Do you want to learn how to create a small home office nook in your home? It really can be done in a small space. With half a wall or even less.
I’ll show you how to create a small office nook in a space of 43 inches. That really doesn’t sound like very much space, does it?
But guess what? You can get creative and absolutely turn 43 inches into a suitable office nook.
Let me show you how I did it in my 725 square foot apartment.
Before I moved here, I had a dedicated office/craft room. But I only have one bedroom now. So that wasn’t going to happen.
Purging Craft Supplies Came First:
I purged and kept my favorite craft supplies and stored them in the green cabinet/sideboard.
The green cabinet came with me from Texas years ago. It was originally painted black.
I found this Crushed Oregano paint from Valspar, and painted it this Granny Smith apple shade of green.
I ordered the desk and chair from Wayfair on a close-out sale. Together the two came to around $100. Not a bad dollar amount to pay to help create an office.
At Hobby Lobby I purchased the shelves, white cabinet and the wood drawers underneath it. I almost didn’t buy all three of them, but I’m so glad I did. Because it has given me so much storage space and only cost about $90.
I have a little vintage Mason jar collection that I’ve been slowly adding to for years. So I’m using those jars for even more storage. And the vintage jars are so nice just to look at.
Creating An Office Nook With Things You Already Own:
I’ve had this black and burlap memo board for years. It, along with most of my other decor, was stashed in my closets. I’ve got to really clean out those closets!
There I happened upon a box of vintage child images I had at some point printed out. And so I pinned them to this bulletin board.
There’s the pic of Andrew taken at the beach during their vacation that my daughter gave me. I love that photo of my little grandson with the ocean behind him.
I already had all the pencils and pens you see in the jars in the old box.
If you don’t give things a dedicated place to go, everything quickly becomes disorganized. We’re all aware of that dilemma.
Decorating Tip:
I hate to see cords hanging down. So I put a nail in the wall behind the desk and ran the cord along it so that it is hidden.
The distressed shelf holds my camera lenses and my favorite photo of my daughter and Andrew.
On the top shelf is the white cow I had in the kitchen with hooks holding measuring spoons. I moved the spoons, filled the holes where the hooks had been, and now the cow is displayed here.
Repurpose, my friends!
Small Collection Of Vintage Wash Boards:
I have about five vintage wash boards I’ve been carrying from home to home for at least 30 years.
Several are on the wall over my couch. Two are on the wall in my kitchen above the washer/dryer holding Saran Wrap and aluminum foil, etc. Here is a link if you want to see that vertical storage trick.
I could not possibly store all that I have in this apartment unless I utilized vertical space to the max.
So this is what you can accomplish with 43 inches when utilizing vertical storage. Which is my top advice if you live in a small space and want to create a home office.
Using vertical space is the golden rule of small space organization and decorating.
If you want to create a small home office nook, vertical space may quickly become your best friend! As well as a very smart strategy.
Another Tip:
I had already ordered this black desk chair when I happened to be on the Wayfair.com site the next day. And that day I saw that the chair was on sale $19 cheaper than what I paid.
So I called Wayfair, and they refunded the $19 to my account.
Don’t be afraid to call and ask. All they can say is no. And if they say yes, you save money!
A Small Home Office Nook That Takes Up Little Space:
This wall in my living room is just a small area, but it now holds my craft supplies and is my office nook. I’m pleased that everything is in one place now.
No more digging in the closet for a stapler. It is here on my desk. I feel so much better when my things are organized.
Are you looking to create a small home office nook somewhere in your home, but you don’t know quite how to approach this task?
Just remember how I created my 43 inch office nook. You might look around your home and find a convenient space for a similar arrangement.
I love it! Wish you could organize my space! ?
Brenda, your space is charming, cozy, functional and beautiful. Outstanding! Ps…love your cutting boards on the wall, too!
I hung the cutting boards on the wall, strategically placing them over nail holes!
Job well done Brenda 🙂
Thank you!
