home office in small apartment

How to Design a Home Office in a Small Space

But if you live in a studio or a one-bedroom apartment, it can be difficult to carve out a home office in a small space. Luckily, you can add a workspace into even the smallest apartment without putting a desk smack dab in the middle of your living room.

How to make a complete home office in a small space

If you’re wondering how to make a home office in a small space, don’t sweat it. We’ve got you covered! With a few easy, DIY hacks, some office equipment and an open mind, you can create a home office in a small space. Here’s how.

1. Seek out a dedicated space for your office

If you’re working from home, it’s important to have a dedicated space to work that isn’t the kitchen table or your bed. Separation of your work life from your private life is crucial for your sanity and productivity. The first thing you need to do is decide where you’ll set up your home office in a small space.

When you live in a small apartment, you may not have an entire room to dedicate to a workspace. However, there are a variety of places you can use instead. For example, if you have an empty corner, consider putting your desk there. Sometimes, even a closet can be retrofitted into a home office.

Some people also set up integrated offices, which means your desk is in a shared space like a living room, dining room or bedroom. The key is to find a clearly defined space that you know is your go-to place to work.

home office furniture

2. Make dual use of furniture

If you primarily use your laptop for work and don’t need other IT equipment, creating a dual-use space is fairly simple. Sofa tables are great solutions for small spaces because they tend to be very skinny and can sit right behind your sofa. When you’re ready to work, pull up a chair, plop your laptop on the table and you’re set!

If you’d rather get work done in your bedroom, invest in a small, minimalistic desk that can double as a nightstand next to your bed. Plus, you can literally roll out of bed to go to work!

3. Turn furniture pieces into “secret” desks

Armoires or hutches can be turned into workspaces that you can easily close off to guests. These pieces of furniture also tend to take advantage of vertical space rather than horizontal space. On the inside of the doors, you can attach cork boards or baskets, and add shelves to store all of your supplies.

4. Utilize space effectively

Once you’ve found the right place to build a home office, measure its dimensions so you can utilize your space efficiently. When you’re working in a home office with a small space, it’s important to efficiently use your space so you don’t feel crowded or cluttered. Organization is key!

Once you have your measurements, you can purchase a desk that’ll fit nicely in the dedicated workspace. Don’t forget to think outside the box here — a desk doesn’t have to be large. It can even be attached to the wall. As long as it fits your laptop, you can make it work.

Also, don’t forget to think about storage. While most documents can be kept in an online format, you may still need hard copies of some files. Find a desk with a filing cabinet built-in or with a storage container that fits underneath the table without taking up too much room.

customized desk

5. Customize your desk

If you only have a limited space in which to install a desk, make your own custom desktop. You can take an existing surface and cut it down to the right shape, or create your own from scratch. For example, your wall may taper to one side, in that case just conform your working surface to fit your space.

6. Choose a chair

Because you spend a good portion of the day at your desk, you need to find a chair that’s both comfortable and the right size. Look into ergonomic chairs that’ll help you feel comfortable all day long.

If you’re worried about a chair fitting your space, opt for an armless model that easily slides underneath your desk when not in use.

7. Build your space up

If you need more storage or you would like to add decorative accents to your home office, install shelving on an adjacent wall. All you need is a few parallel shelves to store your books, picture frames, trinkets or other items. Building up allows you to have all the storage space you need without wasting space in the room itself. Often, the walls of an apartment are unused space, so why not make the most of them!

desk space

8. Maximize your desk space

Even if you lay out your home office wisely, you can still end up with a cluttered workspace. Be sure you buy hanging folders so you can organize the documents in your filing cabinet. Also, pick up a utensil holder and compartmentalized container to hold letters, sticky pads and other everyday items.

9. Invest in a privacy screen

If you need to have your desk in a shared living room, utilize a privacy screen or room divider to create a home office atmosphere. Although you may not have a lot of room to work with, this will keep your work separate from your personal space.

10. Ensure your internet speeds are up to the task

Internet might be the most crucial part of working from home. If you have a slow connection, you’re going to be frustrated easily when trying to get things done. Make sure your internet speeds are fast enough for the work you need to do, take a speed test and upgrade if necessary.

Creating a home office in a small space

Size doesn’t matter when it comes to a home office space. Nowadays, if you have access to the internet and a spot to put your laptop, you can most likely get your work done. With these easy tips on how to make a home office in a small space, you can turn literally any corner or piece of furniture in your house into the perfect home office.

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