Spending long hours at work can be taxing on both your body and mind, which is why selecting your home office space wisely is of utmost importance. At the advice of contributor, Katie, we recommend finding a space with lots of natural light. “I use the front room,” she shares, “right as you enter our home. Best natural light in the house.” Not only will the infusion of sunlight brighten your working hours, but studies also show it can help boost productivity, too!
Where Do I Put a Home Office? Our Top Tips To Get to Work
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Published: June 2, 2024
Updated: March 28, 2024
Much about life has changed in recent years, and nowhere else is this more obvious than in our modern-day work-from-home culture. Now, more and more jobs are done remotely, requiring a dedicated workspace that allows for virtual meetings and quiet concentration. So what should you do if your home doesn’t have its own home office?
Thankfully, this isn’t a new problem, and our readers have a lot of wisdom to share on this topic. Spare bedrooms are a great place to start, especially if you don’t have a lot of out-of-town visitors staying over. But there are so many more creative ideas out there as well! From closets to bedrooms to open-concept dining rooms, our contributors have tried it all and are here to offer you their best advice. These insights will help you boost productivity and stay focused, no matter what corner you turn into your new office space. Read on for all their best tips and tricks, and get ready to get to work!
02 of Finding Small Spaces to Repurpose
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Even small spaces can be a great option for creating a cozy home office nook. For example, small closets are ideal, especially if you can use built-in shelves and a desk to save space. Reader Marissa echoes this advice by stating, “We just added a little office nook into the open floor plan dining area.” Adding a door and some cute accessories will also help create a set-apart space in the middle of your home.
03 of Dining Room No More
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If you’re not big on large formal dinners, consider repurposing your dining room into a usable workspace. That’s the approach of home design enthusiast Angela, who shares the home office with her husband. Since formal dining rooms are often underutilized, make the space work by turning it into a more functional area that better suits your needs.
04 of Lack of Boundaries
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Our expert interior designer, Katie Perry, offers us her sage advice regarding using bedroom space as an office: “If there is an option to have an office in a separate room, then I would always try to do this. Being able to shut the door means you can block out the noise from the rest of the house and be productive in your own dedicated area.” Katie’s wisdom definitely applies in homes with small children, where distractions and playful sounds are plentiful! Katie continues by sharing, “If there isn’t the option of having a separate room, then you should think about your living arrangements and what would work best for you… I would always try to avoid setting up a workstation in your bedroom as it can be hard to switch off at the end of the day.”
05 of Minimizing Distractions
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Interior designer Neha Kaimal disagrees, however. In her opinion, “…a corner office within the bedroom stands out as a favorable choice for several reasons. Firstly, it offers privacy and seclusion, benefiting from the bedroom’s typically closed-off nature. This design ensures personal space when needed. Additionally, being situated away from common areas, it minimizes disruptions from children or guests, enhancing focus and productivity.” Not to mention, using closet space to create a custom “cloffice” can help to maximize space in a smaller home!
06 of Find Empty Corners
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Sometimes, a room in our homes is used only for a few minutes each day, especially in a mudroom. While this space is essential for storage and helping keep your home clutter-free, it might also be the ideal solution for your home office needs. Placing a desk and a chair in a vacant corner won’t take up much room while also providing a separate space for work that requires a quiet environment. Just don’t hold meetings when your family is coming or going to cut down on noisy distractions!
07 of Out in the Open
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Unfortunately, we don’t all have the benefit of closing the door on our workspace, which can mean working out in the open. This is what reader Tracy has done, who told us, “I put a desk in my living room. I treat it like a study.” This will work particularly well if you don’t have other family members or roommates who also need to use the space. Otherwise, you may be best suited to finding a quiet, out-of-the-way location instead.
08 of Walk-in Closet Storage Solutions
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We often think of a “cloffice” as a small, tight area that someone has turned into a workspace with some DIY skills. However, if your primary bedroom closet has a larger footprint, look no further! “We used our large walk-in wardrobe,” shares contributor Belinda. “Half is cupboards, and the other a study table.” With good organization skills and storage solutions, including a desk in a spacious closet should be no problem.
09 of Spacious Primary Suite Seating Nook
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A roomy primary suite could be the answer for where to place your home office. This was the solution for home decor expert Jessica, who told us that her “husband has a full office area in the sitting area of our bedroom. It’s a beautiful view and wasted space otherwise…” A seating nook in your bedroom could be used more purposely as a dedicated workspace, especially if you’re not using it consistently already. However, Jessica also shares, “I also kind of wish I had access to our room during the day.” This is definitely something to keep in mind as you’re considering your options!
10 of Giving a Room Duel Purposes
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With limited space, you have to get creative, which sometimes means giving a room a duel purpose. “We have a den that is long and narrow, so half is used as our second living area, but the other half is used as an office,” commented reader Heather. This works best if you already have another living space where your family can hang out to avoid distractions and noisy chatter while you’re trying to concentrate.
11 of Crafting the Ideal Aesthetic
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Ultimately, you can find almost any area to turn into a functional workspace with a bit of creativity and the right size of furniture. If you’re like me, I want to ensure my working environment is beautiful and practical, so crafting the right aesthetic is vital. Natural light, clean spaces, and stunning views are all the perfect ingredients to help me stay focused and productive during long stretches of work time.
12 of Achieving Work-Life Balance
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We also love to glean the advice of our expert contributors, so we were excited to hear interior designer Meredith Taylor’s insights. “For smaller houses,” she shares, “placing your office in a guest or spare bedroom is the best idea. It’s smart to have a dedicated office area as you can make it so that it doesn’t interfere with your relaxation areas. I’d avoid incorporating your office in your main bedroom or living room because it can be difficult to separate work from home. This way, you can close the door to your office and have a good balance between work life and home life.” Thankfully, all our experts and contributors have wonderful recommendations that we can look to as we consider our options. We know we have a lot to think over, and we’re sure you do, too!
