As more of us work from home, at least on occasion, we've had to start squeezing work spaces into homes that can't accommodate a full office space. So whether you're working in a tiny box room, a corner of the living room or a nook in the hallway, small home office ideas will help you make the best of what space you do have.
Most of the best home office ideas work just as well in a small space as they do a large one. They key is plan more carefully, with some smart investments and clever furniture choices you can create a stylish desk area to boost productivity. Not to mention adding that hit of style to make opening your laptop on a Monday morning that bit less painful.
Regardless of where your small work area is, selecting the right furniture can make a little space go a long way. 'Try and purchase furniture which has a double function,' advises Juliette Thomas, founder of Juliettes Interiors. 'Think a desk but with storage underneath that can store paperwork and other items. Even if it's a multi-functional space, make sure you have storage to put everything away that has nothing to do with work. Nobody works at their best when surrounded by laundry!'
Small home office ideas
No matter how petite a space you have, or where it's located, here are our favourite ways to make small home office ideas work for you.
1. Make use of landings
As an oft neglected space, a landing can be a great spot to bring your small home office ideas to life. Extend a shelf out from the bannisters, or buy a slimline option in a matching colour and material, so it doesn't stand out. The other useful thing about using this as your work space is that if the kids will be borrowing it for homework, it's an easy place to keep an eye on what they're up to without hovering over their shoulders.
2. Disguise storage
If working within a living room or open-plan area, then you may struggle to find the line between having everything you need for work to hand and not overwhelming the non-working aspect of the room. An easy way to achieve this balance is by hiding your work essentials in plain view.
A Kallax unit is perfect for this as they fit box files perfectly. Choose colours that co-ordinate with the rest of your scheme to help them blend in. Clutter and non-paperwork items can be stashed in boxes and tucked into a cubby at the end of the day. Make sure to use several of the cubbies for personal use - trinkets, plants, photos, etc - to keep it balanced between work and play.
3. Use walls creatively
Since space is clearly at a premium in small home office ideas, ensure you minimise the footprint of anything you can in order to boost the feeling of available space. A creative solution is to use blackboard paint to turn you wall into a calendar, a do-to list or anything else written that you might otherwise have stuck onto the wall or propped up on your desk.
4. Choose a fold away office
There are now some brilliant foldaway desks that allow you to create a full-blown home office but tuck it away at the end of the day. ‘Multi-functional options are also something to consider - some looks like a console when not in use, which is ideal for those multi-use space,’ says interior stylist Emma Palin.
You can even make your own with an IKEA hack using the Norberg wall-mount drop leaf which folds neatly against a wall with a table that flips up. The best part is that the doors help create that work cocoon feeling, creating the illusion of a room within a room. However, it will fit into the smallest homes as the cabinet itself will almost sit flat against a wall.
5. Make things cohesive
To help find that sometimes elusive balance between work and home life, if you're working in an otherwise social space, co-ordinate as much possible. We're talking similar materials, colours and finishes to elsewhere in the room. Not everything has to match, but to avoid home office design mistakes, just make it feel cohesive with the rest of the space.
For example, a feminine lounge with an industrial table would be too jarring, as would a deep wooden desk in a Scandi-chic space.
6. Soften up the space
Don't compromise on interior style, instead make the small space work harder within your home. Soften a functional workspace by using home office colour schemee less associated with office spaces - it doesn't really matter which, as long as they work for you.
Add in pretty details like flowers, plants and artwork to amp up the homey vibe. And don't forget to switch out that black desk chair, or reupholster it in a stylish fabric.
7. Adorn walls with cork board
When space is at a premium it’s important to make every inch work hard and in a small home office bold home office wall decor ideas are a key way to make a statement without taking up space.
‘I love a corkboard wall to bring texture and interest to an office wall,’ says interior stylist Emma Jane Palin. ‘As well as being eco-friendly and versatile - you can easily paint it if you want it to blend in with the rest of the space - it also provides an area to pin up inspiration and anything you’re working on.’
8. Save floor space with a ladder desk
‘Make the most of vertical height in a smaller office. Choose a ladder desk that is takes up less horizontal space, or incorporate full height shelving,’ suggests Emma Jane Palin.
Ladder desks and ladder shelves are all amazing for taking up a small floor footprint. They can be use to squeeze storage into a tiny cupboard office, or you can carve out a small home office space in a living room with one.
9. Colour drench your office
Forget white ceilings, colour drenching has become one of the best-emerging trends for small spaces. The trend is all about taking your home office colour scheme from the walls, onto the ceiling and even through your furniture.
‘If you’re decorating, paint your ceiling in the same colour as the walls for an infinity space illusion and add in mirrors or mirrored surfaces to reflect natural light,’ explains Emma.
