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10 Ingenious Ways to Keep Your Study Area Secret
If you don't want your desk on show, there are lots of ways to hide it – and create a real ‘ta-dah’ moment every time you arrive for work
Carving out enough room for a dedicated office can be tricky, but with a folding door here and a nifty pull-out seat there, it’s possible to discreetly tuck a very useful study space into another room. For an office that appears from nowhere when you need it, and can easily be concealed when you don’t, check out these inventive solutions
Bring in bi-folds
Bi-fold doors are genius for cupboard offices, as they simply concertina out of the way. This design also features a slide-out desktop to compensate for limited knee room, and additional cupboards with bi-fold doors to store filing and other office paraphernalia.
Bi-fold doors are genius for cupboard offices, as they simply concertina out of the way. This design also features a slide-out desktop to compensate for limited knee room, and additional cupboards with bi-fold doors to store filing and other office paraphernalia.
Keep it all in one
The best home offices hide away unsightly cables and provide plenty of storage in a single unit. This wooden, sideboard-style design also has pocket doors that tuck neatly away, maximising desk space, then simply slide forwards and across to conceal the laptop, leaving just a chair to be tidied to one side.
Discover more ways to feel productive when working from home
The best home offices hide away unsightly cables and provide plenty of storage in a single unit. This wooden, sideboard-style design also has pocket doors that tuck neatly away, maximising desk space, then simply slide forwards and across to conceal the laptop, leaving just a chair to be tidied to one side.
Discover more ways to feel productive when working from home
Get some cupboard love
A desk area hidden in a cupboard can be fitted into almost any spare pocket of your home, be it a corner of a bedroom or a dining room alcove. Whether it’s used for work, shopping or homework, be sure to include enough storage for it to be practical, and make accessing it simple or it won’t be used – this tri-fold door is ideal.
A desk area hidden in a cupboard can be fitted into almost any spare pocket of your home, be it a corner of a bedroom or a dining room alcove. Whether it’s used for work, shopping or homework, be sure to include enough storage for it to be practical, and make accessing it simple or it won’t be used – this tri-fold door is ideal.
Employ bright colours
Colour can play an important role in making an office feel at home. Here, the bold chartreuse paint on the interior of the office door helps it fit into the room when its open, while crisp white on the outside allows it to ‘disappear’ when the door is closed. Simples.
Explore the best ways to decorate with bright colours
Colour can play an important role in making an office feel at home. Here, the bold chartreuse paint on the interior of the office door helps it fit into the room when its open, while crisp white on the outside allows it to ‘disappear’ when the door is closed. Simples.
Explore the best ways to decorate with bright colours
Sit pretty
What to do with your chair when your office is closed can be problematic, which is why this cheeky little seat is genius – a slide-out padded chair on castors disguised to look like a drawer. A tambour, or vertical shutter-style, door would work well to conceal the computer.
What to do with your chair when your office is closed can be problematic, which is why this cheeky little seat is genius – a slide-out padded chair on castors disguised to look like a drawer. A tambour, or vertical shutter-style, door would work well to conceal the computer.
Fashion with frost
For a level of privacy that still lets plenty of light into a hidden home office, opt for sliding frosted doors. Not only will they divide off part of a larger room, when closed they’ll provide sound-proofing that’s essential in a busy family household. Continuous flooring means that when the doors are open, the area can be part of the room again.
For a level of privacy that still lets plenty of light into a hidden home office, opt for sliding frosted doors. Not only will they divide off part of a larger room, when closed they’ll provide sound-proofing that’s essential in a busy family household. Continuous flooring means that when the doors are open, the area can be part of the room again.
Separate your spaces
Creating a purpose-built room within a bigger space not only allows for every last box and biro to be kept in one place, it means two people can use the desk at the same time, making it an ideal solution for a busy family. Choosing folding chairs means they can be slotted behind the doors at the end of the day.
Creating a purpose-built room within a bigger space not only allows for every last box and biro to be kept in one place, it means two people can use the desk at the same time, making it an ideal solution for a busy family. Choosing folding chairs means they can be slotted behind the doors at the end of the day.
Try tactile timbers
Rich dark wood veneers are a classic choice for an office, so if you’re hiding it away, try cladding the sliding door in the same material for a sense of cohesion. An integrated wooden handle is as discreet as possible, helping the door to look more like a plain wall when closed.
Rich dark wood veneers are a classic choice for an office, so if you’re hiding it away, try cladding the sliding door in the same material for a sense of cohesion. An integrated wooden handle is as discreet as possible, helping the door to look more like a plain wall when closed.
Pop in a pull-out
Less a whole office area, more a convenient place to sit with a laptop, a pull-out worktop in a kitchen is a smart idea if you only plan to use a desk occasionally. Simply keep a bar stool handy and site the slide-out area by a window, so you can enjoy the view.
Do you work from home? How do you keep your home office out of sight? Let us know in the Comments.
Less a whole office area, more a convenient place to sit with a laptop, a pull-out worktop in a kitchen is a smart idea if you only plan to use a desk occasionally. Simply keep a bar stool handy and site the slide-out area by a window, so you can enjoy the view.
Do you work from home? How do you keep your home office out of sight? Let us know in the Comments.
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Kitchen-diners are an ideal setting for a cupboard-style study area, which can be built to mirror your other cabinets for a symmetrical look. The matching full-length doors allow you to hide your work away when it’s time for dining and entertaining.