Small Bedroom Office Ideas That Make You Feel Right at Home
Having a tiny space can be challenging, but not always. With some planning, any home space can work as a home office. Even in a small bedroom, you can still get the same privacy as a large room and design it to serve the room’s other functions. No, you don’t need a dedicated home office.
I should know because I have a home office that doubles as a guest room. I’ve also learned a thing or two about design solutions. I worked in interior design for six years and have additional sales experience with home office products, including top products from Herman Miller and Knoll.
So, how can you create a functional home office setup without sacrificing the room’s function? Let’s dive into some small bedroom office ideas you can consider for your space.
Small Bedroom Home Office Ideas
Like most anything, it’s about a blend of function and form.
How to Create a Functional Space
One question to ask about a bedroom office is whether the room is a daily bedroom or a spare room, such as a guest room or, as is the case in my home, a snoring room. Nope, I’m not going to tell you who snores in my home. (It’s me.)
A Home Office Used in a Daily Bedroom
In this scenario, your bedroom and desk pull double duty and have equal priority. You need full access to your bed every day. Sure, some modular systems let you switch back and forth, but let’s just assume you won’t be investing in that.
This means you need a bed you can easily access. This means deciding whether you want to access the bed from both sides or only one, and what size bed works best when using this room as a home office. Keep in mind the bedroom’s purpose, such as whether you will sleep two people. (This could mean access from both sides.)
Once you have figured those elements out, you have an idea of how much room to accommodate your desk. Typically, in home office design, I say that nothing is more important than productivity. Still, if it is in a bedroom, you need to sleep, too. So you may need to strike the right balance to get everything you want, including the desk and bed size.
For some ideas of home office desk types, check out this article.
A Home Office in a Guest Bedroom
This gives you more wiggle room to prioritize your desk, chair, and work storage. You can choose to use a sleeper sofa in the room, and today there are many that work excellently. If you find any bed with memory foam, you are well on your way to a comfortable night’s sleep. You can also replace a cheap mattress with a memory foam one separately, as long as you can still close the bed up.
Furniture Placement
For both the daily and guest bedrooms, your desk position matters for concentration. Of course, we have to address the elephant in the room: the bed. It is the largest item. But remember that we’re talking about your income, the thing that made your home possible, so be sure you feel comfortable working and can really get things done there so you can sleep well in that bed at night.
Here are ways to ensure it.
Natural Light
Access to natural light aids in mood and productivity, which is why I list it at the top of home office lighting ideas. Positioning a desk facing a window may seem appealing at first, and it can work, but it can also be distracting. Then again, you may not have many layout options, so you can work around this by using window shades or sheers behind your monitor while you work. Since the purpose of a home office is – you guessed it – productivity, opt to face a neighboring wall if possible.
If the light is too bright, use sheer curtains or blinds to filter it and reduce glare. Also, keep the bedroom’s nighttime privacy needs in mind. Sheers may still leave users exposed.
Air Flow
If your room has a breeze, use it. If you have AC, you can either maximize it or sit somewhere else to avoid getting too cold or having wind blow in your face.
Feng Shui
If you follow feng shui, you’ll probably hear about the preference to either face a door from the front or side so nothing feels like it is creeping up on you. If you agree, you can always place a mirrored element against the wall. Even a glass picture frame can work. In feng shui, there are often workarounds that let you place items where they function best.
Desks Near the Front Door
You may consider placing the desk near the front door, but that can also be quite surprising when someone enters. If possible, try to give yourself as much room as you can from visitors. If you don’t have that luxury, you can still put up a plant or room divider as something the visitors see first to slow them down visually, even physically.
Working in a Corner
If you place the desk in a corner, choose one with plenty of legroom. Here are my top picks for corner desks.
Modular Desks
Modular furniture is a game changer for home offices. A modular desk can fold out, such as dropping down from a wall, opening up as a cabinet, or folding out from a console like a fan. Some also come attached to Murphy Beds, and many include plenty of storage. The size, modularity, and storage access can determine where you place it.
Selecting a Desk
Whether you use a built-in, stand-alone, or wall-mounted desk, it should be comfortable enough for real work – the type when you are up against a deadline and quickly accessing binders and other materials you need. It should also feel comfortable, even for basic tasks. I find a 55″ width works well, and I’m 6’1″.
Depth is often a critical decision to ensure an office bedroom works for both purposes. Though 28″ is common as a depth, so is 24″, and honestly, I’m not sure I need the full 28″. You’ll want to maintain an ideal chair depth from the screen, but a slim monitor stand or wall mount can do the trick for a small desk. A secretary’s desk can add extra storage. Regardless of width or depth, I suggest going as large as possible to ensure you feel like a boss, not a student.
Keep the desk’s color, style, and materials in mind, and make sure it looks good in the bedroom. A bedroom needs to feel comfortable, so you will benefit most from working from that front. Plenty of desk materials and styles can match, along with desk accessories.
Also, consider your storage needs. If your desk has built-in storage, then great, but if you plan to use a rolling file drawer under the desk, your seating will get tight at 55″ wide desks or shorter. You will likely need to store it elsewhere. One creative solution is to use it as a nightstand at night and a side table near your desk during the day. Just roll it over or leave it where it is, either way.
Repurposing a Closet
One desk area worth seriously considering is to repurpose the closet if the room is a guest room. Since it is seldom used, you might as well make use of it while still allowing for creative clothing storage.
Your Desk Chair
Your office chair is an incredibly important choice to ensure comfort over long hours. Your best option is an ergonomic design. And keep in mind that generally speaking, the more you pay for a chair, the longer it lasts. So if your budget allows, choose the higher-quality option.
Adding Comfortable Seating
You can help maintain productivity or multi-use aspects of the space with comfy seating, such as a sleeper sofa or lounge chair, but even if you don’t have the floor space, don’t worry. Check out my article on the best reclining office chairs, especially the ones with footrests! You can kick back and relax in a minimal footprint.
Storage: Making the Most of Your Walls
Walls are among the most underutilized areas of a room, especially the higher ones. I’ve covered several ways to adopt shelving in a home office. Consider tall storage or wall shelving, along with low cabinets, to keep all your office supplies close at hand. A pegboard can also be a creative solution, and many are quite attractive.
Room Design
As I said earlier, you’ll want to base your office design on the bedroom’s design, and the room should feel like a bedroom. You can still design the space to show the right elements during Zoom calls, but the overall scheme should still work together. If you have vintage furniture, shoot for a vintage desk, etc. You can go full Elle Decor.
In my article on paint colors, I lay out some popular ones used in most room styles. I also dive deeper into a few of those styles if needed:
I also have an article on paint colors that improve productivity. Yes, they do exist and still allow for a calming bedroom. Neutral tones are one example.
Let’s Put This Topic to Bed
And there you have it, my guide to creating a bedroom office in a small bedroom. By following these basic steps, you’ll have an office you can truly work in while still allowing for the room’s other purpose: sleeping. Both are vital.
Again, if you use the room daily, make room for both tasks equally. If the room is a guest room, I suggest a sleeper sofa so that you can work at your desk or on the couch and have plenty of office space daily.
If you need any help with the decorating process, then I have an article just for you.
Happy working!