You got a lot of comments on this post. Having a good work space is something we all think about and you shared some great ideas. I want to share with you a funny little story that relates to how you got your print from Wayfair that they sent even though you cancelled it. Many years ago, we got our first computer. My children were in elementary school at the time. I took them with me to a store that was kind of like a K-Mart to find a computer desk. I finally decided on one that cost $80, which was a lot of money to spend then, and now, actually. But I needed something quickly. It had to be assembled, so I took the box of parts to the cashier, and he scanned the sticker and it came up as $8.99. I said, No, that’s wrong, it’s $80. He said, Well, it’s showing up as a bird feeder for $8.99. I said, Well, it’s clearly not a bird feeder! You’d better get the price checked. He said, No, if it says $8.99 then it’s $8.99. So I said, OK! So, after that, we always said the computer was sitting on a bird feeder!
I got a good chuckle out of your story! The cashier maybe was as concrete as I am.
He could have been, but I always suspected he was just too lazy to do a price check!
You have created a charming little office nook, Brenda! I think I may have written you the other day that my office room had been made into a bedroom for my daughter so she and her twin boys have separate rooms now. For now, my rather big desk is in the living room and doesn’t look nearly as cute as yours! I will move to the basement to set up my office as soon as that area is purged and you have given me some good and attractive ideas to use. I love the way you have of placing interesting items in different places for little vignettes. You are really good at that. Could you just come out here to my house and give me some pointers?? We could go shopping for this and that and have a good ole time. Oh, yeah, I guess that coming to Michigan would be a pretty long trip for you and Charlie, right? I would love to meet you and Charlie but I’ll just have to be satisfied with reading your awesome blog every day and seeing the creative things you do. And the depth and skill of your writing about serious topics. And seeing all the beautiful photos you take, especially of your plants and flowers. And Charlie, of course.
I hope you know what a talented and creative woman you are. I feel lucky to have found your blog. I look forward to it every day, honestly.
I’ve gotta go back and read this edition over again and look at all the ideas for small space use. Thanks, for your inspiration, Brenda.
If you want to send me photos of your home via email, I could maybe help you that way.
What a smart and stylish design! I need to copy you. I would love a little crafting area. In my old house, I worked from home so I had a separate room for office and crafts. Now that I’ve retired and moved, I miss that.
I do have three bedrooms for the two of us but they are set up as guest rooms and often used.. I’ll have to make some decisions….thanks Brenda.
You don’t need much room, as you can see from the photos above. Just carve out a little spot.
Love it..especially your green cabinet and the chippy white one, too.
Very creative you are..and sure looks very functional.
I only wish to have a portion of your organization skills.
Enjoy your hard work..thank you.
I used to think I wanted to be a professional organizer, because I find it so satisfying to get things organized. I almost went into interior design in college, till a professor talked me out of it. I suppose I became a blogger and blended them all together.
I knew you would have a nice and tidy space for your office nook. I love it, it’s you!
I have a desk and file cabinet upstairs, but I bought a desk yrs ago at a yard sale and put it in my den. Actually I was going by this yard sale and spotted ckbks for sale. Their was this cute desk with all kinds of little nooks in it for 15 dollars and another that was a computer desk. The cute desk I pd for but told the pastor I’d wait a day or more bc she had alot of books and stuff on it…being nice. It was inside of house bc she was moving…everything was suppose to go!
Well next day she brought over the other desk! So dissapointed! She said this is the desk I bought. No, I asked her 3 times about other desk! I couldn’t believe the price of someone selling that old maple desk! She also didn’t move! I don’t know about now. My lesson is always take what you pd for then, if going to a yard sale! Never went again to a yard sale after being screwed over by a pastor no less! I couldn’t believe it! That was yrs ago.
This is lengthy bc it brought back bad memories! So sorry about whining. Lol. I have never seen a desk like that since! I hope your weather is better there. It’s cold and rainy here!
It’s been cooler here lately. I haven’t been to a garage sale in years. I would rather go to the antique mall, which has great prices. But I haven’t even been there in a year.
Brenda,
I love your desk and decor…. it looks wonderful. I wish I was as creative as you are!
