As the lines between work and home continue to blur with remote becoming more commonplace, having an organised at-home set up remains important. Some may work away on dining tables or a bedroom desk, but for those with a home office, space is normally tight. This means designing a room that maximises your space and inspires productivity is vital.
From essentials like the best desks and best office chairs (including the best ergonomic designs), to lighting styles and storage solutions, there’s a lot to consider when designing a small office.
Thankfully for renovations that won’t require a remortgage, the high street is home to plenty design-led , often affordable, furniture pieces that have both been inspired by designer brands or creatively conjured up in-house.
But knowing how to design your small office, especially if you’re short on space, is no mean feat – there are professionals for a reason. To bring you some inspiration and recommended buys, I spoke to three interior experts who weigh in on the best office furniture for small spaces.
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Meet the experts
Tabitha Organ is the founder of is a London-based interior design studio Tabitha Isobel. With more than a decade of experience at leading practices including Conran + Partners and Tatjana von Stein, Tabitha brings a refined, story-led approach to residential, hospitality, and workplace interiors. Her work balances historical depth with contemporary clarity, prioritising individuality, sustainability, and enduring design.
Bee Janaye is the founder and creative director of JANAYE, a South London-based interior design studio redefining luxury through playfulness and personal storytelling. Rooted in neuroaesthetics – the connection between design, well-being, and emotion – JANAYE crafts immersive, personality-driven spaces that challenge traditional notions of exclusivity.
Jo Hamilton, creative director at Jo Hamilton Interiors, is widely regarded as one of the UK’s leading interior designers, noted for her confident grasp of colour, intelligent use of space and luxury aesthetic. Jo has led her own interior design consultancy since 1995 and has been involved in many prestigious developments in the UK, USA and UAE, among others, ranging from exclusive city apartments to stylish country retreats.
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Desks for small offices
For Tabitha Organ, a desk can offer a great way to enhance the storage in a small room. “Prioritising vertical storage in a small space is essential,” says Organ. “A ladder desk is great for a small office, integrates shelves, drawers and a desk into one”.
“Prioritise ergonomics, even in tight spaces,” is Jo Hamilton’s tip. “A small workspace still needs to function properly. However limited the footprint, the fundamentals should not be compromised. How you sit, how your desk is set up, and how comfortable it feels to work there all matter.”
For tighter rooms, Hamilton suggests a shallower or narrower desk as a very effective solution as they reduce “visual bulk while still providing enough surface to work comfortably”. “A pull-out keyboard shelf can also work well here, giving you additional usable depth when you need it without increasing the overall footprint of the desk.”
In small rooms, “a well-proportioned desk paired with a chair that has enough presence helps anchor the space,” Hamilton says. “If either feels underscaled or purely functional, the whole composition can feel temporary rather than properly resolved. Compact desks offer good proportions without overwhelming the room.”
Bee Janaye says where you position your desk is game changing. “Pull your desk away from the wall whenever possible,” she explains. “If you’re somebody who works from home, centralising your desk position will make the most difference in your space.”
Futon Company oak leaning ladder desk
Tabitha Organ suggests a ladder desk for a small office like this one from Futon Company, which features solid oak uprights with shelves made from veneered oak panels.
Buy now £279, Futoncompany.co.uk
Zara wooden desk with metal legs
Bee Janaye loves a sleek desk that will introduce some style into your home office. She suggests this one from Zara which has an oak surface, thin stainless steel legs and three drawers at the front.
Buy now £1300, Zarahome.com
Atkin and Thyme Byron ladder desk in muted oak
The second ladder desk Organ recommends is the Atkin and Thyme Byron ladder desk in muted oak. In a mid-century aesthetic, the desk features a ladder-like frame with a concealed desk, which is revealed by pulling back the lid, and a pair of shelves. Plus, once your work day is over, you can put lid back down to conceal your laptop and work equipment.
Buy now £799, Atkinandthyme.co.uk
Case Celine desk
Jo Hamilton recommends a compact desk like this one from Case. The Celine desk features two solid hardwood legs, a slim drawer and open compartment for storing essentials and keeping your workspace tidy.
Buy now £780, Casefurniture.com
Seating for small offices
“For seating, investing in something properly designed such as a chair from Herman Miller or Vitra makes a noticeable difference to how the space feels to use,” says Hamilton.
Herman Miller Zeph armless chair
“The Zeph chair is one of the smaller chairs around, can double up in a dining or living room, and even comes in an armless version for even more space-saving potential,” says Hamilton.
Buy now £426, Hermanmiller.com
Dunelm elements Cooper boucle office chair
Our best office chair tested by interiors expert Ali Howard is a worthy option. “If your home-office space needs character as much as functional support, this one delivers both,” she says.
Buy now £99, Dunelm.com
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Lighting for small offices
“Lighting plays a key role in how a space is experienced, particularly when a home office sits within a larger room,” explains Hamilton.
“Rather than relying on a single overhead light, a more layered approach helps create a clear sense of separation between working and relaxing.” According to Hamilton this can be accomplished with a focused “task light”, such as a reading light, to use while working. In the evening, turn on a softer ambient light instead.
