Space-Saving Tips for Your Small Home Office

If you've set up your home office in a spare bedroom, extra closet, basement, laundry room or even tucked 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 organizing tricks can help you create a more comfortable and efficient workspace.

Rollout desktop. 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 countertop for larger projects — or even office space for two.


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.


Low shelving. When you're planning out 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.


Countertop over the heater. Don't let your radiator eat up precious room. Build over it.

This home office added an extra work surface directly over the radiator at desk height. Since the average radiator is only about 12 inches from the wall, you can make the countertop more shallow if you like. Make sure any combustible countertop material is at least 9 to 12 inches above the radiator, though.


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.


Creative shelving. This tiny home office has limited room for shelving, so its occupant carried the shelves out past the wall. A metal suspension rod from the ceiling supports the end of the shelf.


Chalkboard wall. Cover a wall in chalkboard paint for an instant floor-to-ceiling message board. This dark color adds to the office's sleek design scheme, but it'd work great in a super modern or more traditional setting, too.

Make Your Own Chalkboard Paint


Dual-purpose monitor. Watch TV one minute, and work on a spreadsheet the next with an integrated double-duty flatscreen 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.

More: Decorate With Intention: Get Your Home Office Right

URL: Space-Saving Tips for Your Small Home Office http://www.decor-ideas.org/cases-view-id-21083.html