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How to Carve Out a Dedicated Workspace in a Busy Home
Don’t have room for a home office? There are plenty of other ways to slot a workspace into your home and life
The way we work is changing. As technology improves and remote working becomes easier, more and more of us are doing at least some of our work from home. And even if we don’t work from home, most of us are keen to have a dedicated space where bills and emails can be dealt with.
Finding room for a home office can be tricky, but slotting a desk and chair into a corner is not only possible, it can also be advantageous. Having a workspace in a communal area can be a brilliant way to spend time with your family – the kids doing homework or watching TV while you get on with with your tasks, say, or sitting in companionable silence – or brainstorming – with a friend or partner. So whether you’re sharing with housemates or your family, be inspired by these ways to carve out a workspace in your home.
Finding room for a home office can be tricky, but slotting a desk and chair into a corner is not only possible, it can also be advantageous. Having a workspace in a communal area can be a brilliant way to spend time with your family – the kids doing homework or watching TV while you get on with with your tasks, say, or sitting in companionable silence – or brainstorming – with a friend or partner. So whether you’re sharing with housemates or your family, be inspired by these ways to carve out a workspace in your home.
Exploit dead space
Look around your home and see whether there’s anywhere you could slot in a desk – or even just a shelf. This area by the back door allows the owner to keep an eye on children playing in the garden and tend to dinner while getting plenty of work done. Also check out your landing for possible spots in which to tuck a desk.
Look around your home and see whether there’s anywhere you could slot in a desk – or even just a shelf. This area by the back door allows the owner to keep an eye on children playing in the garden and tend to dinner while getting plenty of work done. Also check out your landing for possible spots in which to tuck a desk.
Build into the fabric of a living room
Placing a desk to one side of this living room immediately transforms it into a multi-purpose space. The half shutters reduce glare for anyone working on the computer, but still let light into the room. The orange accents link the office chair to the rug and cushions, helping the work station feel integral to the room.
This idea could also work with a shelving unit, with some sections given over to a laptop space and file storage, and the rest of the shelves filled with books, photos and personal treasures.
Renting? See how to squeeze a workspace into your temporary home
Placing a desk to one side of this living room immediately transforms it into a multi-purpose space. The half shutters reduce glare for anyone working on the computer, but still let light into the room. The orange accents link the office chair to the rug and cushions, helping the work station feel integral to the room.
This idea could also work with a shelving unit, with some sections given over to a laptop space and file storage, and the rest of the shelves filled with books, photos and personal treasures.
Renting? See how to squeeze a workspace into your temporary home
Work in the background
With the chair and sofa facing away from the desk, this workspace falls into the background. Family or housemates can do their own thing while still spending time together. The table could also double as a good homework spot at weekends.
See more of this house in the Cotswolds
With the chair and sofa facing away from the desk, this workspace falls into the background. Family or housemates can do their own thing while still spending time together. The table could also double as a good homework spot at weekends.
See more of this house in the Cotswolds
Incorporate a dedicated piece of furniture
Is it a sideboard or is it a work station? This cleverly designed, bespoke cupboard has a desk for a laptop and cupboards that happily hide away files and other office paraphernalia. It’s quick to access, so busy home workers can make the most of every available minute, or quietly tap away when others are watching TV, and when it’s time to relax or socialise, it can all be hidden from sight in a trice.
Check out the clever use of space in this Victorian flat
Is it a sideboard or is it a work station? This cleverly designed, bespoke cupboard has a desk for a laptop and cupboards that happily hide away files and other office paraphernalia. It’s quick to access, so busy home workers can make the most of every available minute, or quietly tap away when others are watching TV, and when it’s time to relax or socialise, it can all be hidden from sight in a trice.
Check out the clever use of space in this Victorian flat
Make use of existing furniture
If you don’t need a formal office set-up, see whether you could use any of the seating and surfaces already in your home. This chaise longue could be a great spot for woking on a laptop, with a side table doing the job of a more formal desk. And there’s little need to rearrange the room once family or housemates descend.
If you don’t need a formal office set-up, see whether you could use any of the seating and surfaces already in your home. This chaise longue could be a great spot for woking on a laptop, with a side table doing the job of a more formal desk. And there’s little need to rearrange the room once family or housemates descend.
Venture into the bedroom
A master bedroom can be a great spot in which to slot a home office, as it’s often the biggest of the bedrooms, but usually a quiet space. Choose a slimline desk or fit a shelf to the wall. If you have a bay, this can be a great way to make use of it, with a shelf custom-made to slot in without encroaching on the room.
A master bedroom can be a great spot in which to slot a home office, as it’s often the biggest of the bedrooms, but usually a quiet space. Choose a slimline desk or fit a shelf to the wall. If you have a bay, this can be a great way to make use of it, with a shelf custom-made to slot in without encroaching on the room.
Section off with curtains
This neat idea could work in an alcove in any room. With a desk and chair to match the rest of the furniture and built-in shelves above, it’s the perfect integral work spot. Long curtains, neatly tied back during office hours, soften the space and can easily be closed to put work away once the day is done.
This neat idea could work in an alcove in any room. With a desk and chair to match the rest of the furniture and built-in shelves above, it’s the perfect integral work spot. Long curtains, neatly tied back during office hours, soften the space and can easily be closed to put work away once the day is done.
Spread everyone out in one room
This set-up is perfect for larger households with different interests. There’s room for everyone to do their own thing without feeling as if they’re on top of each other: mum, dad or older siblings can do their homework relatively undisturbed while keeping an eye on the little ones.
This set-up is perfect for larger households with different interests. There’s room for everyone to do their own thing without feeling as if they’re on top of each other: mum, dad or older siblings can do their homework relatively undisturbed while keeping an eye on the little ones.
Consider a mezzanine
If you have a mezzanine – or could have one built in – this is a great way to work a home office into a busy home. There are so many good things about this study area: you can still hear the rest of the goings-on in the house, though separated from the main living space, there’s a view to the outside, and it can be shut off as a guest room thanks to the addition of curtains and a sofa bed.
TELL US…
Have you managed to carve out a dedicated office space in your home? Share your tips and photos in the Comments below.
If you have a mezzanine – or could have one built in – this is a great way to work a home office into a busy home. There are so many good things about this study area: you can still hear the rest of the goings-on in the house, though separated from the main living space, there’s a view to the outside, and it can be shut off as a guest room thanks to the addition of curtains and a sofa bed.
TELL US…
Have you managed to carve out a dedicated office space in your home? Share your tips and photos in the Comments below.
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Hide a home office in plain view by choosing living room-style furniture. This desk and chair set-up doesn’t scream office, yet it’s the perfect spot for a laptop. The chaise is a nice little spot for your partner, housemate, friend or child to keep you company while you work, too.
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