Make working from home more efficient and enjoyable with small office ideas to suit any space. A compact home office workstation can be anything from a cloffice to a corner of the bedroom, living room, or dining room, or part of a finished basement or attic space.
From furniture choices to paint, wallpaper, lighting, plants, rugs, plants, storage, layout, and more, design your home office to echo the style of your interiors and decorate it in a way that makes you feel energized and focused.
Check out these small office ideas for inspiration.
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Try an L-Shaped Layout
This cozy L-shaped home office from Anita Yokota has a long, narrow worktop that offers plenty of room to spread out. It includes a cozy and casual daybed, built-in wall shelves for storage and display, and plenty of windows that flood the space with natural light.
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Build in a Secretary Desk
This petite home office from Caroline Andréoni Interior Design Studio in Paris is seamlessly built into a wall of custom cabinetry that occupies an entire wall of a 140-square-foot studio apartment in Paris. The secretary-style wall desk folds down when needed, and disappears when not in use.
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Paint Your Home Office Pink
Paint your home office your favorite color to personalize your workspace. This small but polished home office from O'Hara Interiors has fun girl boss vibes with its white, black, and millennial pink palette and glossy finishes.
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Choose a Small Desk
Save space with a small desk that's tailored to your needs. This Parisian home office from Space Factory tucked under the eaves of an old French building has a small desk that gets the job done without overwhelming the tight space.
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Hang a Whimsical Pendant
Mix practical and decorative elements to make your home office functional and inviting. This home office from Fantastic Frank includes a playful transparent glass bubble pendant light that practically disappears when not in use.
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Try a Wall-Mounted Desk
Save space with a wall-mounted desk. This streamlined home workstation from Cathie Hong Interiors consists of a tall wall-mounted wood and metal desk tucked into the corner, styled with books, photos, and objects.
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DIY a Closet Office
Ursula Carmona for Home Made By Carmona turned a closet off her living room into a functional home office. The small but functional cloffice has a built-in desk and storage painted in matte blue, shelves styled with knicknacks, and a modern pendant light that gives the tiny space some dimension.
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Repurpose the Vanity
If you find yourself needing to work from home but don't have a dedicated office space, one solution is to turn an underused bedroom vanity into a workstation. In this alcove from Sara Tramp for Emily Henderson Design, Fornasetti cloud wallpaper elevates the small space, and a wall-mounted sconce frees up desk space.
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Choose Design Classics
Create a stylish minimalist workspace by choosing key pieces with bona fide design cred. This home office bedroom combo from Fantastic Frank has a vintage-style wood desk, a midcentury modern desk chair designed by Verner Panton, as well as a USB-powered reedition of his classic 1969 Flowerpot lamp.
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Create a Shared Space
This split-level Parisian home office from Space Factory has a lower level with a narrow U-shaped work surface and a white pegboard on the wall for storage and display. Accessible by a ladder, the mezzanine level houses a second workstation, perfect for a work-at-home couple that doesn't mind being on top of one another.
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Set Up a Bedroom Office
This New York City apartment bedroom office from interior designer Alvin Wayne is tucked in front of the floor-to-ceiling windows in the bedroom, with a large plant that helps to visually divide the space from the adjacent bed.
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Occupy a Quiet Corner
A quiet out-of-the-way space by the back door of this Miami carriage house bungalow is the perfect spot for a home office. Calimia Home outfitted the light and bright space with a simple desk and chair in shades of white so that the workspace practically disappears into the background when not in use.
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Decorate With Plants
Plant lovers who might get a little lonesome working at home should consider inviting an oversized plant to keep them company. In this small home office from Emily Henderson Design, a large cactus has presence without overwhelming.
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Create a Hybrid Space
Turn a large dressing room or walk-in closet into a hybrid home workspace. There's nothing office-y about this small home office from Ashley Montgomery Design, with its soft pastel shades, wall of floral illustrations, and antique, classical style furniture and decor.
