8 Big Space-Saving Ideas for Small Home Offices
If space is at a premium in your small study, you can't go past these 8 clever design ideas
If you’ve set up your home office in a spare bedroom, attic, laundry room or even tucked it under the stairs, you may be looking for ways to make it work harder for you. Read on to see how low shelving, hidden worktops, wall storage and other organising tricks can help you create a more comfortable and efficient workspace.
2. On the wall
Making the most out of your wall can help desk areas like this stay clean and functional. This homeowner installed a horizontal hanging rod to store pencils, pens and other small items within easy reach. The light fixture has been mounted to the wall too, freeing up precious surface area. An articulating arm means the light can be pushed out of the way when not in use.
Making the most out of your wall can help desk areas like this stay clean and functional. This homeowner installed a horizontal hanging rod to store pencils, pens and other small items within easy reach. The light fixture has been mounted to the wall too, freeing up precious surface area. An articulating arm means the light can be pushed out of the way when not in use.
3. Low shelving
When you’re planning the shelving for your office, don’t forget to extend it below your desk, too. Recessed shelves allow you to store documents and paperwork that might not be needed every day.
When you’re planning the shelving for your office, don’t forget to extend it below your desk, too. Recessed shelves allow you to store documents and paperwork that might not be needed every day.
4. Desktop over the heater
Don’t let your heater eat up precious room. Build over it.
This home office added an extra work surface directly over the heater at desk height. Since the average heater is only about 30 centimetres from the wall, you can make the desktop more shallow if you like. Make sure any combustible desktop material is at least 25 - 30 centimetres inches above the heater, though.
Don’t let your heater eat up precious room. Build over it.
This home office added an extra work surface directly over the heater at desk height. Since the average heater is only about 30 centimetres from the wall, you can make the desktop more shallow if you like. Make sure any combustible desktop material is at least 25 - 30 centimetres inches above the heater, though.
5. Pull-out desk drawer
This subtle home office looks more like a built-in bureau than a desk area. But when it’s time to pay the monthly bills, the false front drawer reveals an entire working surface.
This application’s beauty is twofold: when it’s not in use, everything resting on top of the drawer can stay in the same spot when you push it back. This particular drawer even comes with its own electrical outlet.
This subtle home office looks more like a built-in bureau than a desk area. But when it’s time to pay the monthly bills, the false front drawer reveals an entire working surface.
This application’s beauty is twofold: when it’s not in use, everything resting on top of the drawer can stay in the same spot when you push it back. This particular drawer even comes with its own electrical outlet.
6. Creative shelving
This tiny home office has limited room for shelving, so its owner carried the shelves out past the wall. A metal suspension rod from the ceiling supports the end of the shelf.
This tiny home office has limited room for shelving, so its owner carried the shelves out past the wall. A metal suspension rod from the ceiling supports the end of the shelf.
7. Blackboard wall
Cover a wall in blackboard paint for an instant floor-to-ceiling message board. This dark colour adds to the office’s sleek design scheme, but it’d work great in a super modern or more traditional setting, too.
See more delightful ways to use blackboards in the house
Cover a wall in blackboard paint for an instant floor-to-ceiling message board. This dark colour adds to the office’s sleek design scheme, but it’d work great in a super modern or more traditional setting, too.
See more delightful ways to use blackboards in the house
8. Dual-purpose monitor
Watch TV one minute, and work on a spreadsheet the next with an integrated double-duty flat-screen in your home office. Built into the wall at eye level, this screen works as both a computer monitor and TV, providing a bigger screen for work and play.
TELL US
Are you lucky enough to have a home office space at home? How have you won the space war?
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Watch TV one minute, and work on a spreadsheet the next with an integrated double-duty flat-screen in your home office. Built into the wall at eye level, this screen works as both a computer monitor and TV, providing a bigger screen for work and play.
TELL US
Are you lucky enough to have a home office space at home? How have you won the space war?
MORE
Keep These Dimensions in Mind When Planning a New Home Office
Dream Spaces: Home Offices You’ll be Delighted to Work in
10 Client-Facing Home Offices You Won’t be Ashamed to Show Off
A rollout desk like this is a great way to provide you more workspace when you need it - and less when you don’t. This traditional built-in desk has plenty of knee room for the everyday user, but the far cabinet pulls out as an extra desktop for larger projects - or even office space for two.