Trying to find a place to work in your home can be a real challenge. Not everyone has the luxury of a spare room to convert into an office. If you're searching for a way to squeeze workspace into your home, here are four easy ways to do it. From clever furniture arrangements to claiming small bits of unused space, you've got options. Let me show you what you can do in your home.
• Wall Space + Cabinets = Workspace
Look for wall space, nooks or crannies in your home that can be converted into a dedicated work area. Small corners are difficult to decorate - but, with a few cabinet units, you can create a well-planned office area. Dining rooms often have a wall or two you may be able to claim. The small walls on the side of a staircase are frequently under-utilized and you can tunnel in under the stairs for more space.
Use the vertical real estate to create armoire-type structures starting with a standard cabinet on the bottom; then add a drop down desk. Add a few more storage cabinets above or on either side - as space permits. Or convert a corner space with cabinets and pre-fabricated countertops from a local home improvement store to gain working surface and storage. Then squeeze in as many shelves as the remaining wall space permits for even more storage.
• Office in a Closet
If you can clear out a closet, you just found the perfect space for a home office. Redistributing and relocating items to other places in your home - such as the garage, attic or under-bed storage can free up space for an office in a closet.
Closet offices are easy to make. One or two small file cabinets can be used for an instant desk base. Just add long shelf for the desk top and you're done. A storage ottoman for seating can slide in under the desk and giving you more space for stashing office supplies. And the nice thing about a closet office is that you can close the doors when you're done for the day and no one will ever know it's there.
• Hall Offices
An empty hallway can be turned into a narrow workstation with lots of linear space to spread out. Use narrow cabinets to create a desk and add shallow cabinets and shelves above. Even the end of a hall can make a tidy nook for dedicated workspace.
• Sharing a Bedroom
When all else fails, you can always share your bedroom with your computer. Although it may not be a visitor-friendly option for your office, it can certainly work for telecommuting work arrangements.
Place a small desk at the end of your bed. Or nix your double night table configuration, slide the bed over closer to the wall and squeeze in a small desk in place of a night stands. Even a bay window space can be converted into an office area with a little bit of creativity.
Check out the pictures and the inspiration for this article in the Live-Work ideabook on Houzz. You're sure to find a way co-mingle home life with workspace that's geared toward your individual needs.
Enjoy more home decor ideas from Terry Mulligan:
Create a Home Office in Your Closet