My sister-in-law had cataract surgery and she is so happy with the results. She had worn glasses all her life as well. Now she has readers all over her house. haha
Have a wonderful day!
I just picked up a couple more pairs of readers today at Dollar Tree.
I enjoyed seeing your new office/craft area. The green piece of furniture makes it all work. For several weeks now, I cringe when i scroll thru your posts. So often, an ad for rodent repelling showing several mice appears and it just creeps me out. Ugh!!! It seems strange to see something like that on your blog. Does anyone else see it? I think the ads change periodically but not sure.
The ads change constantly. What ads you see are from the cookies advertisers see that others are interested in. For instance, if you have been looking up sneakers online, you’ll probably see ads for sneakers when you browse. Sorry about the mice! I hate them terribly! The spaces on my blog go to the highest bidder each day and the ad network I’m with takes care of all that.
Really fun office/crafting space, Brenda! Well thought out and well done. ??
I laid awake a lot of nights thinking how I would do this. During my eye surgeries, after they put the IV in but before they came to get me, that’s what I was thinking about!
and….because it was pleasant thoughts and decorating is something you love, I’m sure it helped you to relax before your eye surgery began. Sort of like meditating!
I can’t remember, it’s a vague thought,,,,,did you once set up a craft/office space in the dining room? Had a chair also? Maybe I’m crazy, cause Lord knows I forget a lot lately!
Yes, I did. But then I decided I needed a place for me and my daughter and grandson to eat. So I gave the folding table to the complex for their laundry room. And I ended up giving the chair to my neighbor. I can’t recall. It might have been a gift from Wayfair. When I don’t have space for things, I’m not going to just stack them up. I’d rather see someone use it that needs it more than I do.
I’m glad it was a thing and I didn’t imagine it lol!!! This option gives you both spaces to use. Work and eat!!!! Well done. !
Looks great. I love the cabinet color and the storage it offers too. It’s hard to believe how much you got into a small space, but you have the vision, that’s for sure!
Just shows what you can do with small spaces. I love to share these things.
The office space looks just great. Love the size and look of the chair/desk but what really catches my eye and makes me smile is the way you use shelving and various items for storage. So clever and so pretty. You go girl!!!!
Putting a desk and chair in place is just the bones. The rest is what is fun!
I am at home on the Atlantic coast preparing for a hurricane to strike us this week. I am tired from all the necessary preparations, the anxiety and the stress it is causing me and everyone else here. I am 78 years old and I was feeling so woebegone until I read your post today and I immediately felt so much better. You have that effect on me, Brenda, and it’s so wonderful that your words can do that. Thank you every day for all that you do to cheer me up.
Oh, I’m so sorry you’re stressed out. I would be too! But I’m glad you enjoy coming here to visit. That was such a sweet thing to say. People like YOU cheer me up.
For Judith – I hope the hurricane turns out to the ocean. Sending best. ….HI BRENDA, and I agree with Judith! u bring such cheer and smiles to us. Office area looks amazing. your special touches are wonderful. Happy Monday 🙂
Hey Brenda I know all about living small and utilizing every inch of space. I love your home office nook.
So sweet. I love the picture of your daughter and sweet grandson on your desk too. Adorable.
Happy New Week.
Hugs,
Kris
Kris, I know you’re fairly new to small space living. But isn’t figuring out small space solutions fun? A challenge?
Love It All!
That white rustic cabinet is my fav!
You have such a good eye for what goes where and it looks so inviting and cozy.
I could not pass up those three things at HL, like the white rustic cabinet. It is perfectly distressed. And I love it when I can buy things already finished that costs me less than it would cost me to make it.
You are clever, Brenda. Hope you enjoy every minute in your new space.
Thank you!
Very cute setup, and so handy! I ended up putting my thrift store desk which cost me $10 in my bedroom in front of the window, and house my supplies in the nitestand nearby. It works really well for me and I like being able to watch the birds in the trees outside my window and also breathe the fresh air. Of course soon the leaves will drop and the view will not be quite as interesting although in the distance I have a view of the mountain tops which will be covered with snow.
