Fitting your home office into a small space

Not everyone has space for a large home office, but even a small space can become home to a comfortable compact home office. A “pocket office” can be easy to set up and need not take up space or lead to a major remodel.

One underutilised space which could double as the perfect office is the typical built-in cupboard. The hollow in the wall can be rebuilt to hold a built-in work surface, complete with bookshelves and filing spaces, and when not in use the cupboard doors can simply be closed to hide the entire office.

Furniture, accessories and art should blend in with the home so that the office does not look out of place in the home. If your desk, computer and filing cabinets must share space in the living room, the bedroom, the guest room or even the kitchen, then allowing them to blend in with rest of the room makes the office seem bigger and it will not seem out of place or awkward.

Space saving is key, wherever your office may be, so invest in good storage options. Consider buying rolling bins which fit under the couch or the bed, a cupboard with room for office supplies, and decorative boxes or file holders which accentuate the look of the room and do not stand out as plain storage boxes.

If you have some space behind your couch, use it if you do not have space in the rest of the lounge. Slide a narrow table behind it, and use this as an ornamental table when you aren’t using it as a desk. A foldable table works well for all spaces, and can be set up in moments when needed, and also quickly and easily folded up and packed away discretely.

A work space doesn’t have to be a desk: an extended shelf, a dining room table or a kitchen countertop can act as an office space when needed. Just make sure there are convenient plugs for a lamp or computer nearby, and any papers and office accessories are kept neat or hidden when not in use.

As a last resort, the bedroom can be used as an office, but try to keep it as compact and natural as possible. Try to allow the office space to blend in with the bedroom and not become a distraction when you are trying to rest in the bedroom.

If you plan to work from home permanently, make sure you have adequate home insurance. Should something happen to your home, you do not want to lose your livelihood as well as your house. Home insurance providers also offer content insurance and business insurance, so consider getting these as well, and know you are covered.

Please note that Direct Line does not control and cannot guarantee the relevance, timeliness, or accuracy of the article above.