How to Turn an Awkward Corner Into a Home Office
Transform an unwanted corner into an office alcove with these nifty ideas
An awkward corner can stick out like a sore thumb, drawing eyeballs away from the central elements of your home. But it doesn’t take much to turn an odd nook from awkward to awesome, especially when it comes to ideas for a charming work corner. A shoebox workspace can be a welcome addition to any home, serving as a slice of office indulgence for office-goers, freelancers and remote collaborators in equal measure.
Create an under-stairs office triangle
If you have a staircase that is flanked by a wall on one side, you can turn the space underneath into a cosy cubbyhole. Line slim wooden shelves along the top half of the wall and install a desk that hugs the entire length of your wall. Create handy storage below your desk and add an elegant chair that can swivel around to serve as extra seating for guests. It’s important to keep your palette consistent with the surrounding living area to ensure a seamless decor style.
Notice how the ebony-and-ivory design in this home extends from the staircase right into the under-stairs office triangle. The oak-toned floor and spotless white floor skirting also echo the colour scheme.
Browse more under-stairs area for design ideas
If you have a staircase that is flanked by a wall on one side, you can turn the space underneath into a cosy cubbyhole. Line slim wooden shelves along the top half of the wall and install a desk that hugs the entire length of your wall. Create handy storage below your desk and add an elegant chair that can swivel around to serve as extra seating for guests. It’s important to keep your palette consistent with the surrounding living area to ensure a seamless decor style.
Notice how the ebony-and-ivory design in this home extends from the staircase right into the under-stairs office triangle. The oak-toned floor and spotless white floor skirting also echo the colour scheme.
Browse more under-stairs area for design ideas
Add a transitional corner
The beauty of a transitional corner is that it can don various hats: it can work as a worktop on weekdays, as a mantel on weekends and as a breakaway coffee niche throughout the week. It is proof that in this age of laptops and pick-me-up devices, you can provision any surface to turn into an improvised work desk.
This home showcases how a transitional area can be tied into the overall look of a room.
The beauty of a transitional corner is that it can don various hats: it can work as a worktop on weekdays, as a mantel on weekends and as a breakaway coffee niche throughout the week. It is proof that in this age of laptops and pick-me-up devices, you can provision any surface to turn into an improvised work desk.
This home showcases how a transitional area can be tied into the overall look of a room.
Convert a cabinet
Many cabinets come with a hollow open storage space that can be transformed into a bespoke secretary desk. Consider elongating your work space by adding an additional hinged countertop over the bottom of your storage cavity. This will ensure extra desk space and legroom.
This white secretary double-barrels as a showcase and a study, showing that utility can be presented in an aesthetic guise.
Many cabinets come with a hollow open storage space that can be transformed into a bespoke secretary desk. Consider elongating your work space by adding an additional hinged countertop over the bottom of your storage cavity. This will ensure extra desk space and legroom.
This white secretary double-barrels as a showcase and a study, showing that utility can be presented in an aesthetic guise.
Sandwich a work zone
Lay a mini office desk between a wall and a column, and create a unique floor-to-ceiling storage statement. Take the old-world route and use deep shelves in traditional wooden hues, or pick contemporary shelves that channel a modern aesthetic.
This bijou office is characterised by a single wooden desk that can also work as an open shelf for storage or display. The space is minimalist yet hardworking, promising a role change the moment you swing your laptop away, much like the transitional corner featured earlier.
Lay a mini office desk between a wall and a column, and create a unique floor-to-ceiling storage statement. Take the old-world route and use deep shelves in traditional wooden hues, or pick contemporary shelves that channel a modern aesthetic.
This bijou office is characterised by a single wooden desk that can also work as an open shelf for storage or display. The space is minimalist yet hardworking, promising a role change the moment you swing your laptop away, much like the transitional corner featured earlier.
Is it a bookshelf? Is it a study? Is it a storage unit?
Here is another good example of how a work space can be carved between a column and a wall. This work zone is a modish riff on the previous illustration, with floating shelves, a metallic desk and a laid-back stool forming the crux of the design.
Here is another good example of how a work space can be carved between a column and a wall. This work zone is a modish riff on the previous illustration, with floating shelves, a metallic desk and a laid-back stool forming the crux of the design.
Cut a floating desktop
An awkward corner by the window can make for a perfect mini office, because you’re bound to get a fair amount of light streaming in. Have a desk surface customised to the shape and size of your corner so that you can exploit every square inch of unused space.
In this clever corner, a custom-cut plank of wood serves as the desk and a good old box chair completes the picture. Notice how the space basks in sunlight, ensuring that the need for artificial lighting is minimised.
An awkward corner by the window can make for a perfect mini office, because you’re bound to get a fair amount of light streaming in. Have a desk surface customised to the shape and size of your corner so that you can exploit every square inch of unused space.
In this clever corner, a custom-cut plank of wood serves as the desk and a good old box chair completes the picture. Notice how the space basks in sunlight, ensuring that the need for artificial lighting is minimised.
Place a corner-pointed wall desk
A wall desk that fits perfectly against your wall is a bow to space-saving design. There are dozens of corner table designs available in the market, but you can always have one custom-made to your specifications to fill an odd corner.
This low snow-white corner table is complemented by a flame-orange chair. Point the chair against the wall when you’re not working and you have a corner table fit for a spectrum of other activities.
A wall desk that fits perfectly against your wall is a bow to space-saving design. There are dozens of corner table designs available in the market, but you can always have one custom-made to your specifications to fill an odd corner.
This low snow-white corner table is complemented by a flame-orange chair. Point the chair against the wall when you’re not working and you have a corner table fit for a spectrum of other activities.
Craft an office alcove
A long and narrow desk would be a perfect partner for a small wall recess, offering you a matchbox office on extended work nights. Make a focal point of your space by sprucing it up with a piece of artwork, a flowerpot and a slender lamp.
Celebrate every corner of your home and gift yourself a little more room within your existing space.
Read more:
How to Squeeze an Office Into Your Home
10 Home Offices That Will Compel You to Work From Home
Tell us:
Which corner of your home would you like to turn into an office corner? Tell us in Comments below.
A long and narrow desk would be a perfect partner for a small wall recess, offering you a matchbox office on extended work nights. Make a focal point of your space by sprucing it up with a piece of artwork, a flowerpot and a slender lamp.
Celebrate every corner of your home and gift yourself a little more room within your existing space.
Read more:
How to Squeeze an Office Into Your Home
10 Home Offices That Will Compel You to Work From Home
Tell us:
Which corner of your home would you like to turn into an office corner? Tell us in Comments below.
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