Four Ways to Create Office Space in a Small Home

These days, more people are working from home (businesses are trying to reduce overhead)-or because they have now become self-employed. This trend in the workforce has facilitated a demand where real estate is concerned. In addition to guest rooms, people are looking to create office space in their homes. But those with children, or those who already have petite living quarters may find that square footage is a hot commodity. To avoid turning your bed into a mound of papers and knick-knacks, here are some ways to carve out a home office in your already crowded digs.

Work around the bed, not on the bed...

Take a closer look at your bedroom, and you just might discover that you have more usable space than you thought. Pull your bed out from the wall, further into the middle of the room, and take a quick peek at the space behind it. This area could possible serve as an office nook. Use a screen to separate the space. Or, if you already have a large/high headboard, use it to separate the area. Slide a small desk into this nook. There are literally tons of tiny workstations sold inexpensively these days.

Head for the corner...

The problem that most people have is that they fail to overlook all the unused space that they have in their homes. This is because furniture stores typically offer pieces that can only be used in traditional ways. Very often they don't take into account alternate angles that would make moving about much easier for residents. On the other hand, furniture manufacturers have been smart enough to create corner-facing workstations for home offices. But sometimes these can be cumbersome to assemble. So if you don't want to spend money on a new desk, simply create your own. Hang sturdy brackets along each wall. Place a triangular piece of material (sanded wood, for example) in the space. You have an instant workstation for your laptop. Follow this same principle to hang shelves that can house your office utensils. The point is to allow your walls to create the additional space you need.

Re-purpose Your Dining Room...

I've often believed that finding alternate uses for certain rooms of the house can open up tons of possibilities. As such, using the dining room as an office is often a great idea. Since dining rooms have many different configurations, you may find that outfitting the space to your liking is not only easy, but also incredibly eye catching. Many residents find that while their dining areas seem too tiny to actually eat in, it is perfect for other uses, like home offices.

Redefine your walk-in closet...

Fashionistas and shoe fetishists will probably nix this idea immediately. But if you happen to have other places where you can keep your clothes (wardrobes, storage drawers under the bed, etc.) then you will find that some walk-in closets make wonderful little offices. Use the shelving to hold supplies. All you'll need essentially is a long extension chord and a surge protector. Add a small desk (laptop computers are best in these spaces) and an undersized file cabinet. Walk-in closets can be great for working. They provide privacy, and with creative lighting they can be quite stylish. Use mirrors to "open" the space if you feel claustrophobic.

SOURCES:

www.flyingbed.com
www.homedepot.com
www.target.comwww.hgtv.com