10 Mini Home Offices Behind Closed Doors
When everything you need for a fully functioning office fits inside a cupboard, working from home becomes a whole lot easier
Jo Simmons
23 November 2019
Houzz UK Contributor. I have been an interiors journalist since 1995, writing several books on design and numerous features for glossy homes mags over the years. For Houzz, I cover decorating ideas and trends and interview designers and professionals for their insights to create in-depth features. My favourite pieces to write, though, are Houzz Tours, as I love exploring and learning about real homes. Call me curious — or nosy!
Houzz UK Contributor. I have been an interiors journalist since 1995, writing several... More
Working from home, even if just for a few hours a week, is becoming far more commonplace, and this means a workstation, however small, is a vital component of a contemporary home. But if you don’t have the square footage for a separate office and feel a paper-strewn desk in your living room or kitchen will permanently remind you of work, what can you do?
Start by checking out these inspiring designs, which squeeze a fully functional office into a cupboard. This is home-working at its most functional and fun, and when you’ve finished for the day, simply close the doors on working life and unwind.
1. Make use of any space
It’s surprising how little space you need for a home office. As long as the desk is large enough to accommodate a laptop, then it can function as a place to work.
This office is incredibly dinky, but it has room for a laptop, lamp and storage. The shelf is fitted deliberately high to prevent working at the small desk from feeling claustrophobic.
It’s surprising how little space you need for a home office. As long as the desk is large enough to accommodate a laptop, then it can function as a place to work.
This office is incredibly dinky, but it has room for a laptop, lamp and storage. The shelf is fitted deliberately high to prevent working at the small desk from feeling claustrophobic.
2. Try this recipe
Perfectly designed, this office is a study (no pun intended) in what can be achieved in a small space. It takes up little room, but delivers a desk, shelves and drawers. It has an electrical socket located conveniently above the desktop, while lighting fitted beneath the shelves removes the need for a lamp.
Perfectly designed, this office is a study (no pun intended) in what can be achieved in a small space. It takes up little room, but delivers a desk, shelves and drawers. It has an electrical socket located conveniently above the desktop, while lighting fitted beneath the shelves removes the need for a lamp.
3. Slot in a freestanding desk
Although building in a desk is often the go-to option for any office in a cupboard, if space allows, consider slotting in a freestanding design for more of a cosy study vibe.
This smart example is complemented by built-in shelving above, but, thanks to its leggy silhouette, it helps this office to feel uncluttered and as spacious as possible.
Out-of-the-ordinary desk ideas
Although building in a desk is often the go-to option for any office in a cupboard, if space allows, consider slotting in a freestanding design for more of a cosy study vibe.
This smart example is complemented by built-in shelving above, but, thanks to its leggy silhouette, it helps this office to feel uncluttered and as spacious as possible.
Out-of-the-ordinary desk ideas
4. Hide it all away
This desk belongs in a tiny, multi-tasking studio apartment that’s been fitted with ingenious space-saving designs.
The desk includes drawer space beneath and shelves above, served by a high electrical socket, so a printer can be positioned there. Instead of a bulky chair, there’s a neat stool, which fits underneath the desk when not in use.
This desk belongs in a tiny, multi-tasking studio apartment that’s been fitted with ingenious space-saving designs.
The desk includes drawer space beneath and shelves above, served by a high electrical socket, so a printer can be positioned there. Instead of a bulky chair, there’s a neat stool, which fits underneath the desk when not in use.
5. Reflect for depth
Use mirrors, installed on the office’s back wall, to create an illusion of space. This makes working at a compact desk feel more open, bright and spacious.
This idea probably works best with a computer that has a large screen, so it will hide your reflection and prevent you from being distracted.
Use mirrors, installed on the office’s back wall, to create an illusion of space. This makes working at a compact desk feel more open, bright and spacious.
This idea probably works best with a computer that has a large screen, so it will hide your reflection and prevent you from being distracted.
6. Decorate the doors
Make a feature of folding doors that conceal desk space by opting for a bold shade or high-gloss finish. When open, they frame the work area with energy and colour, making sitting at the desk feel more dynamic and less workaday.
If your doors open outwards, rather than folding as these ones do, you could always just paint the insides for an unexpected splash of brightness to greet you when you start work.
Make a feature of folding doors that conceal desk space by opting for a bold shade or high-gloss finish. When open, they frame the work area with energy and colour, making sitting at the desk feel more dynamic and less workaday.
If your doors open outwards, rather than folding as these ones do, you could always just paint the insides for an unexpected splash of brightness to greet you when you start work.
7. Think big
It’s tempting to imagine that an office in a cupboard is, by definition, a solution specifically for small, hard-working spaces. In reality, though, the cupboard concept works with any size of workstation and performs the same key role – that of cleverly concealing a desk and all its distracting work clutter behind streamlined doors.
Find a designer to create a home office for you
It’s tempting to imagine that an office in a cupboard is, by definition, a solution specifically for small, hard-working spaces. In reality, though, the cupboard concept works with any size of workstation and performs the same key role – that of cleverly concealing a desk and all its distracting work clutter behind streamlined doors.
Find a designer to create a home office for you
8. Borrow kitchen design ideas
This neat and nifty workstation features the same units as the kitchen it belongs within, creating a cohesive look. A roller door pulls down to conceal the desk space, helping the unit to blend in seamlessly.
This neat and nifty workstation features the same units as the kitchen it belongs within, creating a cohesive look. A roller door pulls down to conceal the desk space, helping the unit to blend in seamlessly.
9. Drop down
The most simple office in a cupboard can be created with a panel that conceals storage inside a niche and drops down to become a desktop. Just add chair!
The magic of multi-tasking furniture
The most simple office in a cupboard can be created with a panel that conceals storage inside a niche and drops down to become a desktop. Just add chair!
The magic of multi-tasking furniture
10. Slide over here
Bi-folding doors are often used to conceal a small office, but if space allows, sliding doors – as seen here – create a neater finish, with fewer handles needed and no vertical lines bisecting the wall once closed.
Read more:
10 Home Offices That Will Compel You to Work From HomeHow to Turn an Awkward Corner Into a Home Office
Tell us:
Like these nifty offices in cupboards? Share your thoughts in the Comments below.
Bi-folding doors are often used to conceal a small office, but if space allows, sliding doors – as seen here – create a neater finish, with fewer handles needed and no vertical lines bisecting the wall once closed.
Read more:
10 Home Offices That Will Compel You to Work From HomeHow to Turn an Awkward Corner Into a Home Office
Tell us:
Like these nifty offices in cupboards? Share your thoughts in the Comments below.
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Just designing our 'downsizing' townhouse for submission to Council and have put in a 1.80m x 2.10m glorified cupboard as my office. All my work is done on the computer and I generally work from A3 prints so I don't need the layout space of my current office (now purloined as the changed table for the grand-kids).
Our 'office' has just been moved into a cupboard and we love it! We have a tiny house that had no store space so have been focussing on efficient use of minimal space when we reno ..... and decided to put all things with wires in the same zone. Thanks to wireless we get out the laptop when we need to and work at the kitchen bench or lounge area. The cupboard is for storing and recharging and is where the modem/files and stationary live. We used some old cocktail cabinet doors. Still haven't got used to the phone ringing in there though ...... very Maxwell Smart :-)