37 Small Home Office Ideas That Are Both Stylish and Functional

Make working from home more efficient and enjoyable with small office ideas to suit any space.

A compact home office workstation can be anything from a cloffice to a corner of the bedroom, living room, or dining room, or part of a finished basement or attic space. 

From furniture choices to paint, wallpaper, lighting, plants, rugs, storage, layout, and more, check out these small office ideas for inspiration.

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Warm Your Office With Color

Pin Design by Sarah and Sons Interiors / Photo by Sarah Szwajkos

Office interiors can be sterile and uninspiring, but your home office is a blank slate that can be warmed up with color.

Sarah and Sons Interiors mixed salmon pink walls, bold color accents, and a traditional wood desk facing one of the room’s many windows for a homey feel.

Decorate With Plants

Pin Emily Henderson Design / Photo by Sara Ligorria-Tramp

Create a mood-boosting atmosphere with office-friendly plants. 

Using plants to decorate will give new life and greenery to a space.

In this small home office, a large cactus has a friendly presence without overwhelming the small space.

Hang Art Over the Desk

Pin Neva Interior Design / Photo by Agathe Tissier

Define a home workspace with a colorful painting or a framed photograph.

The artwork will give your eye something to focus on that doesn’t involve office equipment.

Mix Old and New

Pin Studio Peake

Mix old and new furniture and decor for a lived-in feel.

Studio Peake paired a vintage desk with plenty of built-in storage, a tall table lamp, and a modern chair upholstered in floral fabric in this colorful London bedroom office.

Add a Tropical Feel

Pin Casa Watkins Living

Convert a spare bedroom into a colorful home office.

Hang tropical wallpaper, lay out a red shag Moroccan-inspired rug, and include plenty of built-in and display storage for a modern boho-style feel.

Drench the Walls and Ceiling

Pin House 9 Interiors

Color-drench a pocket-sized home office for a cozy feel.

House 9 Interiors painted the walls, built-ins, trim, and ceilings in a medium-toned blue-green in this London workspace and decorated with books and plants.

Create a Hybrid Space

Pin Ashley Montgomery Design

Turn a large dressing room or walk-in closet into a hybrid home workspace.

There’s nothing office-y about this small home office, with its soft pastel shades, wall of floral illustrations, and antique, antique furniture and decor.

Hang Patterned Wallpaper

Pin Emily Henderson Design / Photo by Sara Ligorria-Tramp

Send yourself a visual cue that work should be fun using bold wallpaper.

Try a playful check plaid wallpaper in a neutral color for a dynamic feel that isn’t distracting.

Combine With a Murphy Bed

Pin Louis Duncan-He Designs / Eymeric Wildling Photography

Create a home office guest room with a built-in Murphy bed cabinet and a small desk.

An olive green wood stain and dark flooring add earthiness to this bright space.

Soften With Decor

Pin Design by Jessica Langrange Interiors / Photo by James Yochum

Make your home office feel cozy with soft decorative touches. 

Jessica Lagrange Interiors complemented floral wallpaper, a wingback office chair, and a curvy desk with vases of flowers, framed photos, and sentimental objects to make the space feel personal and inviting.

Try a Living Room Desk

Pin Desiree Burns Interiors

Place a desk in a corner of the living room if you don’t have space elsewhere.

Desiree Burns Interiors chose a pale pink upholstered office chair that helps the office corner blend in with the overall color palette of the room.

Add an Accent Wall

Pin Design by Maestri Studio / Photo by Jenifer McNeil Baker

Add personality to your home workstation with an office accent wall.

Maestri Studio hung colorful jungle-inspired wallpaper behind the computer monitor and paired it with a vibrant desk chair to energize the otherwise all-white space.

Double Space With Mirrors

Pin Design by Marie Flanigan Interiors / Photo by Julie Soefer

Decorate with mirrors to bounce light and double views.

In this space, a tall floor mirror is leaned up against the back wall for a casual look.

Try a Wall-Mounted Desk

Pin Design by Cathie Hong Interiors / Christy Q. Photo

Save space with a wall-mounted desk.

This streamlined workstation consists of a tall wood and metal desk tucked into the corner, styled with books, photos, and objects.

Paint Your Home Office Pink

Pin Design by O’Hara Interiors / Spacecrafting Photography

Paint your home office in your favorite color to personalize your workspace.

This small but polished home office from O’Hara Interiors has fun girl-boss vibes with its white, black, and millennial pink palette and glossy finishes.

Try an L-Shaped Layout

Pin Anita Yokota

Maximize a long and narrow home office with a slim worktop that spans the longest wall.

Install a daybed at the far end to give you a place to read, nap, or hang out during off hours.

Build in a Secretary Desk

Pin Design by Caroline Andreoni Interior Design Studio / Photo by Laura Jacques

If you live in a studio, consider a built-in desk for a seamless look.

Caroline Andréoni Interior Design Studio maximized space in a 140-square-foot studio apartment in Paris with a secretary-style wall desk that folds down when needed, and disappears when not in use.

Choose a Small Desk

Pin Design by Space Factory / Photo by Herve Goluza

Save space with a small desk.

This Parisian home office from Space Factory tucked under the eaves of an old French building has a petite desk that gets the job done without overwhelming the tight footprint.

Hang a Whimsical Pendant

Pin Fantastic Frank

Mix practical and decorative elements to make your home office functional and inviting. This home office from Fantastic Frank includes a playful transparent glass bubble pendant light that practically disappears when not in use.

