Designing a small office space at home might not be easy as you might end up having a home office in the bedroom or finding yourself figuring out to fit your office in a closet.
Office space in your living room might sound like a great idea, it can be tricky to pull off, but not impossible.
So here are some tips and ideas on how you can make this work for you!
Best Home Office Space in Living Room Ideas
If you're considering turning your living room into an office space, just remember that it's all about the approach. You don't want to make it feel like you've crammed a workspace into your home.
How do I combine living room and office?
Combining living room and office space together can be a great way to have everything you love in one place. First of all, the space you have for your living room is going to determine how much or how little office space you're going to need.
The key to designing a functional office in the living room is adding furniture that serves multiple functions, such as storage and seating areas. In addition to that, consider adding various lighting sources to keep the space bright, colorful and pleasing.
The living room is one of the most important rooms in your home because it's used for relaxing, entertaining, and spending time with family. So when you decide to turn this area into an office space, make sure you don't take away from its warm, cozy feel by adding lots of bright colors or soft lighting.
Here are some helpful tips to combine living room and office space:
- Choose a desk with wheels so it can be easily moved around as needed;
- Use an ottoman or stool instead of a chair to save floor space;
- Find a way to store your office supplies out of sight, such as under the bed or behind curtains;
- Try using plants as dividers between different activities to keep the room feeling open and inviting;
- Use curtains or blinds to control the amount of lighting coming through the windows.
How do I turn my formal living room into an office?
A formal living room is a room that is generally used for formal occasions and gatherings. That means it needs to be timeless, classy, and comfortable. If you're planning on turning this into an office space, then here's what you need to do:
- Keep it sleek and stylish: Most of the times, a formal living room has clean lines and simple profiles. It's not too busy or colorful. So go for furniture that has clean profiles with crisp lines and nothing more than two colors. Don't add too much pattern to the room as this can take away its formal look.
- Use smart colors: Look for colors that are commonly found in your home and try to stick with them, such as neutrals or lighter colors, golds and silvers. You don't want anything too loud or contrasting in here.
- Use very few patterns: In a formal room, it's best to be safe and use only one or two patterns. These can be in the furniture fabric or in accessories. It's also important that these patterns are quite small and subtle -- nothing too bold or large scale. Also keep the designs simple and timeless, preferably a printed design rather than a busy pattern.
- Use storage wisely: This is one of the most important tips, as using storage space in a living room can be challenging compared to an office space. Make sure you use storage space smartly and add lots of it all around, especially for items that are necessary but not very attractive, such as paper piles and printers. Also, choose storage options that have a sleek look and blend in with your furniture.
How do I create a workspace in a small living room?
Small living rooms are very tricky to work with because you don't want to make your room look too small by adding bulky office furniture.
If your living room is too small for an office, then you can make it work by using components in the best way possible. The trick here is to be creative and use all available space in a smart way. Here are some tips:
Decide what needs to stay and go: If the area is really cramped, there's no point in keeping anything that is not very important. In such a space, it's better to keep only what you need the most and use the rest of the room for your workspace.
Storage options: Look for furniture with built-in storage as this can be very helpful in small living rooms. For example, you could go for an ottoman coffee table with compartments to store papers and files, or bookcases with storage space in the base. You could also go for a desk that has several hidden drawers.
Lighting: If possible, make sure you use overhead lights instead of lamps as these can take up too much room. Use track lights if there's no other option.
Bookshelf placement: Arrange your bookshelves in a way that you can work around them. For example, if they are on one side of the room, try to place your desk on the other side near an outlet for your computer.
Furniture arrangement: This is probably the most important tip as this will determine whether or not your office will work with the rest of your living room. Look for furniture that doesn't take up too much space and can be pushed away or tucked under when it's not in use. Find a desk that doesn't take up too much floor space so that it can fit in nicely among all of your furniture. You can also use a divider to section off an area for your office so you don't have to keep moving things around.
Use blinds: This is another great tip for blocking out light and creating privacy in small spaces. One good option is using Roman shades that cover only part of the window and leave enough room for light to filter in.
In a small space, it's best to keep a clean and simple look so nothing dominates the room. Don't go for colorful wallpaper or too many accessories. The trick is to use small pieces that still look good and don't crowd the room.
How can I hide my desk in my living room?
Hiding your desk in a living room can be tricky, especially if you're using furniture that was not designed to function as storage space for office supplies. However, it's possible to hide your desk with the right kind of furniture and by using smart solutions.
Use a divider to hide your desk
A divider is often used in living rooms and bedrooms as a room divider, but it can also be used to create an office nook. Place the screen behind where you want to hide your desk.
Use an open bookcase
An open bookcase with glass fronts works very well as a divider between the office area and the rest of the room. This is a good option if you want to turn the office area into a separate room or an open-concept office so that your guests can see everything.
Use an enclosed bookcase
For more privacy, you can use a closed bookcase as the divider between the office and living room areas. Place one of your smaller pieces of furniture such as a side table or couch behind it for more security.
Use a cabinet as the divider
If you want to hide your desk as well as store office supplies, then you can try placing a cabinet between your living room and office. To make this work, you need to mount it on wheels so that moving it is easy.
Be creative
If a divider, cabinet or bookcase is not what you have in mind for your home office, then consider being more creative. For example, you could try hiding the desk with furniture that is similar to it. You can also use the living room's color scheme and textures to help conceal the desk, which also helps create a more harmonious look.
Hiding your desk in a living room is possible when you use the right furniture. If none of these ideas are for you, then there are many other options to choose from.
Types of lighting for a home office in the living room
Lighting is very important when it comes to having a home office.
It's best if you have overhead lighting. If not, then try using a desk lamp.
If possible, use natural lighting in the room where your home office is located so that you won't feel too enclosed or confined.
It's also a good idea to have task lighting for when you're using your computer. This will ensure that you have a clear view of the screen and won't be straining your eyes.
Conclusion
Now you will be full of creative living room office spaces ideas to put into practice. You just need to find which office space design fits your needs in the best way without having you living in an office space.
I hope you have found the best office design idea for your living room from the pictures above.