In the last few years, working from home has become the “new normal” for many office workers. And for many of us, this is a great thing! But for those who work from tiny, cluttered or cramped spaces, it hasn’t been ideal. Not everyone has a spare room to convert into a home office — but that shouldn’t stop you from having a comfortable work-from-home experience.

No matter how small the space is that you’re working with, these tips and tricks can help you turn a small space into the perfect home office. So, let’s get going! 

1. Make Use of All Awkward Spaces 

If your home is small, it’s important to utilize every inch of your space at your disposal. To make a charming and functional home office, you don't have to have a dedicated room in your home. You might find space in an alcove in your living or dining room, or even a small area under your stairs. Any nook or cranny can be converted into an office space with the right amount of ingenuity and imagination.

2. Use Bookshelf Dividers to Create a New Space 

Consider creating a makeshift dividing wall to separate your new home office from another open space in your home. For example, if you have a large living room or bedroom, partition off your small office space with bookshelves to create a small office nook. This can add a little privacy, meaning your home office won’t always be in view when you’re not working. Additionally, the bookshelves will add a lot of storage space to your new office.

3. Shop for a Single Shelf Desk 

One of the easier ways to make a small space work for a home office is with a simple wooden shelf placed under a window. A single shelf desk can help create the perfect perch for your work, and the plethora of options available mean you can go as big or as small as your room allows. Check out this blog post to learn about more options for small desks to fit your space.

4. Consider Working at a Floating Desk 

If you're extremely limited on space, using your bedroom as a home office may be the only solution. Your dressing table/vanity can double as a desk, making it a usable furniture piece with multiple purposes.

However, remember that being tidy is key with this option. If this is your best bet, you’ll want to keep your home office essentials minimal. This way, you can hide your office work in a closet or drawer — or even beneath the bed — until it’s time to work. No one wants to look at a cluttered workspace when they’re trying to get ready for bed!

5. Create a “Cloffice” 

Another option is to make a “cloffice” in your home — a combination office and closet. We know this might not sound like the ideal place to be working all day, but it truly is possible to transform this tiny space to meet your needs. You might add mood lighting and a white noise machine, and you can even hang some soothing art above your workspace. Another advantage to the cloffice: You can hide your office space away when you’re done working.

6. Add Storage 

Your home office may be short on square footage, but that doesn't mean it has to be lacking in storage! You might add some floating shelves above your workspace, or even a tall bookshelf that extends to the ceiling. These additions will provide ample amounts of storage while also creating a place to showcase decorative items. And that last bit is super important ; you don’t want to work in a home office that doesn’t make you feel “at home.”

7. Lighting Is Key 

One of the joys of working from home is that you can dispense with the traditional “office” vibes — and that means you don’t have to work under harsh lighting. So, toss out that traditional office lamp and look for something more personalized and calming. You might try repurposing an antique table lamp or shopping for a floor lamp that accentuates your personal style. Get creative! 

How Acima Leasing Can Help 

Your space and budget might be limited, but that doesn’t mean you still can’t have the functional home office you deserve. Acima Leasing’s lease-to-own solutions* make it easy to shop for home-office furniture with lease renewal payments that will work for you. You can choose from two paths to ownership. You can make all the payments as defined by your agreement or purchase it at a discount with our early purchase option. It’s all about giving you the shopping power you are looking for. Check out our retailer locator and start shopping for the furniture that fits your dream office!