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Create a Minimalist Office
If you think best with a clear desk, create a minimalist workspace. This compact home office from Cathie Hong Interiors keeps it crisp and graphic with tones of black and white and functional, minimal decor, plus some natural wood tones thrown in for a bit of warmth.
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Wallpaper the Ceiling
This little home office nook from Maestri Studio has a built-in desk, layered lighting, framed art, and wallpaper on the ceiling to make it feel tailored and integrated into the rest of the home.
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Make a DIY Mood Board
This home office from Lobster and Swan is furnished with a simple vintage desk and chair and an Anglepoise desk lamp. A DIY mood board that can be personalized and changed on a whim provides inspiration and motivation without having to pass the safe-for-work test.
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Use Soothing Beige Tones
Not everyone loves having a workstation in the bedroom. But the home office area in this spacious bedroom from Becca Interiors is designed to fit into the surroundings, in the same warm wood and beige tones as the rest of the room.
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Hang a Wallpaper Accent
This built-in home office work station from Neva Interior Design has plenty of closed storage as well as floating shelves for display. A wallpaper accent defines the space and makes it feel like it's dressed for work.
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Warm Your Office With Color
Office interiors can be sterile and uninspiring, but your home office is a blank slate that can be warmed up with color. This home office from Sarah and Sons Interiors has salmon pink walls, bold color accents, and a traditional wood desk facing one of the room's many windows for a homey feel.
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Install a Barn Door
Save space in a small home office with a rustic barn door. JL Design managed to squeeze in a comfortable desk and a floor-to-ceiling bookshelf complete with a ladder that functions like a mini home library in this compact space.
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Choose a Glass Desk
You can help make a small home office feel lighter and airier by using transparent furniture like a glass desk or clear polycarbonate armchair, like this sleek space from Yael Weiss Interiors.
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Accessorize Your Workspace
Decorate your home office with personal knicknacks, souvenirs, or anything else that inspires you. This small home office from interior Anita Yokota is packed with touchstones and inspiration.
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Hang Patterned Wallpaper
Send yourself a visual cue that work should be fun using bold wallpaper. Emily Henderson Design gave this home workspace a lighthearted feel with playful check plaid wallpaper.
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Glamorize Your Workspace
Elevate a small home workspace with glamorous touches. Jules Interiors mixed glossy finishes, mixed metals, and a colorful photograph to give this desk corner a polished feel.
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Include Guest Seating
If you take client meetings in your home office, include seating for a guest. This home office from interior designer Rosanna Bassford of Eggshell Home has rich shades of gray on the walls and cognac leather upholstered seating that add warmth and comfort.
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Use Transparent Furniture
Such is the nature of our 24/7 work culture that even country houses are often equipped with a dedicated workspace. AHG Interiors installed a transparent desk and chair on the mezzanine bedroom in this Catskills home to create a stealth spot to log in.
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Steal a Dining Room Corner
Many people use the dining room table as a de facto home office. If you've got the space, consider keeping the dining table clear and tucking your desk in a corner of the dining room instead, like this French apartment from Neva Interior Design.
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Hang Art Over the Desk
Define a home workspace with a colorful painting or a framed photograph, like this office corner from Neva Interior Design.
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Occupy the Landing
This home office from JL Design is located on the landing in front of a window with a wide-open view that keeps the small space from feeling too confined. A fluffy rug, a vase of flowers, and a cactus sitting on the floor add comfort and coziness.
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Install Black-Out Shades
Install black-out shades that will allow you to control light and privacy. This small home office from interior designer Rosanna Bassford of Eggshell Home has a black-and-white palette, contemporary furnishings, and an assortment of framed photos and prints on the walls for a personal touch.
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Add a Tropical Feel
Casa Watkins Living converted an empty bedroom into a colorful a home office with tropical wallpaper, a red shag Moroccan-inspired rug, and plenty of built-in and display storage.
