How to Add a Workspace to Any Room

An efficient home office doesn't necessarily need to be in its own
room. As computers slim down, cellular phones shrink and wireless
equipment becomes more prevalent, fitting a work area into a small
space gets easier. Cast a creative eye over every room to find a niche
for a workstation--one that looks good and functions effectively.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

1. Outfit an armoire--either antique or contemporary--as a combination desk and storage system. Armoires are available in styles and sizes appropriate for every room in the house and may have shelving systems designed for a computer, keyboard and filing system.

2. Mount casters on a tall, backless bookcase to partition off a workspace in a living or family room. Hide files and other work paraphernalia in attractive containers such as lidded wicker baskets or fabric-covered boxes, available at Hold Everything, the Container Store, Pottery Barn and other stores.

3. Commandeer the end of a hallway. If the space is too narrow for a desk, set up a drop-leaf table with a chair alongside it. When you're ready to work, open up the table, pull the chair in front and plug in your laptop. A nearby bookcase can hold supplies.

4. Borrow space from a bedroom, but keep the work area out of sight from the bed so you don't wake up to a pile of papers. Tuck your equipment into an armoire, set a folding screen between desk and bed, or float your bed away from the wall and place the desk behind the headboard. If you're faced with combining guest accommodations and a workspace, a range of options are available for every budget. Opt for furniture that converts easily from sitting to sleeping accommodations, such as a sofa bed or futon, or disappears altogether, as a Murphy bed does.

5. Outfit a multishelf rolling cart with your work supplies for a kitchen too tiny to hold a desk. Store the cart in a pantry or an adjoining utility room. When you're ready to work, roll the cart alongside the kitchen table.

6. Explore your house or apartment for quirky, underused spaces. Fit a cozy office into an enclosed back porch, the nook under a staircase or a guest room closet with folding doors. Make sure there's access to an electrical outlet and phone line.

Tips & Warnings

• See 132 Expand the Capacity of a Small Room. Steal a space-saving idea from the Shakers and use a wall peg to hang a folding chair when it's not in use.
• Suspend a curtain from a ceiling track or use a folding screen to give yourself the option of closing off the area when you're done with work.
• Note the office's proximity to phone and cable lines, as well as outlets, before you set everything up. You don't want cables snaking along walls or across floors. Don't forget the surge protector. (See 198 Organize a Home Network.) Also, opt for a desk with a discreet hole in the top so you can corral computer cables and wires underneath.

[zemzem82]

on 1/12/2009 great ideas for my work retreat- zemzem.ecrater.com