Working in Your Space: Designing a Home Office In Limited Quarters

by Lauren Busser The House Designers' Contributing Writer

A couple months ago, I encountered the term “cloffice.” It was used by Jeff Lewis on the Geek and Sundry YouTube channel, and it described his office in his walk-in closet. The word might seem a little strange but you don’t need a spare bedroom or dedicated space to work. If you want to live small you can work with the nooks and crannies of existing rooms. You can set up your office in a closet, under the stairs, or even a hallway. Here are some tips for designing a home office in your small space.

Looking for space is the first consideration. If the space under your stairs is open you might be able to find a desk that fits in that nook or you can convert part of your closet by removing the extra shelves and adding a fresh coat of paint, a desk and some task lighting. Another idea for finding space is to use a guest room. You can put some slender furniture in the space and make a room that doesn’t get heavy use into a multi-purpose room.

Lighting is important when designing a space a small space. If you’re going to set up a home office in your closet or under the stairs, the odds are it probably doesn’t get a lot of natural light. Consider installing a light fixture such as a pendant light to illuminate your workstation.

When it comes to designing your home office you have to realize that space is key. When considering what kind of desk you want for your space, look for one with built-in storage or one that fits into a corner. Keeping your desk free from clutter will help you stay efficient. Remember to keep it simple and keep only tessentials should on your desk.

Just because your space is limited doesn’t mean that you can’t have fun with it. You can decorate the walls with cool decals, paint it a color you will absolutely love, or you can come up with a cool multi-colored shelving system that will allow you to maximize space and put some color into your design.

Remember, your office is your workspace. When you step into it you should feel inspired, so pick pieces you absolutely love and you are sure to be productive.