Home offices are becoming an essential part of modern working life. Whether you have the flexibility to telecommute, you’re a freelancer, or you just need to put in extra time on a project, it’s helpful to have a dedicated work space (that isn’t just your laptop on your kitchen table).
The biggest challenge to creating a home office is space. If you don’t have the luxury of a dedicated room for your office, you have to carve out a nook. In either case, though especially with nooks, storage is key. Get inspired by these spaces and use these tips to create your own expertly organized home office.
Try Open Shelving with Hidden Storage
The easiest way to access everything you need is with open shelving. The drawback is that can look messy and cluttered, and you don’t necessarily want to put all your essentials on display. This office handles that issue beautifully with open shelving and a large bookcase that contains a variety of baskets and magazine files that keep documents and supplies out of sight but close at hand. Take a lesson from this room and buy files, baskets, and boxes in multiples so that your space has a clean, uniform look. Also, stick to one look per level, like a row of baskets, or a row of magazine files.
Via Better Homes and Gardens
Add Pegboard Vertical Storage
Pegboards are a versatile, inexpensive option for vertical storage, especially in a small space. You can easily switch up the layout and add or subtract items without putting new holes in the wall or buying additional shelving each time your needs change. Also, by keeping items like files, pencil cups, and other office supplies off your desk, you keep your work space uncluttered, which is especially important in small home offices. Hanging clipboards allow you to keep to-do lists and calendars in easy view, and it also allows you to display and rotate a collection of art prints.
Via White House Black Shutters
Repurpose an Armoire
For a space that feels more home and less office, store your work supplies in an armoire instead of a file cabinet. If you don’t have a dedicated office (with a door that closes), this option allows your work space to blend more seamlessly into the rest of your home. Armoires can be pricey, so if you’re trying to create a home office on a budget, check out local flea markets for a piece that you can rehab with paint and hardware. You can also customize the inside with dividers and containers for all your files and supplies.
Go Monochromatic
Choosing one main color for your home office, like white in this space, has the magical effect of making everything look even more organized than it actually is. The sleek, hardware-free cupboards and drawers set a modern tone, so even though the open shelving is filled with magazine files, the fact that they’re all white (with few greys mixed in) continues the clean, orderly look. For a similar effect, opt for one neutral tone throughout, and buy one style of file box for all your items.
Via Est
Opt for Glass-Front Cupboards
Glass-front cupboards in your kitchen allow you to show off items like your favorite glassware, a collection of vintage cookbooks, heirloom dishes, and more. In your home office, glass-front cupboards allow you to do the same thing, but with pieces like sculptural items and books. If you’re able to design a custom office, glass-front cupboards have a similar effect of open shelving, but more glam. The entire contents of your office probably aren’t worthy of display, though, so if you’re creating a built-in unit, make sure to incorporate some drawers or cupboards that provide hidden storage.
Via Style Me Pretty
