Home Office Shelving Ideas That Take Productivity to New Heights
In a previous article on tips for the best home office setup, I showed how the primary goal of a home office is to keep you productive. If you can’t stay focused, work efficiently, and grow in your job, that benefit of sauntering to work dressed like The Dude in the Big Lebowsky will end faster than you hoped, and that would be tragic. Still, jobs require stuff, and all those binders and documents need a home, regardless of how small your workspace is. Keeping reference materials and essential office supplies nearby ensures you have what you need as efficiently as possible. Here is where home office shelving can help.
Shelving is an easy and cost-effective way to increase storage and lets you grab what you need at a moment’s notice without requiring a lot of room. They also make more use of your room by maximizing the storage potential. Along the way, shelving can make the room look more elegant and professional while helping you achieve the benefit The Dude valued most: tying the room together. You will feel better in the room for improved productivity and be camera-ready whenever that next Zoom call hits.
Here are 14 office shelving solutions to help you maximize your workspace without cluttering it up. These options work for all sized rooms and desk spaces and can add beauty to your office to make you feel like the boss you are.
14 Home Office Shelving Ideas To Boost Productivity
This list of shelving ideas includes designs from tall to short and heavy to minimalistic. You’re sure to find a solution that keeps you efficient, offers the right amount of shelf space, and fits your color scheme. That’s right: these shelves have beauty and brains.
1. Let Floating Shelves Do All the Work
This excellent minimalist design option brings refined style to your space while also allowing for easy-to-access storage right above your desk. Though it works beautifully in a modern home office, you can find shelf designs that fit any taste.
Choose from open designs like floating shelves and pegboards or large, enclosed cabinets that reduce clutter. You can find the materials and colors to fit your style, whether you like glossy white versions, manufactured wood and solid wood, industrial metal, or shiny gold. You get storage for work binders, office essentials, a clock, plants, or motivational items to keep you going through the day.
2. Go Up, Up, and Away With Tall Shelving in Various Sizes
Why settle for just one or two floating shelves when you can use the entire wall? You will be surprised how much you can fit inside a tall shelf – especially near the ceiling. Put items along the top you use least and use a stool to access them whenever needed.
The adjustable shelves hold everything from books and office supplies to unique keepsakes and hobbyist collections. Some even come with deeper cabinet sections that you can use to store office equipment like a computer backpack, printer, extra office supplies, and other items like music records, photo albums, and pretty much anything else you can imagine.
3. Trim Things Down With a Tall and Narrow Shelf
If you don’t have enough room for wall-to-wall shelving, opt for a thin, freestanding shelf unit. You maximize your storage and wall space without cramping your room or style. These shelves are functional and aesthetically pleasing, helping you add just the right look and keeping go-to items nearby.
4. Get Creative With Modular Home Office Shelving
Modular shelving is the way to go if you want a more flexible storage option. This type of shelving allows you to customize your storage space by adding or removing shelves and cabinets based on your needs. Flip them horizontally or vertically; there’s no one way to use them. This also allows you to change up the look of the room quickly. The versatile design also offers plenty of options for different sizes and shapes of office items, making it perfect for small offices. With their broad range of materials, colors, and finishes, you can easily find a modular shelving system that fits your unique style.
5. Step Up to Ladder Shelving
This option adds a touch of creativity and intrigue to your workspace. These shelves are also easy to move. Place them on any wall space as needed to make the most out of every square foot in your home office. Choose a design with wooden shelves for a more DIY look.
6. Get Into those Corners With a Corner Shelf
These cleverly-designed shelves make use of overlooked corner spaces, providing storage without taking up valuable floor space. They turn an awkward corner into the perfect spot to store what you need.
Whether you have a small room with a corner desk or a spacious office, corner shelves are a smart solution for storing your office items stylishly and efficiently. They are also an easy solution for adding pops of color to your office space.
7. Minimalist Home Office Shelving
Minimalist shelving holds what you need but in a way that seems to (poof) disappear completely. Along the way, they add a touch of sophistication to your office. It works as a perfect, subdued backdrop for a minimal desk, offering more visual space for items you want to show off.
The key to the look is remaining as subdued as possible. The room will feel larger, and any items you display will stand out like the works of art they are. The more items match the tone of the shelving, such as your flooring, the better.
8. Get Two Benefits in One With Side Office Desk Shelving
If the room is especially small or you want to take your storage to a new level, use shelving on the side of your desk. You can choose from a wide array of desks that use shelving in their design, or you can design your own desk by incorporating shelving on each side at a relatively low cost. Store everything from books and folders to extra paper, decorative pieces, desk organizers, and paper clips. All are easy to access, making for a more productive workspace.
9. Maximize Every Inch With Built-In Shelving in Your Closet
A closet is a perfect place to access everything you need during a weekday and hide it all away when the day is over. A closet is a great place to take advantage of added floor space and can be so beautifully designed that you may prefer removing the doors entirely and keeping everything exposed.
Since you have side walls, you can create a built-in setup that maximizes storage and elevates productivity. Get as creative with it as you like. You will have ample room for storing it all. You can even fit a built-in desk in the design, saving you even more space. If you are looking for a home office remodel project, this is a fun one to take on.
10. Get Boxy with Cube Home Office Shelving
Cube office shelves are a game-changer. Their clever design provides ample storage and makes it easy for you to access your items. Just slide them in and out like a drawer. You can label the outsides to make accessing what you need faster and easier.
Cube shelving also creates a visually appealing atmosphere in your home office. Whether you need to organize documents and other office essentials or add clean storage for most anything in the home, these shelves have got you covered in plenty of styles, colors, and patterns to fit your needs. They are also low-cost, making changing them out to suit new tastes easy.
11. Maximize a Home-Like Aesthetic With Basket-Style Modern Shelving
Basket shelving is a solid choice if you are looking for office storage ideas with a natural twist. It works like cubed shelving but adds a warm, earthy look to the space. You can move them around quickly to fit changing work needs. Choose from tall designs that hide items away to short designs that keep items easily viewable. They also bring a natural smell that helps you feel more rooted in your room.
12. Go Natural With Rope and Wooden Home Office Shelving
Rope shelving with wooden shelves works as another natural option. They blend the same physically appealing benefits of basket shelving with the look of natural wood, all while bringing a minimalistic look. This type of shelving is best for smaller, go-to office supplies, decorative items, or small plants.
13. Display Everything in All Their Glory with Full Wall Shelving
If you have stacks of books and work materials cluttering your floor, go big! Assemble shelving to take up an entire wall for ample storage space. Having shelving behind you makes it possible to access items while you work a cinch, but any wall will work. If the shelves face your desk, you can display all your favorite items for added visual beauty during your day. You can also line the shelves along a side wall and position other office furniture, such as a sofa, in front of you, giving you easy access to favorite books and materials from your sofa and desk.
You really can’t go wrong. Adjustable shelves and various color and design options help you create a unique and glamorous office space that fits your style.
14. Pack It In With Alcove Home Office Shelving
Take advantage of irregular walls by using them to hang shelving. This solution lets you maximize your square footage, making odd parts of your home purposeful. You also have another clean option for a built-in system or minimalistic shelving, keeping the workspace neat for a less cluttered brain.