14 Places to Put a Home Office When You Don’t Have a Spare Room
Many of us may still be working from home for the foreseeable future. And with school almost back in session—or already started for some!—many of us need workspaces for our kids, too. This can be a tall order for those who are already running at max capacity in their homes. If you don’t have spare rooms for both your own office and children’s distance learning space, you might be panicking.
Well, first off, you’re not alone. Many other people are in this boat! Secondly, we’re here to help you out. It is possible to create a home office without an extra room! In fact, we’ve rounded up our best home office design ideas for when you don’t have an extra room to spare.
You’ve got this. You can do this. Now, let’s get inspired and get to work!
Use Your Dining Room
Your dining room is a space that already has the basic office essentials of a table and chairs, making it simple to create a dining room home office design. It’s the most ergonomic set-up for a space you already have, making it perfect for a home office or homeschool station. And if you still want to be able to eat dinner at your dining room table, keep a tray or stylish storage box nearby where you can place all of your office supplies at the end of the workday—which is also a great way to help yourself create a bit of separation between work and life!
Alternately, if you have a more closed-off dining room and don’t need it for meals, consider this spare room design tip: Box up your dining room and totally transform it into a full-time office for one or two!
Transform A Console Into A Desk
A great small home office idea is to utilize a console table as a desk in your living room or a den. Since consoles are a bit longer than the average desk, you could even put chairs at either end for a workspace for two! And they’re narrower, too, which means they take up less space. This is one of those great desk ideas for kids if you have two kids who need a study spot and don’t have extra room. Just make sure you opt for a console with a base that allows for scooting a chair in!
Place A Desk Behind A Floating Sofa
For a really small home office set-up, place a desk behind your sofa for a home office in the living room. This makes use of the dead space behind a floating sofa and gives you a dedicated workspace. You could even flank the desk in storage boxes, baskets, or decorative filing cabinets so that you have storage space for your office supplies.
Create a “Cloffice”
Here’s one of our favorite working from home design tips of the moment. In a guest bedroom, or even in your own bedroom, consider emptying out the closet, taking off the doors to open it up, and transforming it into a “cloffice.” (AKA a closet office.) Just tuck a small desk inside and you have yourself a home office space! You could even hang curtains so that at the end of the work day you can pull the curtains and shut away your workspace at the end of the day. Out of sight, out of mind!
Make Use Of An Awkward Nook
Do you have an awkward nook or random alcove somewhere in your home? Well, that just so happens to be a perfect place to tuck in a desk and create a home office space! If you have room, add a cabinet next to your desk for extra office storage.
Swap Out Your Nightstand
Don’t be afraid to put a home office in the bedroom. If you have a bit of extra space next to your bed, swap out your nightstand for a sleek desk. It still offers all the same functionality as a nightstand—with a lamp, a clock, and a surface for your phone—but with the added benefit of an at-home workspace! This is a great option for small spaces that need a home office.
Sneak A Desk Into An Unused Corner
Many homes have them—that awkward corner that doesn’t seem to have a purpose. Well, it might just be the perfect place to tuck in a desk! By tucking this desk next to a partial wall and under a slanted ceiling, you feel tucked in and almost get a cubicle feel—in only the best ways.
Wall-Mount A Shelf
One of our favorite super small home office ideas? Use a floating, wall-mounted shelf as a desktop. It doesn’t take up any floor space, which is perfect for extra small spaces. When used in a bedroom, you could even hang a mirror above it and have it double as a vanity! Just make sure you hang a shelf that’s deep enough to hold your laptop.
Use Your Entryway
Transform your entryway into a home office by replacing your console table with a bar-height table and use it as a standing desk! This is great if you’re tired of sitting all day—but you can also use a bar stool when you need to take a seat. Bar-height tables are great for small spaces, since they allow you to tuck storage underneath. And you can also hang a shelf above for extra storage and decor!
Tuck Your Desk Into A Hallway
Hallways tend to be unused spaces within your home—making it perfect for a small office. (Just make sure it’s a hallway that’s wide enough to still comfortably walk through with furniture.) You can even swap your chair for a stool to lessen the footprint this space takes up.
Sneak It Under The Stairs
If you have an open space under your staircase you have a perfect place for a small home office space set-up. This is actually one of our favorite home office ideas for creating a home office without an extra room. This small slice of space is just the right size for a home office nook, and the staircase angle above lends a sense of privacy.
Place It In A Pass-Through Space
If you have a small amount of wall space in a room—especially if it’s a pass-through space—simply add a desk! This is great for open living/dining rooms, as there’s generally some unused real estate to take advantage of. This is a good space for kiddos who you want to keep an eye on while they tackle homework.
Utilize The Space Next To The Fireplace
For those with a fireplace in their living room, there’s often a small strip of wall that can’t be used for much. Well, this small space is the perfect spot to sneak in a small desk! We love this desk option, as the drawers give some built-in storage since there’s not much space for additional storage in this nook.
Make Use Of A Built-In
This home office idea will take a bit more work—but the end result is totally worth it. If you have a wall of built-ins, remove one of the cabinet sections and replace it with a desk. It won’t take up any extra space in your room—and it offers plenty of storage space for office supplies and paperwork!
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