Designing a Compact Office Space in Your Apartment

These days, having a home office space is more of a necessity than a luxury. Just about everyone has a computer nowadays. We all have bills to pay and documents we need to keep organized. Most single family homes have ample space for a home office. That is not always the case for apartment dwellers. Following are some ideas on how to create a compact office space in your apartment that will fit your needs.

Assess Your Space

First off, you need to assess how much total space you have to work with. Next, you need to determine whether you have a separate room to devote to your home office or if your home office will double as a living space or guest room. Most of us are tempted to put our computer in a corner of the bedroom and use the living room exclusively for entertaining. You don’t have to sacrifice the tranquility of your bedroom for office space. Whenever possible, it’s best to avoid combining your bedroom with a home office. The last thing you want to see when you lay down to sleep is a stack of bills staring back at you from your desk in the corner. That will certainly not help you get to sleep!

Create an Uncluttered Office Space in Your Living Room

One space-saving idea is to have your living room double as an office. A simple sofa table is a great starting point for a home office and will blend easily into any living room decor. Sofa tables are usually placed behind a couch, so they take up very little space. There are many styles of sofa tables to choose from. You will want to select one that has drawers for storing your desk supplies. You can also stow away your laptop when guests come over and no one will ever know that your sofa table doubles as a home office. A compact, stylish lamp placed on the corner of the table doubles as decor for your living space and lighting for your home office. Woven baskets placed underneath the table can hold your important documents neatly and look very contemporary. An offbeat, funky vase or hollow decorative sculpture placed at the opposite end of the table can hold your pens and pencils discreetly, while looking elegant and uncluttered.

Finally, select a stylish chair with locking casters that matches your overall decor. When guests come over, you can roll the chair into the living area, lock the casters for safety, and you have instant extra seating. When your guests leave, all you need to do is unlock the casters and roll the chair back over to your sofa table. Next, pull out your laptop and voila!  You have an instant home office. Creating a home office space does not have to be complicated. With a little creativity, you can create a home office that is compact and functional.