I’m sharing 10 small home office ideas and tips to help freelancers, entrepreneurs, and anyone who is working from home have a sexy, yet functional home office.
When you search online for design advice, you usually hear tips to convert a guest bedroom into an office, convert a garage into a home office, or my favorite–choose a garden room for an office. But these ideas don’t help if you live in a small space or a studio apartment like I do.
My ideas for a small home office actually work because they've certainly helped me work better and feel better in my home office. Some of these ideas may seem a little odd but I guarantee, they work!
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Small home office ideas
Mug vs coffee cup
White coffee cup
1. Buy a white coffee cup
Working from home is not always glamorous. But drinking out of a white coffee cup makes me feel fancy while I’m working. It makes me feel like I just flew first class to stay overnight in a NYC hotel before going to a morning business meeting. A white coffee cup creates a mood. I use my other mugs with sayings and images on them for times I’m not at work. Working with a white cup changes my whole mindset when I’m working.
How to choose a work lamp
The best work lamps
Desk with a lamp
2. Let’s talk about lamps
Instead of buying a cheap desktop work lamp, get something that makes a statement and aligns with your work. It will elevate the look and feel of your home office. If you don’t know what makes a sexy lamp, look at offices on TV and see the types of lamps they use for the sets. I guarantee they’re sexy.
Overhead lights can be too bright and harsh. A dim, moody, cool, sexy light lets you work at all hours of the night even if your partner is trying to sleep.
Hiding cables
Hiding cables in cabinets
3. Hide your cables
Cables are not attractive, they create clutter, and attract dust. Go wireless or conceal as many cables as you can. I love my new desk in my studio because it has this secret cable space to hide electronics and our router all behind closed doors.
Drill with a special drill bit
Using a drill bit to create the hole for cables
Threading a cable through the desk
Before this desk, I had a desk where I used a special drill bit to create a hole for my cables. Search 2-inch desk grommet and hole size kit on Amazon, you’ll find what you need. The kit comes with a bit and also rubber pieces that fit nicely in the hole to hold your cords.
Cable tie
Tying cables together
Tie the cables
If you can’t drill into your desk, you can still neatly gather cables together with a tie or put them in one cable sheathing to make it look like one very thick cable. Even using a zip tie is better than doing nothing.
Work desk with a laptop
4. Necessities only
Keep only what you need in your workspace. It’s easy to clutter up a desk. For many of us, our productivity is linked to the space around us. If your space is free of unnecessary clutter, you may find that you’re more productive.
Desk accessories
No desk accessories
You don’t need those cute desk accessories. It becomes unnecessary clutter on my already small desk. We can get by with a computer and a notebook. Ask yourself: Do I need 25 pens on my desk?
Clean, empty desk
5. Store your laptop
This simple idea makes a world of difference. Put your laptop away when it’s not in use, especially if you can’t close the door to an office. At the end of the business day, put away all of your business tools.
It’s essential for our mental health to have work/life separation. By putting everything away you are signaling to your brain that the work day is over until tomorrow. If you have a desktop, simply shut it off. In my old apartment, I used to work at my kitchen table and whenever I walked by the table my brain would immediately flash to some work-related issue.
Drawer for storage
Baskets for storage
Now my husband and I have empty drawers right next to our workspace for this purpose. If you are short on drawers, use a basket you can tuck away.
Soy candle
6. Lovely smells
Use candles (soy for better health) or an aromatherapy diffuser with essential oils. Be careful if you have pets.
Organized drawer
Organized work items
How to organize your work drawers
Home office drawer organization
7. Optimal organization
When we moved recently, I was able to consolidate a whole home office in a room into a single drawer. It’s best to have closed storage space for a harmonious and cohesive home office aesthetic.
Working close together in a small space
8. Communication
Communicate your needs to your partner, co-worker, and even your child. Be open and honest so you can both be happy and productive in the space. No one will feel trampled on or resentful when communication is open.
Vase of flowers
9. Sight for sore eyes
Give yourself something pretty to look at. Perhaps that’s a gallery wall or flowers. If you want to hang something and you can’t put holes in the walls, use Command hooks or strips.
Desk humidifier
Korean desk humidifiers
10. Skincare
How weird is this tip? Step it up in your home office so you can get hydrated skin while you work. I’m absolutely not joking right now. Korean desk humidifiers are totally a thing! You’ll be happy when your workspace feels like a mini-spa while you’re working.
Small home office ideas
Small home office ideas
Those were my 10 weird home office ideas for small spaces. Let me know in the comments if anything, as odd as it was, inspired you! Or, let me know how you make your tiny office space or desk feel welcome, productive, and beautiful.