“This subtle change helps the space feel distinct, even when it shares the same footprint as another part of the home,” explains Hamilton.
Where you position lighting is also important according to Hamilton. “A well-placed desk lamp can anchor the workspace, while a secondary light source adds depth and balance, preventing the area from feeling flat or overly functional.”
Choose a plug in wall lamp instead of a desk lamp so you don’t take up valuable desk space with a light, advises Organ.
Wall lighting is also recommended by Jayane who says a wall light can also temper a room’s structure. “Soften your space with a swing wall light instead of a harsh desk light,” she advises. ‘We don’t have to worry about trailing wires when we install a beautiful wall lamp, which can be manoeuvred when it's needed.”
Anglepoise original 1227 desk lamp
Hamilton advises to have a piece of task lighting like this one from Anglepoise, which “offers both precision and presence”.
Buy now £219, Johnlewis.com
Soho Home Ferguson table lamp
This Soho Home Ferguson table lamp is Hamilton’s choice: “Table lamps from Pooky or Soho Home introduce a softer, more considered layer of light”. Out of your budget? We’ve also rounded up more budget friendly lighting choices that rival Soho Home from M&S and Asda.
Buy now £350, Sohohome.com
Hay cupola wall lamp
Organ recommends this Hay compact wall light, which features a round, adjustable head with a pivoting mount that allows you to direct light in any direction with a 360-degree range.
Buy now £143, Hollowaysofludlow.com
Aerin keil swing arm wall light
The cordless design from Aerin adds light and atmosphere, without taking up any space. The mid-century modern design provides focused light where needed, thanks to hinged metalwork which adds instant character.
Buy now £629, Visualcomfort.com
Astro halo portable light in bronze
Our best reading light, the Astro halo portable light in bronze “strikes the perfect balance between good looks and everyday practicality,” said interiors expert Ali Howard.
“It’s cordless, so you can move it around as you need. The four-step touch dimmer makes it easy to go from a soft glow to something brighter for reading,” she explained.
Buy now £139.9, Keslighting.co.uk
Storage for small offices
Organ’s go to for storage are the Hay colour crates, which are stackable. They are “really useful for storing stationary, paperwork, crafts, chargers,” she explains. “Good looking enough to be on display, but also handy as storage units within cupboards or drawers.” She also recommends pegboards for maximising vertical storage.
“If you’re organising paperwork then decorative boxes are going to be your best friend,” says Jayane. “Whilst sometimes we can’t escape the need for filing systems, decorative boxes stored on a shelf are the perfect way to store receipts or documents for easy access and minimal clutter.”
Something simple like using bookends can transform your space in a small room says Jayane. “Instead of letting your work books stack up in a pile on your desk, we always recommend that clients source a pair of beautiful book ends,” she says. “As well as creating an opportunity for a ‘display’ moment, they keep your desktop organised and chic.”
Hay colour crates
Organ swears by these stackable boxes from Hay, which come in 12 stylish colourways. Made from recycled post-consumer plastic, they wipe clean and are practical solutions to dealing with clutter.
Buy now £6, Selfridges.com
Ikea skadis pegboard combination
This pegboard from Ikea is less than £40 and comes recommended by Organ. With its holes all over, you can fix the accessories (hooks, clips, containers and a shelf) anywhere on the board for complete customisation.
If you’re willing to spend a bit more, she also suggests the peg-it-all pegboard in birch plywood from Kreisdesign (£220, Kreisdesign.com).
Buy now £38, Ikea.com
Soho Home Lola bookends
Jayane says bookends can make a style statement, as well as being a practical way to organise books. She suggests this stepped design from Soho Home, which is crafted from marble with a striking black-and-white veining veining. If this is out of your budget, Zara sells a cubed marble bookend for less than £30 (£29.99, Zara.com).
Buy now £195, Sohohome.com
Andrew Martin cora box
Jayane recommends using a decorative box as an aesthetic way to keep papers and clutter organised without filing them away completely. She recommends a style like this box from Andrew Martin, which features a textured cream faux shagreen veneer, gold hardware and a velvet lining.
Buy now £139, Andrewmartin.co.uk
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A focal point for small offices
“Anchor the room with a single, well-judged focal point,” is Hamilton’s final suggestion.
“In a smaller space, the eye needs somewhere to land. Without that, the room can feel unearthed and lacking interest. A single, well-placed focal point brings order and gives the space a sense of structure.”
This comes down to visual hierarchy where when “one element is clearly prioritised, everything around it begins to make more sense,” explains Hamilton. “It helps balance the proportions of the room and creates a more deliberate visual flow.”
This might be a larger piece of artwork above a desk or bed, or a mirror positioned to catch and reflect light. And don’t shy away from something dramatic. “It should feel confidently-sized for the wall and aligned with the furniture below, rather than floating or undersized,” says Hamilton.
Otrera by Nikoleta Sekulovic print
A print works well as a centre point of a small office according to Hamilton, who suggests Nikoleta Sekulovic’s Otrera print. There’s also a host of other websites that sell affordable wall art like Desenio.co.uk and Tate.org.uk.
Buy now £330, Kingandmcgaw.com
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