You don’t need huge space to create a brilliant home office. When you’re working with minimal space, there’s still scope to expand in other areas, whether getting rid of extra clutter, or adding a splash of colour – all you need is a little imagination. Check out these inspired home office design ideas to find out how a small injection of creativity can easily yield big results for a cosier setup –  whether you’re hot desking, trying to stealthily sneak a desk into an open plan space, or trying to conjure some extra inches from limited floor space.

 

 

Working with a small space?

Time to get creative. The Spruce lists some excellent ways to create a Stylish Small Home Office, advocating a dose of creative licence when space feels like a restriction. Find 27 inspired ways to help you carve out a cosy, stylish home office with some simple tricks: from switching up the work space arrangement to creating an extra cool nook using a room divider, making use of built-in storage, and getting hiding that extra clutter in storage boxes..

It’s worth remembering that some of the most legendary companies in Silicon Valley famously started in garages: when it comes to home office design, it’s what’s on the inside that counts. If you’re trying to create a comfortable space, no matter how small or in which part of your home, whether in your Berlin start-up garage, spare room, or the cupboard under the stairs, there are some great ways to transform your office setup into a design-savvy space. And you don’t even need magic to do it.

A good home office setup acknowledges space may be limited, but creativity knows no bounds.

Colour is an easy area where you can win big with a few small changes. Try keeping things clean and simple and add a pop of colour for some vibrancy. A splash of warm yellow can quite quickly energise your workspace, whether it’s something as simple as selecting colourful stationery or mounting a colourful wall clock or a whiteboard with a yellow twist.

No dedicated office room?

No problem. If you don’t have a dedicated room for a home office, time to think outside the box. You can quite quickly turn an area of your living room, guest bedroom or even the hallway into a cosy work area where you can live your best work life.

Think attractive office desks and simple home office storage. Real Home lists some excellent ways to help you squeeze some extra inches out of your tiny workspace with 13 small home office ideas to help you make the most of every corner.

Unobtrusive office furniture here is key. You’re heard of the importance of a good work-life balance, similarly you don’t want your office space to leak too much into your home life.

Here are our 5 Home Office Set Up Tips

1. Find a slimline office desk that can serve your purpose at work without feeling too utilitarian or taking too much space.
2. Add shelves above the desk area and use colourful storage boxes to liven up your workplace and as importantly to tidy up any distracting office supplies when not in use. The last thing you want is for your home to feel like an office – instead you want to make your office feel like home, a space where you can be productive but which can remain separate from the areas where you can relax.
3. Using paint and rugs to differentiate between work and home zones. Remember, when it comes to home office design, you want your work area to feel distinct – not out of place.
4. Investing in office furniture that complements your existing home decor is key to ensuring your office blends in but does not become an eyesore.
5. For open plan spaces, a glass desk can easily render your office space (literally) transparent and safely ‘out of sight’. Similarly, cable channels and wireless chargers, can quickly hide away ungainly wires to keep work out of mind. Plenty of room for thought.

So how can you work and enjoy your surroundings?

Speaking of food for thought, having lots of space for a home office is a premium, but if you do have capacity for a dedicated workplace, it means you can remain at a safe distance away from the temptations of daytime television and the things inside the fridge. Check out these 65 Home Office Ideas That Will Inspire Productivity from Architectural Digest, designed to inspire you not only to be productive at work but to also enjoy the space where you work. From minimalist home office design spaces to warm colours that will add a dash of pizzazz, you’ll find how you can easily bring some life into your office while working from home (away from distractions).

Clean and bright is key, and of course a killer view also goes a long way. But a statement piece of art, for example, can also provide some eye-catching stimulation in the absence of nature. Investing in some art, or design led office products such as Leitz Cosy, is especially useful if you want to add some colour but are perplexed by the limitless shades of white paint or want a simpler way to liven up your work area.

For small offices and shared spaces, drop front home office desks can also provide a quick way to save space and keep things tidy, while positioning your desk in a spot where it can benefit from natural light can make it feel instantly brighter and less dreary a space to sit for hours at a time during theday

You can also easily bring the outside into the inside with some indoor plants to give your office environment a breath of freshness with some greenery, especially in an open plan layout – get the look.

If you’re going for a more minimalist interior design look, a black and white design can be completed with a bright piece of art or furniture for an effortlessly elegant look. Use bold bookshelves and warm colours to add some cheerfulness, the sky is the limit. And if you have a skylight, even better.

Making work space work for you

Lastly, when it comes to configuring the best layout for your home office, it all boils down to location. But whether you are operating from a shared study area in your bedroom, have a dedicated space, or limited to an open plan setup, there are simple ways of making the most out of what you’ve working with. Home office design is not tricky business. Be smart and inventive with space: make use of dead spaces by the window, hallway, or by the fireplace. The key is knowing how to make minimal room work for you.

The Spruce lists some great sample layouts for a home office that you can use as inspiration. For example, fitting a desk neatly into a corner where you can take advantage of shrewdly positioned bookshelves and cabinets, allowing the space around you to remain fully functional for other activities (particularly important if you have children or pets).

Meanwhile, if you spend a lot of time in the office, you might want to give precedence to lighting and view, making plenty of space for natural light and fresh air. If you’re working from your bedroom, a large screen or divider can be a huge help in keeping your relaxation area away from your workspace. And if the room you are using has a unique shape, consider specialty desks and wall mounted shelves to maximise space.

Similarly, choose good-quality office chairs for comfort, make rooms feel bigger and brighter with mirrors, and don’t be scared to get creative with colour.

When curating your own office space, there is no one-size-fits-all approach. But when space is an issue, there is always room to get creative.