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Build a Corner Workstation
Free up floor space in a small home office by installing a narrow built-in workspace beneath the windows. Jenn Pablo Studio optimized space with an L-shaped worktop that includes a picture window with a view of the outdoors.
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Soften With Decor
This home office from Jessica Langrange Interiors has soft decorative touches like floral wallpaper, a glittery sequined pillow on the wingback office chair, and a curvy desk. Vases of flowers, framed photos, and sentimental objects make it feel personal and tailored.
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Arrange a Gallery Wall
This small home office space from Lindye Galloway Studio + Shop is furnished with a simple modern desk, chair, and vintage-inspired lamp. A wraparound gallery wall of graphic prints and a mirror make it feel seamlessly integrated into the rest of the home's design.
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Utilize Vertical Space
This long and narrow L-shaped home office workspace from Anita Yokota takes advantage of vertical space with a row of upper cabinets that provide open and closed storage. The interior designer installed a Velux light tunnel in the ceiling to bring in some natural light to the windowless space.
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Use a Muted Palette
Muted tones will create a serene environment that keeps distraction at bay. Leclair Decor located this neutral home office in the front of the home, far from the kids' main play area to help with noise control.
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Create a Double Workstation
Create a side-by-side workstation with a symmetrical layout to save space. AHG Interiors chose matching chairs and mirrors for a harmonious feel.
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Treehouse
Mezzanine home offices will provide a sense of separation between work and home and can be a great space-saving solution. This mezzanine home office from Maestri Studio has a treehouse feel thanks to the window framing and view of the treetops.
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Set Up a Guest Room Office
This home office guest room from Leanne Ford Interiors splits the room into zones for working and sleeping thanks to a simple white curtain that runs the width of the wall. Black paint defines the office side of the room.
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Use Under-Stairs Space
This home workstation from Space Factory is tucked in a small alcove under the stairs. A simple desk with metal legs that echo the staircase design and a black painted chair make it feel more built-in, while custom built-in storage beneath the stairs keeps files and clutter out of sight when not in use.
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Convert a Walk-In Closet
Turn a large walk-in closet into a small home office with a desk and a chair. This petite home office from Leanne Ford Interiors has an effortless hideaway feel, with vintage furniture and an oversized bulletin board wall that keeps inspiration at hand.
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Double Space With Mirrors
This small home office space from Marie Flanigan Interiors looks twice its size thanks to a view-doubling floor mirror leaned up against the back wall.
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Use Cohesive Colors
Keep an open-plan home workspace from looking out of place by using the same color palette as your interior. Mid City Interiors added an office corner that blends seamlessly with the rest of this bachelor pad's classic pairing of navy and dark brown.
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Add a Shabby Chic Feel
Give your home office a shabby chic feel with white walls, weathered wood, and upholstered furniture. This light and airy home office space from Marie Flanigan Interiors is furnished with a French country-style wood desk, a brass desk lamp, and an upholstered armchair for a shabby chic feel.
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Commandeer an Alcove
Turn an alcove into a small home office. Jessica Lagrange Interiors added a wall of bookshelves and a peninsula desk that allows for easy access and exit, and allows a view of the rest of the room. A vintage-style bar cart is located just around the corner for after-work drinks.
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Built-In Shelving
Look for hidden storage opportunities when designing a workspace. This under-stair alcove home office from Marie Flanigan Interiors has built-in open shelves on the left side that keep the above-desk area free for a wall sconce and a painting.
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Add Texture
Hang a textile above your desk instead of a framed piece of art to add texture and help to slightly dampen noise and echoes. Jessica Langrange Interiors hung Moroccan wedding blanket above the desk in this small home office.
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Consider Layout
To prevent glare, try positioning your desk so that the window is perpendicular to it on the wall to your right or left. This compact home office designed by Keyanna Brown for Emily Henderson Design has clean modern white furniture and natural accents like a leather desk chair, natural woven basket storage, and a large fluffy sheepskin rug.
