How to Set Up Your Home Office in a Small Space

Remote work not only tests our creativity—staying motivated, setting boundaries, finding quiet time—it also reshapes expectations of our home office designs. We know the pieces of a traditional office setup. But how do you bring those principles into your small home office? Whether you’re carving out a workspace at your dining table, repurposing an overlooked nook, or even setting up shop in a hallway, we asked our pros for ideas about how to maximize your home office.

“It’s all about creating a little magical corner for yourself. It’s a place where you want to be productive but also feels like a special spot. Not only are you creating a space where you feel comfortable, but then that space in turn can give comfort, productivity, or a break from the outside world to you when you need it.” — Cecilia Elguero

Storage Ideas for Small Spaces

Small home offices often need to pull double duty, so the flexibility to bring out or put away your work essentials is key. There are three ways to make the transition as seamless as possible:

From Mess to Artful Curation

If you thrive with lots of color and inspiration around you, storage like the desktop Formwork Accessories and Eames Hang⁠-⁠It⁠-⁠All are vibrant options to both display your objects and add more beauty to the room.

Out of Sight, Out of Mind

Professional Organizer Rebekah Love recommends clearing your desk at the end of the day to encourage better work/life balance. The Edel Mini—a desk with small real estate, yet plenty of drawer space—is the perfect companion.

Adaptable Storage

Forget the hulking file cabinets from the offices of the past. You can add on extra storage with the sleek OE1 Trolley, an all⁠-⁠in⁠-⁠one mobile filing cabinet, second seat (with its complementary cushion), and bar cart.

Setting Up Your Home Office for Remote Work

The beauty of working from home is customization: You can redesign the workspace to match the way you work, not the other way around. Instead of trying to recreate the old office or school environment, Stylist Cecila Elguero recommends a focused space shaped to your needs.

For example, do you often reference books or magazines? You might want a bookshelf or a handy side table nearby. Keeping burnout at bay? Consider a Nelson Day Bed near your office for that mid⁠-⁠day recharge. Think about the actions and source materials you rely on, then find furnishings to match.

How to Light Up Your Small Office Space

What’s the easiest way to transform your home office? The right lighting. Here’s how to add subtle brilliance to your small space.

Focused Lighting

Our task lamps illuminate what you need to focus on and let everything else dissolve away. Task lighting creates natural delineations in your room—without putting up physical walls.

Warm Lighting

Often, the corporate office’s harsh fluorescent lighting is the furthest thing from “warmth.” Swap it out for the soft glow of our Nelson Bubble Lamps for a versatile fixture made for your home and work life.

Colored Lights

For anyone who needs a low⁠-⁠light room for their work—from gamers to video editors—the Neon Tube LED incorporates personality into your setup without distracting your focus.

Design Ideas for Your Small Home Office

Decor might not feel like a priority for a home office setup. But when you’re in the same space for most of the day, a visual palate cleanser is a must.

According to our experts, many design⁠-⁠minded folks stay motivated by strategically placing reminders of what matters—like framed images of family and loved ones—throughout the workspace. Or it could be an object that sparks your imagination, like our Girard Wooden Dolls Collection or Nelson Clock.

“I think when you have things looking the same all the time, looking at them can get really stale. Even if you’re bringing in a small element that’s not very expensive, like a candle or a small ceramic vase, it can help to change the room around. Having this change every week or once a month can spruce up your little desk area.” — Cecilia Elguero