Asked on Jun 13, 2018

How do I turn my closet into an office?

Alice
by Alice
I’d like to take everything out of this closet and start over but I’m not sure how to make it functional for a home office. Cute I can do but functional? Not so sure. 😂�
  5 answers
  • Brenda Brandt Deason Brenda Brandt Deason on Jun 13, 2018

    A lot depends on what kind of function you need. Make a list of tasks you intend to do in the space. What do you need to accomplish them? Do you need space for a laptop? How much paper will you be handling? If you need to file a lot of paper, you might want to make a desk with a two-drawer filing cabinet under one end and attach the other end to the wall. Basically, once you know what you need to function, start with that, and the cute will follow! Have fun with this!

    • Alice Alice on Jun 13, 2018

      Thank you Brenda, great advice! I think my biggest obstacle is that I want it to do too much for a small space.  I thought I’d be able to squeeze in all my craft stuff but the craft pile just keeps getting bigger so that’s just going to have to be moved to the basement. I really like your idea to use a file cabinet on one end of the desk!!

  • Sharon Sharon on Jun 13, 2018

    I would make it over with wood shelving using your rail system, and a larger wooden desk top out of birch veneer plywood and use wooden iron-on trim on the edges. If you have cords coming up from the floor to say a computer, you can use a hole saw to make a hole in the desk top near a back corner. Stain it or just finish it.

    I might just paint the walls a bright happy color.

    • Alice Alice on Jun 13, 2018

      Thank you Sharon, I’ll definitely reconsider ripping out the rail system! And I’ll remember to make a hole for my computer cables, hadn’t thought about that. I’m going to stencil the wall but you got me thinking about a bright color for the background!

  • Sherry Cohen Sherry Cohen on Jun 14, 2018

    That is a small space. If you want to keep the rail system, here's what I would do. Take out the bins. Get a 2' wooden shelf to use as a desk. Put narrower glass shelves on top to give the illusion of depth. Keep everything as simple and clutter-free as possible. Use pretty boxes to hide things such as stapler, tape dispenser, etc. Get a gorgeous cup for scissors and writing instruments. Put a framed picture or quote on each side wall.

    • Alice Alice on Jun 14, 2018

      Thank you Sherry! I’m planning to take the rail system out and repurpose them for storage in my basement laundry room. Love your ideas for glass shelves, pretty boxes, cup & picture/quotes! I‘m also thinking about painting a small peg board to hang stuff on.

  • Nmp8417025 Nmp8417025 on Jun 14, 2018

    Good ideas above. I have done this with my computer. Used a piece of wood for desk top after removing metal shelves as in pic. Left uppers and used cute magazine holders for magazines, paper, mailing supplies. Also added a piece of foam board covered with wrapping paper for pin ups like notes, pics, reminders, etc.