I wanted to have it in front of the window. But the layout in my living room just didn’t accommodate that.
What a great little office space!! My office space is in the lower level, in a dark corner next to the utility room so I rarely use it, only for filing. I am often tempted to put a little office space upstairs, but honestly if I need to work on something at home I just sit at the counter or dining room table.
I file things in my closet!
Fabulous! You are so creative!
I love to try to think up new ways to find space in a small home. I find it fun to think up ideas that are new and innovative.
Looks so great! I also am a believer in using all of your vertical space!
Vertical space is ESSENTIAL!
One word: adorable! You have a really cute style and your home is just made to look so comfortable. I saw where you have your pencils in mason jars. A thought – I have my eating utensils in mason jars and I had a friend paint them with pretty flowers. I love them and they make me smile every time I reach for a fork because I think of her. I saw your note on the 4 month anniversary of Abi’s death and boy does time fly. You are and Charlie are doing just fine; one day at a time.
Don’t push too hard and let that left eye completely heal.
Have a lovely Monday afternoon my friend.
Carol and Molly
xoxoxo
I can’t help it. I always push my limits because I have a lot of energy. I go and go till I’m about to drop.
Your new office/craft area looks great, Brenda! You made it pretty and functional…and full of things personal to you. I am inspired, as I need to think about where I will work and create in our new home.
Is your lake home a lot smaller?
The living room/dining area is much larger for gatherings. The bedrooms and kitchen are smaller. Also since it is a 1949 house, there is not much storage and there are small closets. We are having to be creative.
You have been a busy woman despite your eye surgery! I really like what you created, as usual. I don’t have a dedicated office space but am inspired to seek out a place for one. Have a great day Brenda!
Just 43 inches x 18 inches! I bet you can find that much space.
Brenda,
This looks fabulous! I love everything.
Susan
I’m pleased with it. Took me a few days of tinkering to get it just right. And you know I’ll change it up anyway when the mood strikes.
Fantastic job! You really know how to work wonders with a small space.
It looks like a pleasant place to blog and craft.
Thanks for the inspiration, motivation and ideas you provide.
I love finding small space solutions.
If anyone can make a small space work, it’s you! Looks fantastic.
Well, I like to challenge myself.
You did a great job, Brenda!
Thank you!
You are clever Brenda. Nice work.
I’m really impressed with your new work space, Brenda. It blends so well with the rest of the decor in your apartment. I love how you’ve arranged the decor and craft items. I love little shelves, and that double set is calling out to me! What I might like best is how the desk is so airy looking, and not blocky and heavy. You sure put your eye recuperation time to good use by thinking up this great work space. I hope you have many happy hours of crafting now.
As for a work space in our house, we have a tiny room that is called the office, but, there are too many bookshelves and not enough room for a good work surface. So, we end up doing projects on the dining table or kitchen bar, and then have to move things when it’s time to fix meals and eat. We definitely need to re-work our office area. Thanks for the great ideas you’ve shared.
I love those little shelves too. Thing is, I tried to think of a way to put up shelves without finding studs and building them and putting something on the wall to hold them. With these, everything was already built in and I just added four nails to the front where you hardly notice and I don’t think they will ever fall down from the weight. I don’t have a garage or workshop or anything where I store wood like some people.
I’ve been waiting to see what you did for the office space and I love it. The desk is great and with the open look doesn’t make that wall too heavy. Vertical space is important for storage and decor. Love the little white cabinet and shelves. Great job!
Yes, I agree about the openness of the desk. Isn’t a very substantial desk without drawers, etc. But that’s why I got what I did from HL to supplement storage space with drawers and doors. Vertical storage, once again!
I love your new office space. Looks perfect. I like the use of the green cabinet to hold all the office supplies and tv, makes good multiple use of that piece. Looks like the perfect place to spend some time working.
I thought about where to put that desk in the living room for weeks before I just plopped it there. And it works there so well!
Looks great! Very good use of space. I happen to have room for an office but it’s not nearly as cute as yours!
I get a lot of inspiration off Pinterest and other blogs.