10. Make use of alcoves
'When it comes to creating a home office, you ideally want to carve out a space that you can dedicate to it,' advises Emma Deterding, founder of Kelling Designs. 'However, space is often at a premium in modern homes and apartments, so dedicating a whole room isn't always possible. The last two years has seen the home become more multi-functional than ever, so being creative with your space is key.'
Use every inch of space at your disposal. Find space by playing with alcove ideas in your living or dining room to act as a smart home office area. As well as fitting in a desk, you can easily add shelving above for all your working day necessities.
11. Utilise under stair space
Under stair spaces are often wasted space in homes. Instead of allowing it to become a dumping ground for tote bags and trainers, turn it into a stylish home office. Consider going bespoke if it's an awkward space as this would be your best option to make the most of every available inch.
Build in as much storage as you have room for. Not all needs to be for office supplies, you can keep a cupboard for coats, and maybe a pull-out drawer for all the miscellaneous hallway paraphernalia.
12. Hang full length curtains
You might be designing a home office, but you shouldn’t forget any of the classic rule for making a small space look bigger. One of the key ones that Emma reminded us of is being clever with how you use your home office curtain ideas.
‘The right window dressing can completely change the feel of a space. Hanging full-length curtains at ceiling height can make the window seem bigger, and the space taller,’ she says.
13. Style with secondhand buys
A small home office needs to house a lot, but clever storage can still be aesthetically pleasing. ‘If you’re wanting to bring more of a vintage feel, look on Facebook marketplace for retro shop fittings; old upholstery drawers and art racks can make for interesting features and often make for practical use of space,’ recommends Emma.
14. Choose translucent furniture
If you want to preserve the feeling of an airy space, see-through pieces are a great way to go. ‘By allowing light to pass through them the vessels don't obscure the flow of a room which helps to maintain an airy-feeling space,’ explains a MUJI Interior Advisor.
You can stick to just translucent storage pieces, we love Muji’s acrylic drawers for stowing away stationary. Alternatively, you can take the plunge with a see-through desk or chair, it is definitely a bold look that will win you lots of points in the style stakes.
15. Opt for wall mounted lights
Home office lighting ideas are an important consideration even in a small space. 'Getting your lighting right and giving a once dark and gloomy part of your home a new lease of life can be just as motivating as your first coffee in the morning,' says Natalie Mann, new product development co-ordinator for Iconic Lights.
In addition to overhead lighting, it is important to include task lighting over the desk itself. Desk lamps are brilliant for this, but if desk space is at a premium consider opting for a wall-mounted spotlight instead. Plug-in wall-mounted lights make these easy to install retrospectively without any re-wiring.
Next to consider is lighting. 'Getting your lighting right and giving a once dark and gloomy part of your home a new lease of life can be just as motivating as your first coffee in the morning,' says Natalie Mann, New Product Development Co-ordinator for Iconic Lights.
16. Take storage from floor to ceiling
If you're working with a narrow area, then the wall space is your best friend. The last thing you want is bulky shelves cutting off any headspace, and light to the desk.
Instead consider attaching storage solutions such as pots for stationary and a picture rail for books straight to the wall. IKEA spice racks make it easy to create slimline shelf space.
In small home office ideas every inch of space is precious. That includes the spot just below the ceiling above the desk. Capitalise on this overlooked vertical space by turning it into a storage shelf with clearly labelled boxes.
This won't be the easiest spot to reach without a step ladder, so consider that when organising what you will store on the shelf. It is the perfect spot for tidying away family records and memory boxes, anything you don't need every day but need to be able to lay your hands on easily.
17. Include stress-busting houseplants
Small home office ideas like can always benefit from adding in a few houseplants. 'Be sure to style in a selection of houseplants - whether they’re faux or the real deal, you’ll ream the benefits of having pops of greenery dotted around the space, helping to alleviate work-related anxiety and promote clarity,' explains Lauren Davenport, associate buyer at Furniture Village.
To stop them taking over a small desk consider hanging planters. While real houseplants will always look best, if you'll struggle to lift a hanging planter down to water it consider opting for faux plants. They have been proven to deliver similar stress-busting benefits and you don't have to worry about water flooding your desk from above. However, it can be worth noting that some real houseplants have been shown to increase productivity, so these are worth considering. Every little helps!
18. Carve out a nook
If you're working a home study space into a bedroom, consider sacrificing some wardrobe storage to carve out a nook. You only need a couple of feet across in order to fit in a small desk. Choose a slimline option so once the chair is pushed in, you're not coming into the room much more than the wardrobe doors.
You can keep the wardrobe sections above head height. Just ensure you leave enough room to have a light at a comfortable and practical distance away from the desk.
