Study Nooks: How to Squeeze in a Home Office Anywhere
Author: Jenny Drew Date Posted:25 August 2014
If you’re resting happily in the knowledge that you don’t have the space to do your paperwork, even if you wanted to, then perhaps look the other way, and certainly don’t pass this bit of information on to your partner. As the study schemes show below, you can always find a space to squeeze in work at home. Behold, the ‘study nook’!
Whether you’re looking for a dedicated home office, a powerful family command centre, a writing zone, or a place to ‘cook the books’, it can be easier than you think to make room for work. Mustering the motivation, however, is a whole different ball game.
Whether you’re looking for a dedicated home office, a powerful family command centre, a writing zone, or a place to ‘cook the books’, it can be easier than you think to make room for work. Mustering the motivation, however, is a whole different ball game.
Make sure you use the cupboard space wisely. For example, build storage up to the ceiling to make the most of wasted space. The upper shelves here are filled with square baskets to stash away stationery and other bits and bobs, while a filing cabinet is the place for papers. Choose a compact stool that can be tucked under the desk when it’s time to close the door on the subject.
We all know that keeping laptops, wires and a stack of papers in the bedroom is bad news when it comes to finding time for relaxation and getting a good-quality night’s sleep. If the bedroom is the only place for a home office, be inspired by these homeowners and shut the door on work at night – no-one will ever know!
Under the stairs…
Make the most of the space under the stairs by turning it into a room of its own. If a home office is going to be more valuable to you than a statement armchair or clutter-filled console table, fill the space with a desk and valuable storage.
Built-in alcove shelving rises up from under the staircase to above it, leaving ample room for books and papers in this basement home office. For an awkward space like this, don’t feel limited to custom storage solutions – pretty boxes stacked neatly can be just as practical and can tuck into all manner of nooks and crannies. Just remember to employ good task lighting when natural light is limited.
Make the most of the space under the stairs by turning it into a room of its own. If a home office is going to be more valuable to you than a statement armchair or clutter-filled console table, fill the space with a desk and valuable storage.
Built-in alcove shelving rises up from under the staircase to above it, leaving ample room for books and papers in this basement home office. For an awkward space like this, don’t feel limited to custom storage solutions – pretty boxes stacked neatly can be just as practical and can tuck into all manner of nooks and crannies. Just remember to employ good task lighting when natural light is limited.
A more custom solution, this sleek study nook has bags of style. Sing loud and proud about the extra room you’ve created at home. A dark band around the entrance defines the office zone, providing a visual cue for the work to begin. With your home office on display, choose to tuck your storage into the riser to keep any clutter out of sight.
Work with your existing design features. A partial-floating staircase is an impressive architectural feature in this cottage, so it would be a shame not to show it off. The designers built in a desk using the same material and offset it with a simple stool.
Discover more inspiring ways to use the space under your stairs
Discover more inspiring ways to use the space under your stairs
In an alcove…
Think about your lifestyle and home needs. An empty alcove could be a new walk-in closet, a reading zone or a small-but-perfectly-formed study nook. The owners used IKEA hacks to turn this space into an office, cutting a butcher block to size to make a desk to fit, and using one plank as an open shelf. Cabinets reach up to the ceiling providing overhead private storage.
Think about your lifestyle and home needs. An empty alcove could be a new walk-in closet, a reading zone or a small-but-perfectly-formed study nook. The owners used IKEA hacks to turn this space into an office, cutting a butcher block to size to make a desk to fit, and using one plank as an open shelf. Cabinets reach up to the ceiling providing overhead private storage.
Even if you don’t work from home regularly, a dedicated station to fly through the to-do list is essential in creating an organised home – and you don’t need a lot of space to make it work.
The beauty of narrow nooks like this is that it’s easy to have a custom piece of wood cut to fit and installed. Then all you need is a chair to kick it into action. If you don’t want to add extra shelving or block cabinetry, try mounting floating shelves or shadow boxes to house your bits and bobs. You could even hang clipboards to keep your papers organised and off the desk.
In the kitchen…
The kitchen is often the place where the family gravitates towards, so it makes sense to incorporate a work station from which you can organise your and the kids’ social calendar while dinner is in the oven.
The kitchen is often the place where the family gravitates towards, so it makes sense to incorporate a work station from which you can organise your and the kids’ social calendar while dinner is in the oven.
As it turns out, a dedicated home office room can fill up with unwanted papers, unnecessary clutter, and more often than not, is used as a free-for-all space to fill with old magazines, clothes and laundry, sports equipment, you name it. With this in mind, think about what you really need out of a home office. Is it just a nice view and a laptop? If so, create an office nook in the kitchen and utilise your home office room for a space of your dreams – yoga room, anyone?
Out of thin air…
Now this is a topnotch secret command centre. With so much being paperless these days, often a computer is all you need. And the more storage you have for clutter, the more clutter you will store. We love the space-saving pull-out chair that blends with the surrounding TV cabinet. There is also a full-size filing cabinet under the TV, but we won’t tell anyone.
Now this is a topnotch secret command centre. With so much being paperless these days, often a computer is all you need. And the more storage you have for clutter, the more clutter you will store. We love the space-saving pull-out chair that blends with the surrounding TV cabinet. There is also a full-size filing cabinet under the TV, but we won’t tell anyone.
When space is an issue, consider a pull-out ledge to offer plenty of workspace for a little bit of space. Teen girls can enjoy a dedicated area to do their homework and simply slide it away when it’s time to play.
Shutting the door on your day’s work isn’t such a bad idea in the literal sense. In fact, transforming a cupboard into an office might just be the most valuable use of storage space you can muster.
In this renovated worker’s cottage, the door next to the pantry opens to reveal a hidden office. Architect Danny Broe used a contrasting pink shade on the inside of the cupboard to define the concealed study and included a small window to provide essential light.