Create a home workspace without spending any money and getting creative with furniture and items that are already in the home. Tips for thinking outside the box when a home office space is essential and little space to create one is a problem.

Sheltering at home came as a surprise for all of us. Being forced to work at home can become unsettling, especially with the family and children also at home. When a guest or spare bedroom is not available to take advantage of, try to create a space within a space. Here, we created a home workspace within the kitchen area when a second workspace was needed in our home. While not being able to shop in person at the local home stores made me realize that I should implement some of my own industry techniques like “shopping the home”.

Shopping The Home

Shopping the home consists of walking through your home and taking inventory of items you would not typically think of using in a home workspace or office. This is just one of the design aspects I teach my students. For example, your attic might have a little desk, a chair, and a floor lamp with a small bookcase. The basement is another place where we tend to store unused furniture and accessories that would work in your new home workspace.

Use an old chest of drawers for work papers and storage or transform a china cabinet and use it as a bookcase or to store samples. A luggage rack that you might have in a guest bedroom can be used with a suitcase. Hide a printer inside the case where the cord can easily be plugged and unplugged when not in use. Close the cover for the night, and the printer disappears, keeping the open space neat.

Utilize Existing Furniture in Your Home Workspace

This is what I did. Walking into my basement, I remembered a natural color rattan desk with three drawers and brass drawer pulls, and corner accents. I brought the desk upstairs to a sitting area in my kitchen. After I cleaned up the desk for dust bunnies, I placed it in front of the windows looking outside in the kitchen area.

The chair decision was easy as I used two extra dining chairs and added two pillows to each for color. The 2nd chair would be used for client meetings when needed. Next, I utilized an existing china cabinet. Removing all the glass and dishware for storing on shelves in the basement, I added books, fabric samples, and paint samples to the cabinet shelves to use as a storage bookcase.

I used an existing table lamp and put it on the right corner of the desk, using a few books under the lamp's base to add height. Adding a little pretty charm to the top of the desk, I used a shrimp cocktail glass to hold pens and pencils. To complete the space, I added some plants. I took the Boston fern from the living area and a potted pink begonia and added them to the work area.

Plants add life and warmth to a space. The pink begonia was placed on the left side of the desk to balance the lamp on the right. The three drawers of the desk were spacious enough for desk supplies and notepaper. You might even find a resident shop dog to grace your space while shopping the home.

Get Creative with Your Home Workspace Storage

A large basket, taken from the top of the kitchen refrigerator, was used for tile samples and placed on top of the cabinet to keep it neat and organized. Don’t discard empty boxes that may be left around the house. Shoeboxes or other empty boxes that can store files are another way to be creative. Cover them with wrapping paper you already have, or paint them using colors you already may have. Do not forget to check the storage shed for pots or containers that can be used in your new home open workspace. These containers can be used for storing work samples as well.

10 Tips for Creating a Home Workspace

Here are some tips that can help you get started creating your perfect home workspace:

1. Shop your home - Look for items in the attic, basement, and storage shed.

2. Use a small table or sofa table when a proper desk is unavailable.

3. Use an extra dining room chair - An extra dining chair can be used for the desk chair to make your workspace blend into your kitchen.

4. Use a buffet or chest of drawers - Discretely store work papers and other files in the buffet.

5. Repurpose a china cabinet as a bookcase.

6. Rattan or wicker baskets can be used for storing samples.

7. Decorate empty shoe boxes - Empty shoeboxes or boxes can be wrapped with paper or spray painted.

8. A luggage rack and an old suitcase can store a small office printer.

9. Remember, spray paint goes a long way and makes it easy to create a cohesive-looking workspace.

10. Include plants in your design - Add plants to the new workspace for warmth and a finished look.

You can create an excellent home workspace using a little creativity and items found throughout your home. By thinking outside the box, you can create a functional home workspace that will keep you productive when working remotely from home!

About Debbe Daley

Debbe Daley is New England’s leading expert in interior design, decorating, and the styling of interior spaces. She is a professional speaker, educator, influencer, business coach, and owner of Debbe Daley Designs. She also teaches creative interior design, home decor enthusiasts, and change-of-career-minded individuals at her School of Interiors through courses, mentoring, and hands-on training. Debbe is currently an installed Design Services member for the Boston Design Center.

Contact Debbe at ddaley@daleydesigns.com or (978) 697-0288.