“We have some special Italian books from family overseas, so it is nice to have a spot to display them,” she says. Nearly two years into the pandemic, it’s time to stop working at the kitchen table and start designing your dream office. If you’re anything like Katelyn Richardson or Kookie Jackson, all you need is an extra coat closet to make it a reality. “I would have to say that it’s much easier to do than it looks,” she says. In Allard’s home, this small closet is actually within a bigger closet designed by California Closets’ Kate Kim. “Kate really loved my idea of turning the small closet into a vanity space and brought it to life by adding the desk and overhead shelving,” she explains.

• If the doors bind on the door trim, remove the trim, and install new trim that is set farther back than the existing trim.
• If you’re not keen on rewiring the inside of the closet, puck lights would be a good option.
• Whether homeowners reside in a small cottage or a sprawling estate, they often seem to complain about the closets, their discouraging scarcity, and frustratingly small size.
• Instead, split the space in half and designate zones for both work and play.
• All of us deserve space free from noise and bustle from the outside world so that we can focus on our work.
• In a closet office, it’s important to have good lighting.

“Definitely keep in mind you might need to add an electrical outlet,” she says. It’s particularly important if you want to be able to plug in a computer or other device. If you’ve got an extra hall closet, it might be the perfect opportunity to create a mudroom. Jessica Bui, the blogger behind The Orange Home, accomplished this task in 2020 when she converted the “most random closet in the world” into a practical catchall space. Since the beginning of the pandemic, homeowners have come to the New York–based interior designer Sara Mosele with some interesting solicitations. “Requests during the pandemic became really creative,” she tells AD.

Materials you’ll need

Storage will be your best friend when it comes to designing a home office in your closet that’s stylish and functional. Since we had already converted this small closet space into storage I decided I wanted to make this small closet a cloffice! Since I spend most of my workday behind a computer I needed inspiration via the accessories around me. It’s the perfect combination of small closet and a good working space! Pretty sure it’s become more popular since the days of the virus with everyone stuck at home. If you’re lucky enough to have a walk-in closet to work with, there’s so much you can do.

• This gives you more office storage and work space in an unused bedroom closet.
• I’m happy with my workspace in my new cottage home but I also loved this cloffice in my previous home.
• Once you’ve equipped your cloffice with the basics, incorporate added function and your personal style with a few extras.
• Some closet spaces may feel tight or awkward in shape, but where there’s a will, there’s a way.
• Remote work has become the new normal for many, and home offices are now in high demand.
• Once you have the height, subtract 3/4 inches for the thickness of the top, then use a level and pencil to draw a line around the closet walls.
• This line marks the top of the support cleat for the desktop.

Your cloffice, while being a workspace, is also your personal space where you spend at least eight hours a day. If you have an alcove, another kind of a nook, or are just keen on saving space, consider using a wall-mounted folding or drop-leaf table desk — for example, Bjursta from IKEA. Having no doors makes a small space office appear larger; the downside is lack of privacy.

Get a mirror to create an illusion of a bigger space

Adding an accent to the back wall of a closet creates an interesting focal point that can help it not look like a closet. You could use vinyl wallpaper, an accent wall paint with painted stencil, wood shiplap, or even a thin peel-and-stick wood veneer. You could also try painting the back wall with chalkboard paint. Draw out a calendar converting closet to office or a to-do list, or just let your imagination wander. Just because you’re working out of a closet doesn’t mean that your new office space has to look like, well, a utility closet. So spruce up your space with pretty, sentimental items that are meaningful to you, such as framed photos or a nice vase with fresh Gerbera daisies.