Layer Light Fixtures Good lighting is one of the keys to making your small home office comfortable.

Even if your workspace is flooded with natural light, be sure to incorporate task lighting for working and ambient light fixtures such as sconces and pendants that can be adjusted for different times of day and changes in the weather.

DIY a Closet Office

Pin Ursula Carmona of Home Made By Carmona

Repurpose a spare closet into a small but functional cloffice.

This one has a built-in desk and storage painted in matte blue, shelves styled with knickknacks, and a modern pendant light that gives the tiny space some dimension.

Repurpose a Vanity Table

Pin Sara Tramp for Emily Henderson Design / Photo by Tessa Neustadt

If you find yourself needing to work from home but don’t have a dedicated office space, turn a bedroom vanity table into a workstation.

Define a small alcove space with whimsical wallpaper and free up desk space with a sconce.

Choose Design Classics

Pin Fantastic Frank

Create a stylish minimalist workspace by choosing key pieces with bona fide design cred.

This home office bedroom combo from Fantastic Frank has a vintage-style wood desk, a midcentury modern desk chair designed by Verner Panton, as well as a USB-powered reedition of his classic 1969 Flowerpot lamp.

Create a Shared Space

Pin Design by Space Factory / Photo by Herve Goluza

Create a shared home office in a space with a mezzanine level.

This small split-level Parisian home office from Space Factory includes a lower level with a narrow U-shaped work surface and a wall-mounted pegboard for storage and display.

Accessible by a ladder, the mezzanine level houses a second workstation, perfect for a work-at-home couple that doesn’t mind being on top of one another.

Set Up a Bedroom Office

Pin Design by Alvin Wayne

Make a small bedroom office more functional by creating zones.

This New York City apartment is tucked in front of the floor-to-ceiling windows in the bedroom, with a large plant that helps to visually divide the space from the adjacent bed.

How to Zone a Bedroom OfficeIn addition to plants, you can separate work and sleep zones using a folding screen or furniture like a bookcase that can double as storage.

Occupy a Quiet Corner

Pin Design by Calimia Home / Photo by Karla Garcia

Turn a quiet corner into a home office.

This out-of-the-way space by the back door of a Miami carriage house bungalow is outfitted with a simple desk and chair in shades of white that allows the workspace to practically disappear when not in use.

Embrace a Minimalist Look

Pin Design by Cathie Hong Interiors / Photo by Amber Thrane

If you think best with a clear desk, create a minimalist workspace.

This compact home office keeps it crisp and graphic with tones of black and white and functional, minimal decor, plus some natural wood tones thrown in for a bit of warmth.

Wallpaper the Ceiling

Pin Design by Maestri Studio / Photo by Jenifer McNeil Baker

Add personality to a small home office nook by wallpapering the ceiling.

Touches of gold complement dark brown wood accents and creamy wall paint in this cozy space.

Make a DIY Mood Board

Pin Lobster and Swan

Tack a DIY mood board on the wall that can be personalized and changed on a whim.

Display whatever provides inspiration and motivation without worrying that it has to pass the safe-for-work test.

Use Soothing Beige Tones

Pin Becca Interiors

Not everyone loves having a workstation in the bedroom.

Design it to fit in with the rest of your decor, like this neutral space decorated in warm wood and beige tones.

Hang a Wallpaper Accent

Pin Neva Interior Design / Photo by Agathe Tissier

Define an open home office workstation with a wallpaper accent.

Neva Interior Design chose a graphic pattern to complement white walls and furniture.

Install a Barn Door

Pin JL Design / Photo by Leslee Mitchel

Save space in a small home office with a rustic barn door. JL Design managed to squeeze in a comfortable desk and a floor-to-ceiling bookshelf complete with a ladder that functions like a mini home library in this compact space.

Barn Door ConsiderationsA space-saving sliding barn door provides privacy when needed.

Keep in mind that a sliding barn door is less effective at keeping noise out than a door with more of an airtight close if you live in a busy house.

Choose a Glass Desk

Pin Yael Weiss Interiors

You can help make a small home office feel lighter and airier by using transparent furniture like a glass desk.

Store clutter in a closet or a chest of drawers.

Accessorize Your Workspace

Pin Anita Yokota

Decorate your home office with personal knickknacks, souvenirs, or anything else that inspires you.

This small home office from interior Anita Yokota is packed with touchstones and inspiration.

Glamorize Your Workspace

Pin Jules Interiors

Elevate a small home workspace with glamorous touches.

Glossy finishes, mixed metals, and a colorful photograph give this desk corner a polished feel.

Include Guest Seating

Pin Design by Memmo Interiors / Photo by Laura Flippen

If you take client meetings in your home office, include seating for a guest.

This home office from interior designer Rosanna Bassford of Memmo Interiors has rich shades of gray on the walls and cognac leather upholstered seating that adds warmth and comfort.

Use Transparent Furniture

Pin Design by AHG Interiors / Photo by Nick Glimenakis

Choose furniture made from transparent materials to give a mezzanine office a light footprint.

AHG Interiors installed a glass desk and clear polycarbonate armchair on in this Catskills home to create a stealth spot to log in and get some work done.

Steal a Dining Room Corner

Pin Neva Interior Design / Photo by Agathe Tissier

If you’re tempted to use your dining room table as a de facto home office, consider tucking a dedicated desk in a corner instead.

Choose a vintage style with rounded corners like this French apartment from Neva Interior Design to maintain flow.