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Try Horizontal Stripes
Painting the wall with horizontal stripes or hanging similar wallpaper will make a room feel wider and therefore more spacious, like this home office from Karen B Wolf Interiors.
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Add an Accent Wall
Add personality to your home workstation with an office accent wall. Maestri Studio hung colorful jungle-inspired wallpaper behind the computer monitor and paired it with a multicolored striped upholstered desk chair to energize the otherwise all-white space.
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Paint the Walls Matte Black
If you find it hard to focus when working outside the office, try painting the walls in a soothing, grounding matte black like this home workspace from Leclair Decor.
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Hang a Mirror
If your desk faces a wall, try hanging a mirror above it so that the bottom is just above your eye level while seated. This will give allow you to look up and catch the view from behind you without having to stare yourself in the face, like this small home office workstation from Fantastic Frank.
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Drench the Walls and Ceiling
Color-drench a pocket-sized home office for a cozy feel. House 9 Interiors is painted the walls, built-ins, trim, and ceilings in a medium-toned shade of blue-green in this London workspace.
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Finish the Basement
If you don't need to close the door to focus on your work, consider carving out a home workspace that is part of a larger or open-plan room. Michelle Berwick Design tucked this compact home office into a corner of a multipurpose finished basement.
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Reimagine the Laundry Room
Carve out space in a quiet room like a laundry room to create a minimalist home office. Kate Marker Interiors created a small home office work station in this spacious laundry room, with plenty of built-in storage that can be used to hide laptops and chargers when not in use.
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Put a Desk in the Corner
Dedicate a corner of the living room to a small home office if you don't have space anywhere else. Desiree Burns Interiors chose a pale pink upholstered office chair that helps the office corner blend in with the overall color palette of the room.
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Combine With a Murphy Bed
Create a home office guest room with a built-in Murphy bed cabinet and a small desk, like this sleek space from Louis Duncan-He Designs. Earth tones create a soothing feel.
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Place a Desk Behind a Sofa
Utilize overlooked square footage to create a small workspace. Emily Henderson and Priscilla Frost placed a desk and office chair behind the sectional sofa in this basement family room that turns the space into a home office by day.
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Repurpose the Sunroom
Convert a corner of your sunroom into a home office that will brim with natural light. Emilie Fournet Interiors styled this London space with a small desk, a velvet swivel chair, and a cane room divider to define the space.
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Swap Out Your Nightstand
Skip the nightstand and install a desk instead. Emily Henderson Design chose a live edge tabletop with hairpin legs and used a large table lamp that doubles as a bedside light. You can add hairpin legs to an old door for a budget-friendly option.
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Hang a Whiteboard
Hang a whiteboard or a chalkboard on the wall to give you a place to plot your world takeover from the comfort of your small home office. Marie Flanigan Interiors hung a large whiteboard that reflects light and views in this narrow space.
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Try a Writing Desk
Thrift and antique stores are full of desks that have been left to languish and can be picked up at a reasonable price.
Becca Interiors set up an antique writing desk and chair in the corner of this traditional bedroom that is perfect for paying bills, writing poems, or working from home in a pinch.
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Add a Vase of Flowers
Brightening your apartment workstation with a small vase of your favorite flowers can make work feel like less of a chore. Interior designer Alvin Wayne chose vibrant pink roses that pop against the neutral color palette of this New York City space.
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Include Boho-Style Touches
Decorate your home office to match the style of your interiors. Blanco Bungalow added boho design touches to this bright home office with a Moroccan rug and trailing plants.
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Utilize Overlooked Spaces
If you live in an older home with a quirky layout, look for hidden spaces where you can set up a small home workspace. Candace Mary Interiors chose a pass-through space between the bedroom and bathroom that fits a small desk and chair.
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Mix Old and New
Mix old and new furniture and decor for a lived-in feel. Studio Peake paired a vintage desk with plenty of built-in storage with a tall table lamp and a modern chair upholstered in floral fabric in this London bedroom office.