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Trying to create a functional workspace in a poky room? We’ve got all the best office ideas for small spaces!
We completely understand the struggle of creating a comfortable office in a smaller-than-you’d-like space.
Whether you’re dealing with a pocket-sized room or you’re figuring out how to section off an existing room to function as a workspace, we’ve got you.
This post details 13 clever office ideas for small spaces, inspiring you to unleash your creativity and build a functional office in your home or apartment.
Office Ideas for Small Spaces
Put Your Storage in the Spotlight
There’s a good chance you don’t have enough room for multiple shelves and cabinets. So, embrace work from home essentials by creating a floor-to-ceiling display of your most important books and documents. The best thing is, this works for any interior style – just use this as your blueprint.
You can even weave some accessories in there for a more magazine-ready office setup.
Perfect Your POV
Trust us, one of the best office ideas for small spaces is to zone in on how you’ll feel when working in the space. For example, facing a blank wall is uninspiring to a hellish extent, not to mention it’ll probably make your workspace dull and dingy.
Placing your desk in front of a window means natural light can seep in, making your work area feel bright and inviting!
Embrace Vertical Styling
Whether adding a functional workspace into your hallway, tucking it into the corner of your living room, or disguising at the end of your landing, styling vertically is always better than horizontally.
All too often we forget about the empty spaces above and below our furniture pieces. So, this clever idea helps you make use of every square inch whilst keeping your office space beautifully compact.
Psst… check out our post on cool home office designs for small apartments to find even more ideas like this!
Create a Half Wall Divider
We know it’s not always possible to have a completely separate office room (hello, this entire post has been written from a folding desk and a dining chair in my bedroom!).
Sometimes, you have to get creative and build a workspace to fit your house or apartment. Adding a half wall divider is one of the most underrated office ideas for small spaces, helping you section off conflicting spaces without feeling ‘boxed in’.
Blend Your Desk with a Bookshelf
When creating office designs for small spaces, you’ve got to think outside the box just a little. Building your desk into your bookshelves is a super savvy way to save tons of square footage and keep your workspace super streamline. We. Are. Obsessed.
Design a Custom-Made Desk
We’re SO guilty of going to our fave home decor stores and searching for *hours* to find the perfect furniture piece with the exact measurements we’re looking for.
But let’s get real for a sec.
Some spaces are just waaaay too awkwardly shaped to bother with the hassle. That’s why we’re all about investing in quality, custom-made pieces instead. Trust us, it’ll completely transform your space, improving both the functionality and the aesthetics!
Keep It Light & Airy
We briefly touched on this already, but a dull workspace really can impact how you function (don’t ask us anymore about it than that, we don’t know the science!).
But it makes sense that sitting down to complete your tasks in a bright, light, and inviting place gets the good vibes flowing, right? So, if you can, place your desk in direct sunlight. And opt for white or cream furniture pieces and paint colours to really open up the room.
Less is More
When it comes to clever office ideas for small spaces, we swear by this one. Don’t over complicate your desk with faffy ornaments, fancy wall art and all the rest of it – especially if it’s positioned in the corner of your room. This will only make it feel cluttered and boxed-in.
Go for neutral paint on the walls, minimal yet considered decor pieces, and lightweight, streamline furniture.
Maximise Space with Clever Furniture Choices
Desk ideas for small spaces can often seem few and far between as many modern pieces favour chunky, standout designs.
But choosing a minimalistic desk will certainly complement the restricted space in your home much more. We’d opt for glass – although it’s hard to maintain, the opacity creates an illusion of light and space. Smart, right?
Mesh Your Office with Existing Living Spaces
If you don’t have a standalone office room, you can create a workspace within one of your existing living spaces – we’re talking the bedroom, your closet, or your kitchen. Enter the endless wonders of the built-in desk.
Ofc, IKEA is probably your best bet to craft perfectly fitted custom furniture. But if you’re a dab hand at DIY, you can easily replicate this small office design with any of your fave pieces.
Transform Your Spare Closet
We know, not everyone is lucky enough to have an empty closet at their disposal. So, if you are, you MUST take advantage (if only for the sake of us with multiple chests of drawers and a freestanding wardrobe to hoard our finest gear).
A closet makes the *perfect* cosy office nook. Consider it the opportunity you needed to transform your workspace into a relaxation haven complete with soft mood lighting and luxury candles.
Embrace Under Stair Space
Obviously we can’t take the credit for this one – kitting out the area under your stairs is one of the most genius office ideas for small spaces. And one we’ve (and mostly likely you’ve) seen a gazillion times before.
But this savvy design idea is just too good not to add into this post!
Utilise an Under Stair Cupboard
Did we save the best until last? Possibly!
Office ideas for small spaces seriously don’t get better (or more innovative) than this – a fully-enclosed under stair storage area.
This is one of those DIY projects we always thought was waaaaay too much hassle, but it makes total sense when you’ve got a dinky home.
TOP TIP: Add a bifold door to save floor space when your “office” is in use!