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10 Tricks for Making the Most of a Compact Home Office
When it comes to a comfy and stylish home office, it’s important to make every inch count
Home working is more popular than ever, but it’s easy to let your office become an afterthought, fitted in around other rooms in the house. Give it a little thought, however, and it can be an inspiring place that makes rocking up for work a pleasure (well, almost). Try these big ideas for small spaces and be raring to go.
Give it some personality
Treat an office the same way you would a living room and include cushions, artwork and ornaments for a sense of personality and fun that can easily be updated. Have books and pretty box files on show for a library feel.
Treat an office the same way you would a living room and include cushions, artwork and ornaments for a sense of personality and fun that can easily be updated. Have books and pretty box files on show for a library feel.
Create a stimulating space
It can be easy in a compact office to think that everything should be sparse and simple. However, visual interest can trigger a creative mood, so consider a fun wall mural, such as this comic strip design. The exposed bricks add texture, while the stylish box shelves help to keep the desk clear.
Learn how to create a productive working space
It can be easy in a compact office to think that everything should be sparse and simple. However, visual interest can trigger a creative mood, so consider a fun wall mural, such as this comic strip design. The exposed bricks add texture, while the stylish box shelves help to keep the desk clear.
Learn how to create a productive working space
Pick multifunctional pieces
Desks can eat up space, so opting for a built-in solution can be a simple way of creating the surface space you need in the most minimal way possible. This desk extends seamlessly from the shelving unit to the wall with no legs required.
Discover more ways to make the most of a small office by browsing these photos.
Desks can eat up space, so opting for a built-in solution can be a simple way of creating the surface space you need in the most minimal way possible. This desk extends seamlessly from the shelving unit to the wall with no legs required.
Discover more ways to make the most of a small office by browsing these photos.
Drench in daylight
A loft conversion makes a great space for a made-to-measure desk area. If there’s room, extend it beyond one side of the room and include some shelving. No matter what your view, it’s always best to have your desk facing a window for maximum light. If there’s a lack of natural light, consider installing sun tunnels or roof windows.
A loft conversion makes a great space for a made-to-measure desk area. If there’s room, extend it beyond one side of the room and include some shelving. No matter what your view, it’s always best to have your desk facing a window for maximum light. If there’s a lack of natural light, consider installing sun tunnels or roof windows.
Make clear choices
Large blocks of visually heavy furniture can make a compact room feel crowded. Lighten the look with transparent pieces where you can – Perspex and toughened glass both make stylish furniture, plus they’ll help to bounce light around, so the space feels brighter and larger.
Large blocks of visually heavy furniture can make a compact room feel crowded. Lighten the look with transparent pieces where you can – Perspex and toughened glass both make stylish furniture, plus they’ll help to bounce light around, so the space feels brighter and larger.
Design brilliant lighting
In a windowless space, getting your lighting right is crucial. A mix of types is ideal. Try combining bright LED task lighting underneath shelving and cabinets with ambient feature lighting within cupboards and overhead spots to prevent dark corners and shadows.
In a windowless space, getting your lighting right is crucial. A mix of types is ideal. Try combining bright LED task lighting underneath shelving and cabinets with ambient feature lighting within cupboards and overhead spots to prevent dark corners and shadows.
Double the capacity
Squeezing in the longest desk possible will mean even a small room can accommodate more than one person. Two workers in a compact space make for a busy atmosphere, though, so keep the room visually quiet with unadorned walls and a simple bank of largely closed storage.
Squeezing in the longest desk possible will mean even a small room can accommodate more than one person. Two workers in a compact space make for a busy atmosphere, though, so keep the room visually quiet with unadorned walls and a simple bank of largely closed storage.
Transform a corridor
Narrow passageways can be turned into smart home offices with a little thought. A whole wall of open shelving, drawers and easily accessible equipment gives this layout plenty of functionality, allowing the opposite side to be more design-led, with a floating shelf, a statement desk and an armchair for all that blue-sky thinking.
Narrow passageways can be turned into smart home offices with a little thought. A whole wall of open shelving, drawers and easily accessible equipment gives this layout plenty of functionality, allowing the opposite side to be more design-led, with a floating shelf, a statement desk and an armchair for all that blue-sky thinking.
Get crafty
Don’t be afraid to decorate your home office, even if it’s on the small side. Here, by locating the shelving up high and including a vintage steel filing cabinet for essentials, there’s room on the walls for lots of pretty touches. Wires with pegs are a great way to hang an ever-changing display of inspiring clippings, swatches and postcards.
Be inspired by 10 creative craft rooms
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Do you have a home office? How do maximise its potential? Share your tips in the Comments.
Don’t be afraid to decorate your home office, even if it’s on the small side. Here, by locating the shelving up high and including a vintage steel filing cabinet for essentials, there’s room on the walls for lots of pretty touches. Wires with pegs are a great way to hang an ever-changing display of inspiring clippings, swatches and postcards.
Be inspired by 10 creative craft rooms
TELL US...
Do you have a home office? How do maximise its potential? Share your tips in the Comments.
When there’s little space in a terraced house for a desk area, an extension can be a smart way of creating the room your need. This side return construction might be slim, but, by mounting the shelves and desktop directly to the wall, there’s plenty of floor area still available for access to the rear of the property and moving around when the office isn’t in use.