Whether you run an internet business, need space to grade papers, or just take your work home with you most nights, you need a place to get your work done. For this reason, many new homes are being constructed with small rooms meant to be used as office space. But for those who already own homes and don’t want to sacrifice a spare bedroom, or don’t have bedrooms to spare, home office space is often wherever there is available table space.
Using the kitchen table as an office has its drawbacks, and if you’d like to reclaim your breakfast space, consider moving your home office to the closest. No, really! You don’t have to waste a whole bedroom and you get to have dinner at the table again without worrying about spills on your laptop.
Converting a closet to an office is so easy, it only takes a weekend. This clever hide-a-room gives you a quiet, designated space to get your work done without distraction. Once you’ve finished your work, you can just shut the door. It’s a great way to bring functionality to unused storage space.
Choose a Closet
The first thing you’ll want to do is pick a closet. Assess the storage situation in your home. If the front hall closet is full of boots, coats, and umbrellas that probably isn’t going to be the best place for an office. Try to select a closet where there is little stored, or what is stored there could be easily relocated to the attic or garage. Your closet must also be large enough to accommodate a desk.
If you have two closets in the bedroom, could you condense the contents into just one? This is also a good opportunity to sort through your things and donate any old clothes and get rid of anything you haven’t usedin a while.
Prepare the Space
So once you’ve chosen the perfect closet that will become your office, go ahead and clear it out. If there is a closet rod, you will want to take that out. Remove any shelving that would get in the way of a desktop or chair space. Shelves high in the closet should stay; it will save you the trouble of installing new shelves for office storage.
At this point, if you find there isn’t an outlet close by, call an electrician to wire an outlet in the closet. You will need to be able to plug in for maximum productivity. Next, think about the doors on the closet. Do you want to keep them? Keeping them allows you to conceal the space when it is not being used, and can also mean extra storage.
However, if you remove the doors it can add extra dimension to the room and make your office seem more open. You could also install a rod with a great curtain if you want the best of both worlds.
Personalize your Office
After your closet is prepped and ready to go, you can start to have fun with the closet. You should differentiate the space by painting it a different color than the rest of the room or applying interesting wallpaper. Closet space is small so you can be bold, use a crazy color or loud print without overwhelming the whole room. If you have a desk that will fit in the space, go ahead and move it in. If not, it’s very easy to create a simple, functional desk.
What’s great about building your own desk is that you can customize it to fit your office! Filing cabinets are essential in every office. Buy two, each three drawers high. Filing cabinets can be spray painted to match, or even covered with wallpaper. Once you’ve got your cabinets in order, measure the depth and length of the closet.
Take a trip to the hardware store and ask them to cut a piece of wood board with your measurements. Once sanded and painted this board will rest on top of the filing cabinets and make the perfect desktop.
Accessorizing for Maximum Productivity
Besides the desk, there are a few things you will need for your closet office. A good chair is essential. Make sure your chair can be adjusted for the height of your desk. If you plan on closing the doors on your office, your chair should be able to fit in with the door closed. Lighting is also really important. Bring in a great desk lamp that creates a lot of light. Don’t forget in addition to your computer, you will also need to bring in your printer and office supplies. Invest in some decorative boxes, folders, and containers.
Because the space is so small, keeping it neat and organized is important. If you decided to leave the closet doors on, take advantage of the extra wall space by attaching corkboard or pegboard to the inside of the doors. Just take a look at some of these great closet offices for inspiration for your project.
This article was written by Erie Construction.
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