Small Office Ideas to Make a Big Impact
There's so much more to office furniture and decor than just plastic inbox trays and boxy laminate desks. And the challenges become even greater in a small office. But high design is possibly in a small home office – it's just a matter of decorating wisely. Here are some tips and tricks to help you design the right office for you.
Keep the Sight Lines Open
When carving out a section of your house for your dedicated home office, consider using a streamlined wall-mount desk. It keeps the area under the desk clear, giving the impression of taking up less space. Use a separate cabinet to store away files and other necessary office equipment.
Be Brassy
In a small office space, keeping things organized is key to keep the clutter at bay and your workspace functional. But there are ways to make that organization visually appealing. For example, a desk organizer in a brass finish adds a bit of glam, and coordinating accessories and supplies can add a pop of color and whimsy.
Go Up the Wall
Take advantage of your wall space and use it for function as well as form. Floating shelves allow for decor and items that you might need within reach but don't need to have immediate access to on a desk. Add a hook or lower shelf for items like headphones you use more often.
Clamp It On
In a small home office where desk space is precious, a clamp-on desk lamp can be a great option. They don't take up as much real estate as a regular lamp, but still provide excellent and flexible task lighting.
Make It Yours
Even if you only have a small corner to call your own, personalize it with your own touch. Decorate the wall with groupings of art in similar colors and matching colored frames, small plants or other decor items that make it feel like your space without taking up a lot of room.
Hang It Up
Office Pendant lighting is great for a small home office because it gives you both personality and illumination in a small desk space. Depending on the pendant, you can have soft diffuse ambient light or, dropped down and with a focused shade, it can provide more direct task lighting.
Go Cubist
Cubby squares are a great way to maximize your wall space. Their depth and flexibility give you lots of opportunity to stash things away. Consider an artful arrangement, grouping them in different numbers or different finishes.
Use the Full Color Palette
Pops of bold color are a quick way to add personality and brighten up a home office space. A sunny yellow desk lamp adds charm with function. Consider matching a few small decor items and accessories to add cohesion and subtle emphasis.
Roll Out
Having separate, mobile office components can be a lifesafer in a small home office space. They provide storage with flexibility, allowing you to modify the furniture setup as needed depending on the task at hand.
Coordinate Tones
A coordinated minimalist look gives the impression of taking up less space in a small office, especially if it's not a dedicated office space. Matching wood tones makes a statement and provides appealing visual harmony.
Big Design, Small Space
Embrace strong design in a small office for maximum impact. While you need functional furniture that fits the limited space, look for pieces that are unique, detailed and big on style to keep the room visually interesting.
Put It Away
Square footage can be a challenge especially when your office has to share space in a multi-use room. So if you don't always need a workspace, a good option is to get a modern desk that folds down flat and can be put away when not in use.
Stand Up, Sit Down
Sit/stand desks have come a long way, now with digital control panels to do the heavy lifting for you. They're great for a small spaces too, as their sleek , modern design keeps the office feeling open. Also look for ones with with built-in keyboard trays for a more ergonomic sitting mode.
Embrace an Aesthetic
Certain design styles lend themselves easily to small offices. The clean, crisp lines of Mid-Century or Danish Modern, for example, give the room a personality and specific aesthetic without adding clutter.
Long and Lean
If you want to be impressive but not imposing, consider a long, narrow rectangular desk. The wide length gives you a lot of working real estate space, but the narrow depth means it won't be obtrusive into a small room.
Rustic Modern
Rustic, reclaimed styles are a great way to add textural interest in a small space. Combining natural elements like wood and distressed leather with coordinated metals lend an authentic, worn-in flavor, yet keep the feeling of the room open. Furniture on wheels, be it chairs or cabinets, gives the room additional flexibility, too.
Don't let your small office space confine, or define, you. There are a lot of things you can do to decorate and choose the right office furniture for your home office to make it functional, and beautiful.
