give you educated suggestions instead of wild guesses. With more than one person using the space I am guessing double doors is not a good idea.

  • 2 years ago

    It’s my Dh who likes working facing the wall. I believe the OP is the on,y one working in the space shown.

  • 2 years ago
    last modified: 2 years ago

    My gut reaction is to move the door the hall, and have the storage wrap around, with the desk perhaps facing the wall shared with the foyer. I don’t think there’s room to float a desk. The storage can change height to go under the window.

    One advantage to this is, you have a chance at a bit of a view to the front from the kitchen, and a bit of shared light to the hall.

    If this were myoffice, I would have a table, probably oval, maybe a pencil drawer, in the middle-ish, doors facing both kitchen and foyer, and shallow low storage drawers all around, with shelves probably in the nook. and I use a simple chair, adjustable height and swivel, but wood seat and back, no wheels. But that’s me, for how I work, now just taking care of personal/family/executor affairs.

  • 2 years ago

    I would put a desk facing the window. Printer and storage along wall that is shared with the powder.

  • 2 years ago

    do a single french door and move the broom closet to locker area.. then you can do a love seat on one wall ans desk againt windows


  • 2 years ago
    last modified: 2 years ago

    If moving the office entry to the hall is out of the question, I would consider sliding pocket door panels that both tuck in on the right side of the door frame. Doors that open in will seriously limit your space in the room.

    Rocky Ledge Dining Room · More Info


  • PRO
    2 years ago

    My apologies, I (for some reason) thought the OP's Dh likes working facing the wall. Along that same train of thought, I should ask why the OP and bpath's DH is sharing an office, but I won't.

  • 2 years ago

    @hermesmg11, I saw this set-up on a blog I follow (BetweenNapsOnThePorch) and thought of your office. She uses furniture from, I think, Pottery Barn?, but you could use anything,and you could leave the door where it is (there is surely a reason it is on that wall). Anyway, the storage goes under the window so it might be at sill height or higher. You could do this along the front wall and bathroom wall/nook, then have shelves along the back wall. I’m still not sure there is room for a comfy chair though, unless you forgo the shelves and don’t mind tight floor space. I think this person uses a bedroom for her office space.


  • 2 years ago

    There is so much overthinking going on in this thread! My husband and I share a small office. We each have a desk along the window wall and all the storage and components are on the shorter wall. Very similar to your set up. I love looking outside not at a wall!

  • 2 years ago

    I would consider the screen setup you have. I tried floating a desk in my home office space and it looked great until I set up my two giant monitors. While useful for zoom meetings and other work it was messy and claustrophobic and works much better facing the wall.

    I have a window to my left and the space behind my chair makes for a nice backdrop on zoom calls. And despite popular opinion, I have a little couch in my office that works for me to sit and read. An ikea cube storage on its side stores games and supplies.