The Traditional Home Office Is Shrinking—Here’s How to Maximize a Small Space

Remote work is here to stay post-pandemic. But while many people have moved to working from home (at least a few days a week), they haven’t necessarily aligned their spaces with the new work style.

Plenty of people are working from home without having a spare room to turn into a dedicated office space; instead, we’re seeing a rise in multipurpose rooms with home offices tucked into less traditional spaces. Sacrificing space doesn’t have to mean sacrificing function though. With a few pro tips, you can create a comfy and organized home office in a small area.

Why Are Home Offices Shrinking?

New homes tend to be smaller, leaving less space for a traditional office. Renters might not have the extra room for complete office spaces, and people working from home a few days a week might also not need an entire room.

“While the historical home office was 10 by 10, work-from-home spaces today are evolving and can be much smaller,” says Brian Juedes, vice president of product design for Taylor Morrison. “These work-from-home spaces typically range from 10 to 70 square feet. and surveys show that today’s buyers prefer these cozier spaces.”

Less space can be just as functional as a full office—it might take a little creativity, but the right setup can help you be productive and organized.

“As the square footage of homes is also shrinking overall, homeowners are looking for ways to better utilize every part of the home,” Juedes says. “We like to think of this concept as more function per foot.”

How to Maximize a Small Office Space

One of the best tricks to make your home office feel like its own space—even if it’s sharing a room with your at-home gym, extra bedroom, or living area—is dividing the room into distinct zones for privacy and separation. This could be as simple as adding a rug underneath your desk space or using furniture to create the illusion of walls.

“Furniture can help define different spaces in a room,” says Juedes. “For example, rather than having a sofa or sectional against a wall, move the seating to create a division between work and social space.”

Most office spaces will need shelves or cabinets to help you stay organized, and you can use those to your advantage. For example, if your desk is in the corner of a room, you could add shelves or file cabinets a few feet behind it to divide your work area from the rest of the room.

However, opt for small furniture pieces as much as possible to avoid a cramped space. Juedes advises prioritizing function over aesthetics when working in a small space. This could mean setting up a smaller desk if you mainly use a laptop or having one small shelf instead of a large bookcase. A small office can also benefit from pieces that serve multiple functions, like a desk with built-in shelving or drawers for storage. 

Location Is Key

And even within a small space, it’s all about location. Some of where you set up your office might be dictated by the location of outlets, or where your home router is located. But you should also try to place your office in a spot that’s well-lit and comfortable.

“While some natural light is desirable, it is preferred to have the window on the side or in front of the desk rather than behind it to avoid glare on a computer screen and face shadows on the video conferences,” says Juedes.

No matter where you choose to set up your home office, a small space can be just as functional as a traditional home office. With a maximized small office, you can use the room saved to add other bonus features to your home.