What to do when you only have a small space for your home office

In the post-pandemic era, it’s become clear that work-from-home and the hybrid work model are here to stay. McKinsey & Company’s American Opportunity Survey shows in-person office work remains 30 percent lower than pre-pandemic levels, and experts state that a well-organized hybrid model can be productive and beneficial. The key phrase here is well-organized.

While to corporations, this means coordinating in-office days where everyone is at the office together, on an individual level, your work-from-home productivity is obviously influenced by your setup. Some people are fortunate to have an entire room they can convert into a dedicated home office. But many of us have to set aside a small space within a room that serves other purposes. If you’re in the latter group, the following offers small office ideas to boost your organization and productivity while working at home.

Location

Location, location, location. Just like where you choose to live is important to your success socially and mentally, where you choose to work is also important. When thinking about small office ideas, consider the following:

• What space in your home is underutilized?
• Is it in a high-traffic area?
• Will it hold a desk and chair?
• What modifications would it need to become a desk space?

There are likely many overlooked places in your home to make space for a small home office desk. Think outside the box. Do you have an alcove under the stairs that is just dead space? What about a walk-in closet you can convert? Your small office space can be placed in a nook on the stair landing, in the pantry, on the coffee station in the kitchen and even on that extra counter space in the laundry room. Wherever you have even a little space, there are office organization ideas to make it work. Hello, corner desk!

Small home office desk

Once you have your space picked out, it’s time to consider a desk. The following are some small office desk ideas to consider:

Multifunctional desk: You can easily and affordably build a small home office desk to fit your space, and that serves more than one function. Try a file cabinet or bookcase desk where the desktop is supported by filing cabinets or low bookcases. Many DIY tutorials allow you to construct a desk to your specifications. And don’t worry; even if you’re not on the handy side, you should be able to figure it out. I like this guide I used to make a filing cabinet desk to fit my space.

Built-in: Another option is to use a built-in desk. You can do this in several ways. If you lack floor space, you can find a desk that operates like a Murphy bed. Just attach it to the wall and drop open the desk when needed. Fold it up and put it away when not in use. A floating desk is the same concept. It doesn’t fold up, but offers the same convenience of floor space underneath.

Alternatively, if you have a large bookcase, you can make one of the shelves a desktop. The same would work for a hutch you can repurpose into a desk.

Corner desk: For tight spaces, you can get a small corner desk and place it in the corner of any room, from a guest room to a bedroom to your dining room. Corner desks typically have just enough room to hold a desktop computer and a single drawer for organization.

Desk organization ideas

After you set up your space and furniture, it’s time to organize. Many desk organization ideas and products are available, but you really don’t need that much. The biggest thing is to keep your desk as uncluttered as possible. That means that everything has its own place at the end of the workday. Keep only things you need on your desk, and leave the space right next to you open so you have room to deal with pressing items that come up.

When thinking of desk organization ideas, consider three things:

• Wires and cords
• Bulky equipment like a printer
• Desk drawer organization

Use zip ties to tie back unruly and chaotic wires to give you more space. Alternatively, if you have the extra drawer space, you can designate one drawer as your charging station and string wires through it to keep charging electronics off your workspace.

A printer is a big piece of equipment. Moving it off your desk space will free up a lot of room. Try installing it in a cabinet, on a shelf or if there is room under your desk.

Finally, your desk drawer can hold a lot, but needs organization. You can get an expandable drawer organizer that you can size to your drawer, or you can get small individual containers that fit together. Just be sure to group like items together and assign them to a compartment.

Use your walls and vertical space

While you might not have much square footage, who’s to say you can’t go up? Use your vertical wall space to organize your small office space. Try mounting your monitor to the wall to get it off your desk. Install wall cabinets or floating shelves to hold things like your printer. These things can draw the eye up and make your space seem bigger, while clearing your desk of non-essential items.

You can also invest in a peg board for wall organization. Hanging folders make a great place for sorting paperwork off your desk, a wall calendar keeps your schedule organized and hooks are perfect for keys and other items that would otherwise clutter your desk. I personally like this wall organizer that I was able to easily build and it holds so much.

Office organization ideas

On a bigger scale, not only does your desk need organization, but you also need office organization ideas for your entire space. As a rule of thumb, keep clutter to a minimum by ensuring everything has a home—not just the things on your desk.

Multipurpose furniture is a good tool to help keep your office organized. Think of things like a filing cabinet that can double as a side table or, as mentioned above, as a desk leg. If you see clients in your small office space and have an armchair, select an ottoman with storage space to go with it. If you don’t have room for an armchair, stools with storage can offer seating and storage.

Another idea is to add wheels. They allow you to easily move and condense pieces when not in use. Consider putting your filing cabinet, side table or small bookcase on wheels to maneuver them out of the way after your workday. Find a small utility cart on wheels and use it for organization. It can easily be stowed under your desk when not in use.

Lighting

Small offices can feel dark and cramped, dulling productivity. Using proper lighting will boost your productivity and give the illusion of space. Of course, you want to select a location with natural light, but even if you have ample natural light, you want to plan for nighttime work or weather changes. Opt for multiple lighting options so you can change your office space’s mood and comfort level and accommodate changes in weather or time of day.

Try adding under-the-cabinet lights to your cabinets or shelves instead of a desk lamp that takes up needed desk space. Hanging an overhead pendant light is another option. And don’t forget about the tone of your lighting. According to the National Library of Medicine, bright light decreases sleepiness and increases performance, and GE Lighting recommends a whiter, crisper light for a more productive workspace.

Design tips

When checking out small office ideas, you can and should create a functional design that works for you. Consider the following:

Choose a minimalist design. A minimalist, functional décor will keep the space open and clutter-free. Think light colors and classic shapes. Transparent furniture like a clear glass desk and low-profile clear chair will also appear to take up less space. Add personal touches to make the space feel inspiring and comfortable. A fuzzy rug, greenery or small pops of color work well here.

Make use of mirrors. Mirrors open up a space and give the illusion of more room. Plus, you can use them to see who’s walking into your space if your desk faces away from the door. Prop a large mirror in the corner or hang one above your desk.

Add a door. If you’re using a closet, pantry or any space that can be closed off, consider a low-profile door like sliding barn doors or pocket doors. I installed pocket French doors to my small office space, which gave the illusion of more room, while separating me from the chaos of the rest of the house.

Small office space phone system

Of course, no office space is complete and functional without the right phone system. Your home office can support a professional work environment with the Ooma Home Phone Office Bundle. Get concierge service, a desk phone, Ooma Telo and Ooma Linx, plus keep your number and enjoy crystal-clear, reliable calls. Visit Ooma today to get started.