19. Create a flexible workstation
A spot in the kitchen often turns into an ad hoc space to work in, after all who doesn't get drawn there at one point or another throughout the day?
If you're planning or re-designing your kitchen and wish to consider small home office ideas then make sure that part of your countertop is low enough that you could sit at it in a desk chair, and leave the base free of built in storage.
When not in use this space will still benefit as the countertop will remain working space for food prep and the alcove section can be used as negative space to help the room breathe, or to hold baskets or other stylish storage solutions.
You can of course work at an island, but be wary of not receiving adequate lumbar support. from bar stools.
20. Zone the area
Use paint, wallpaper or wall panelling to define your small home office ideas in an open-plan area. If you're just wanting a lick of paint, cover an area in contrast colours to the main wall, making it roughly the width of your desk and just below ceiling height, so it creates a framed backdrop for your desk.
'This could work very well in modern properties with an open plan living space,' adds Justyna Korczynska, senior designer at Crown. 'And by painting just a smaller section of the room you can go really brave or dark with your chosen colour.'
However, really delineate your home office in an open plan space, consider revamping that section of wall. Add interest while zoning by inserting a panelled area. Enhance the look even further by painting this section in a contrasting colour to the rest of the wall space.
21. Keep things light and bright
Whether you're using a small box room or a part of a larger space, colour is key. Light, bright shades and materials will make the space seem larger than it is. Think crisp whites, pale woods and glinting metallics.
Be smart about your desk position to make the most for the natural light in the space. 'Lighting can increate productivity and prevent fatigue,' says Juliette from Juliettes Interiors.
'Make the most of daylight, but have your desk side onto a window so that the light does not shine directly onto your computer screen, and use tall lighting for specific areas, where you need to concentrate on detail.'
22. Create a shelf desk
This has to be one of the smartest ways to make a small space work for a home office. A simple wooden shelf placed under a window creates the perfect perch for work.
You can go as big or as small as you have room for, but try not to go too thick or it can seem out of proportion.
23. Float a desk
If you're limited on space, using a bedroom as a home office may be the only solution. Making a desk double up as a dressing table makes it a useable furniture piece with a bedroom purpose too.
A narrow, floating desk won't protrude too much into the room. Pop a mirror on it to transform it into a dressing table. Keep your home office essentials minimal, so you have less to hide away.
24. Make the most of attic eaves
If you don't have to work from home day in and day out, then adding a desk beneath otherwise too-low eaves could be a great solution. These spaces may feel cramped if in constant use but are perfect for the odd day here and there.
As a bonus, if you have a skylight installed, you'll have plenty of daylight to help to focus and prevent eye strain.
FAQs
Where is the best place for a small home office?
One of the bonuses of small office ideas is that they can be integrated just about anywhere in the home.
'Finding the right spot for your home office is key to productivity,' advises Joanna Baumard, co-founder, Purlfrost. 'You don’t necessarily need ample amount of space, but you do need natural light and a space that feels clear of clutter. If you haven’t got the luxury of a separate room, the dining room or bedroom can often be the next best spot.'
'The spare room is often an ideal place to work,' recommends Juliette from Juliettes Interiors. 'It’s usually the quiet space in a home but is so often used as a dumping ground. If space is an issue, consider downsizing to a single pull-out trundle bed or a sofa bed that acts as a daybed or sofa when not in use.'
'Choose a compact desk, console or dressing table that looks great but can be flexible and will allow you to hide work away when guests come to stay. This leaves more room for you to work comfortably and you still have a functioning spare room.'
If you opt to set up your home office in an open plan space, make sure to delineate the area. 'Simply working on the dining table or kitchen island won’t help to focus the mind,' says Poppy Peace, creative director, Milc Interiors. 'By effectively using rugs, bookshelves and lamps, you can create the perfect working zone, that works with the open-plan interior, yet ensures a dedicated space for work.'
How do you integrate storage into a small home office?
Just because your home office is short on square footage does't mean it has to be lacking in storage.
'Floating shelves or a tall bookshelf that extends to the ceiling will provide ample amounts of storage and a place to showcase decorative items,' says Mariana Ugarte, co-founder, Interior Fox. 'The possibilities are endless when you go bespoke. Creating furniture for your room that is designed to fit seamlessly means that every inch of the room is catered for.'
Alternatively, build in storage as you go. 'Why not create a dedicated home office within built-in joinery in the kitchen or living room, that can be shut away when you've finished working,' suggests Emma from Kelling Designs. 'It's ideal for creating integrated storage where you need it. By hiding it behind doors will allow the space to function as a kitchen, diner or family living space with ease.'
Your small home office ideas should never be an obstacle to packing your space full of stylish and practical ideas, so enjoy finding the best ways to make yours a beautiful feature rather than a pain point.
