How to Create a Double-Duty Office on a Budget
When you’re running low on space, having a designated office can seem like a dream. If you don’t have a house large enough to dedicate an entire room to your office, you may struggle to find the right place to set up shop. Pulling out your office materials at your kitchen table each morning can be annoying and impractical, but what else can you do if you’re lacking more square feet?
There are a few different double-duty office strategies you may want to try. These multi-purpose areas can give you the workspace you need without compromising too much space in your home. Let’s check out some of the creative home office spaces ideas you may want to try.
Redecorate the Guest Bedroom
If you have a spare bedroom you use for guests, have you ever considered setting up your office space there? While you don’t need to squish a desk into a small bedroom, you could replace the bed with a futon or daybed. This will give you more space to create your workstation.
This is a great option for someone who doesn’t have frequent guests. Setting up the spare bedroom as an office space that can be used for guests is a great way to get a private office with minimal interruptions.
Create a Living Room/Office Combo
Setting up your office in the living room is another way to create a two-in-one space. Because you likely have a lot of tech in your living room, you can cut down on the amount you have in the house by including it all in one room. Having your computer or laptop stationed in the living room can actually improve your TV watching experience.
So you don’t have both a TV and a computer in one room, consider purchasing a projector to replace your TV. As something that mounts up out of the way, you don’t need to compromise space to have one in your home. You can then use your laptop to stream through the projector.
Get Creative in the Closet
Do you have a closet you rarely use or one you could easily clean out? Well, it may be your new office space. Because closets are typically wide and deep enough to fit a desk and some shelves, you can use an unused closet space to do your work. The best part about using a closet as your office space is that you can shut the door and your work will be left undisturbed.
Transforming your closet into an office space can take some time. You’ll need proper measurements and potentially a custom-made desk. But with the right materials, a closet office could be just what you need to get your work done without taking up too much space in your home.
Use a Portable Desk
If you’re okay with moving your desk back and forth when you need to use it, a portable desk could be the solution you’re looking for. Through buying a desk that either folds up or has wheels, you can move your desk in and out of storage as you need it.
Depending on your storage options, you could wheel your desk out from under the stairs or fold it up and store it under the couch or in a coat closet. While a portable desk probably isn’t the best option if you need a desktop computer, it can be a solid solution for flexible work. This desk option makes it easy for you to move from one room to another as you need.
Take Advantage of Nooks and Crannies
Do you have a corner of your house that you’re just not sure what to do with? Is it oddly-shaped or too small to really fit anything in? This may be a great area to create your home office. Because all you need is a desk large enough for your laptop or notebooks, find or create some furniture that takes advantage of the unused corner.
Even a spare corner of your bedroom or dining room can be all you need to set up shop. Small corner desks or drop down desks can be pushed away when you’re not using them and still ensure you have the space you need to entertain.
Get creative when it comes to designing a home office in your small space. Think of what areas you don’t use frequently or what rooms may benefit from your work technology. Are there any interesting ways you can blend your office space into a room you already have? When you consider how to work with the area you have, you may be surprised how many office space opportunities you actually have.
