Clever Home Office Solutions

These days having some sort of “home office” is a necessity. Whether you run a business from your home or have a life, a blog, or all three (eh hem, yes, many of us are juggling a lot of balls!), you need to be organized. Having a place for everything is a must.

For most of us, we need to make the most of the space we have. Precious few have the luxury of a room dedicated solely to a home office. In spite of our limitations, we still want our homes to be attractive, personal and inspiring. So, if we are short on space and want to keep our expenses low, how do we manage to have a well-organized office and still have our homes look great? In doing some photo research, I came across a few photos of some clever home office & organization ideas I thought I’d pass along for inspiration.

Desks can be expensive, but you can make your own to suit your needs. My own personal desk is actually two file cabinets with a desktop for a surface. I find that works well for me, and is definitely something you could make on a budget. Even old ugly file cabinets can be spray painted to give them a fresh look. Another suggestion is to buy or find table legs to attach to an old door. Or, use an old table fixed up with a new paint color. Instantly personalized desks!

Similarly, you can take several old file cabinets and give them new life with paint and new knobs. Instant credenza! Or, find an old dresser and give it a fun new paint job. Dressers are perfect for extra storage just about anywhere, including your home office! Frame a white board with wood to create your own custom message area. I insist on having several bulletin boards and message centers in my own home out where I can see them. For me, out of sight means out of mind.

With a little color coordination and creative storage containers, you can store office supplies right out in the open in just about any room of the house. You can cover storage boxes or even shoe boxes with paper to coordinate to your decor. Baskets also work well to corral papers and supplies.

Or, use tables with skirts or curtains that coordinate with your decor to help hide some of the clutter. Find wasted places under counters, shelves, or tables to claim some space for storage. Perfect “creative concealments!”

In small quarters, you can utilize any corner to hide some supplies! A skirted table in a dining room can hide file cabinets or shelving, and a coffee table can be topped with cushions to create both a charming seat and a place to stash supplies. You can also organize a closet to contain your home office needs.

Finally, I wanted to share an adorable space from a very creative lady. My blogging friend Rhoda of Southern Hospitality created this personal and functional office in a little nook next to her laundry room. I love the use of shelving above the desk to offer even more storage in a limited space. She infused the space with her own personality, including a pretty accent wall in spring green and storage boxes and baskets that complete her look. She packed a lot of punch and usefulness in what could’ve ended up as wasted corner.

Find more of my thoughts on Home Offices and organization:

Check out this fabulous DESK from a recycled door!

• Find beautiful home office ideas for every corner of the house right here
• Read tips (including mine!) featured on Productivity 101 here
• Read my interview on The Home Office Organizer Blog here
• For more ideas on how to creatively conceal things around your house, click here!

photos: top Pottery Barn
bottom: Southern Hospitality-Rhoda
rest of photos: Better Homes & Gardens