Small Home Office Design Ideas

Color, Furniture & Layout Ideas for Small Home Offices

A cozy, practical home office can help remote workers stay focused and productive while on the job. However, carving out enough space for a desk, chair and other work equipment can be difficult for those living in tiny houses and apartments. By choosing the right furniture and decor to fit your compact layout, you can create a stylish, efficient and comfortable small home office design.

Overview

In this post, you’ll find suggestions and tips about:

Choosing and Measuring Your Office Space

Before you start shopping for desks and file cabinets, you’ll need to decide where to place your small home office layout. An unused guest room, attic or basement would be an ideal option, especially if your job requires you to take conference calls and attend virtual meetings. If a spare room is unavailable, you can set up shop in a quiet living room or bedroom corner.

Once you choose a private, distraction-free spot for your small home office, measure the area to figure out how much space you’re working with. Find the dimensions of the floor and walls to learn how much room you have for furniture and decor. If you’re adding your office to an existing design, be sure to leave about five to ten inches between your workspace and the other furniture.

Small Home Office Work Essentials

Selecting furniture and decor to fit your limited layout is the next step in designing a small home office. Basic furnishings for tiny offices usually include a small desk, a sleek chair and a compact storage unit. Comfort and efficiency are key when choosing the right furnishings for this space, so explore pieces that help you feel relaxed while providing enough room for all your work tools.

Depending on your job, you may need extra room for things like a second computer monitor, a printer or a shredder. Taking advantage of vertical space is a smart way to add space-saving storage to a small space. Use floating shelves and other wall-mounted racks to maximize storage and avoid overcrowding your small office.

Office Furniture

Since you’re working with a limited amount of space, your small home office ideas should put functionality first. On top of keeping your work area organized, the comfy furniture you choose should have a practical design to help your small space feel bigger. Consider the following home office furnishings to your tiny setup:

Desks

Sleek yet spacious work tables are the best desk for small spaces. While the wide surface provides ample room for laptops or small desktop computers, their narrow profiles prevent these desks from taking up excess floor space. A corner desk with built-in drawers and cubbies is another well-fitting choice that offers additional home office storage.

Chairs

A comfy, supportive office chair is another essential piece of small home office furniture. Since you’ll likely spend hours sitting at your work desk, the right seat should have plenty of cushioning and an ergonomic design. Consider a desk chair with features that promote good posture and back support, such as adjustable height leavers, padded headrests and lumbar pillows.

Shelves

Maximizing vertical storage is essential when it comes to furnishing a small-scale office space. Consider a tall home office bookshelf over a wide, low-profile model that takes up extra room. Or, try a smaller home office wall unit that lets you stow books, work files and office supplies along the walls.

Cabinets

Filing cabinets let you keep important documents and paperwork organized and within reach. Also, these pieces free up desktop and drawer space to give you more room for electronics and other office supplies. Shorter home office cabinets can even fit beneath your desk, making it easier to keep your compact layout neat and tidy.

Accents

You can also find smaller accent pieces that provide practical storage for your home office design. A small side table could serve as a coffee and snack station or a handy surface for a printer. Meanwhile, a low-profile storage ottoman can hold extra office supplies while providing a comfy spot to sit or kick up your feet.

Decorating Your Office

One of the benefits of working from home is that it gives you the freedom to decorate your space however you like. Whether you want to promote a glamorous vibe with contemporary style or a more laid-back layout with plenty of homey touches, you can create a home office design that reflects your unique personality.

Home Office Colors

Establishing a color scheme for your furniture and decor is a perfect way to set the mood for your office. Neutral hues tend to be the best colors for home offices since they give your workspace a soothing and simple look. Consider white office furniture like small white desks to brighten up your office space. Or, try a rich brown, beige or dark wood desk for a more sophisticated feel.

Pairing the subtle shades in your office with more vivid tones can balance your design for a relaxing yet energizing vibe. Offset a gray desk and silver cabinet with a pink desk chair for a gentle hint of color. Consider painting a gold, red or orange accent wall to bring a burst of energy to the space. Or, set up a blue office chair, a green desk and black and cream wall decor for a calm and cool aesthetic.

Light Fixtures

Adequate lighting is essential when working from home. If your space has windows, you can lift the shades and enjoy plenty of natural light as you work. However, if you’re drafting documents, flipping through manuals and taking video calls in a windowless office, you’ll need light fixtures and task lamps to illuminate the layout.

Decorative Accents

Once all the essential, productive pieces are in place, you can start adding personal touches to your home office to make the space your own. Incorporate items that make your office feel warm and cozy. Or, add a few fixtures that bring a more upbeat, dynamic vibe to the layout. Whatever your preferences, these decor pieces let you showcase your unique sense of style.

Line the edge of your rustic desk with pictures of your loved ones or hang up a cool piece of wall art to inspire you when you’re in a creative slump. Roll out a small rug to add a splash of color and a touch of softness to your space. You can also add lush greenery like silk florals and houseplants to liven up the layout.

Designing a comfortable and productive workspace can be difficult in small spaces. However, with the right furnishings and a little creativity, you can create an efficient, organized home office that fits your limited layout and suits your unique style.