How to hide office in living room
5 creative ways to hide your home office - Blog
LIVE brighter | 5 MIN READ | 2021-03-01
You don’t need a spare room to convert into your own private workspace. Even a nook or cranny in a small home can be turned into a comfy work area that can easily be tucked away at the end of a workday.
When you leave the office or close the door of a home office, a physical boundary is created between work life and home life. With the door closed, you can turn your brain off and relax for the rest of the evening – but if your home office is a corner in a living room or the dining room table, it can be tricky to differentiate between the two.
That’s why we’ve come up with 5 creative ways to separate your home and work life, even if you don’t have a separate room for it.
1. Create a visual boundaryIf you live in a condo or smaller space and are using a section of an existing room as your office, something as simple as a room divider can create a visual barrier to create more privacy.
A room divider is an easy option because you can move it from one area of your home to the next work from anywhere in your home, or fold it up and put it away when it’s no longer needed . They can also be used as a functional and beautiful accent piece that can easily add decorative flair and transform any space in your home.
Another option would be to use a large piece of furniture to hide your office area from view. Pieces of furniture like a sofa, bookcase, or a tall plant can act as a wall and hide the clutter (and sometimes chaos) of a busy work day. By adding these pieces to your work area, you’ll create a physical and visual separation – and unlike physical walls, you can move and rearrange these any time you want!
Tip: Consider adding a screen or installing a room divider to create a cozy office space within a large room.
2. Convert a closet or nookThere are plenty of other spaces around a home that you may not have thought of as potential office space.
Think closets, kitchen pantry or a nook off the living room. One of the upsides of converting a closet into an office space is that when you don’t feel like thinking about work, you can simply shut the doors and hide it away until the next day.
A few things to keep in mind:
1. Measure the depth of your closet. Make sure it’s deep enough to fit a desk in it. Place your files, printer, and scanner on the floor and close the door. If they all fit, then the shelving should accommodate them.
2. Electrical hookup. Plan out your electrical needs and hire an electrician to come over to provide proper plugs for lighting and work equipment.
3. Measure height. Determine the height you’ll need for your books, binders, shelving and you, of course!
4. Make it chic! Your work area can feel homey and inviting by adding wallpaper and bright colours on the walls.
5. Remove closet doors.
Doors can be annoying and totally in the way, so why not remove them? Check out these simple curtains that can be used to hide your office space from view.
Photo by Decor Pad
Speaking of curtains, they can be used to hide your work space away from family and guests. Pull open the curtains when your workday begins and when you’ve punched out for the day, close the curtains to conceal your office. When it comes to drapery, there are so many options to choose from! Go bright and patterned or soft and subtle. This Pinterest page will definitely provide some inspiration.
Check out Sincerely Marie Designs blog post on closet door (or office door) alternatives. She takes a deep dive into how easy it is to alter drop cloth curtains and use them as a replacement for closet office doors. Brilliant!
4. The space under the staircasePhoto by Collov Home Design on Unsplash
This space often goes to waste, so why not work a little magic and turn it into a useful work area? Build it out with a desk, and depending on how big or small the area is, you can even add some storage.
The best part? You can integrate it into your living area without taking away from it.
The area under the stairs can be pretty small, so make sure to choose soothing paint colours like Benjamin Moore’s Pale Oak, Nickel and Behr’s Moss Mist so the walls don’t feel closed in. Check out the ideas on the DIY Network on how you can build an office under the stairs and Houzz has some great inspiration, too!
5. Built-in furnitureThe way we work has changed dramatically and WFH is here to stay, so multipurpose furniture and spaces are where it’s at. You can simply grab a stool and pull it up to a counter-height shelf tucked in a spare closet or pantry or consider adding built-in furniture that serves many purposes.
A sleek built-in wall unit can be used to easily conceal an office space behind sliding doors and looks visually clean and beautiful when the space isn’t being used. When the sliding doors are closed, the space stays free from work-related clutter and turns back into an area meant for relaxing and spending time in.
While working from home does come with benefits, it can also easily take over your personal space, life and time. Your office is a visual reminder of all the work that still needs to be done, so set boundaries by hiding it away and fully enjoy your personal time. Your mind, body and spirit will thank you for it!
Make sure to share your WFH setup with us on social! We’d love to see your creative solutions.
8 Ways to Hide Your Home Office
The work stops here. Separate office and home life with curtains, built-ins, doors and other out-of-sight strategies
Working from home has its perks. There’s the excellent commute, and an affordable lunch is just a room or two away. But when your work life impedes upon your home life, well, that’s a drag. The solution? Conceal your office! Out of sight, out of mind, right?
You don’t need a spacious abode with a faraway office wing to keep your workspace at bay. Even most small homes have a nook or cranny that can be turned into a comfy work zone.
Here are eight ideas to inspire your own private productivity.
Scheer & Co. Interior Design
Pull open the curtains and let a cheery wallpaper entice you to get to work. When you’ve punched out for the day, close up the curtains to conceal the workspace. The subtle pattern on the curtains helps blend the hidden office into the rest of the room, while the bright stripes are a fun, unexpected surprise.
Butter Lutz Interiors, LLC
The space under a staircase often goes to waste. Turn that empty void (or dark storage cave) into a useful workspace by building out the area with a desk and some customized storage.
Bess Jones Interiors
Behind this set of wooden bifold doors is a beautiful, inviting workspace. The doors make the space look like the other closets in the house, so it blends right in. Matching stained wood panels on the back wall warm up the work zone.
A spare closet is the perfect place to tuck away a work area. But it doesn’t have to feel like a closet. Add a built-in desk and shelving for storage, and keep the color palette light and airy. Add a playful patterned chair for a dose of personality.
FORMA Design
If you’re lucky enough to have extra-tall ceilings, consider looking up for your new office space. You’ll need just enough height to stand comfortably. (Be sure to consult local building codes.)
This particular space works beautifully with the floor-to-ceiling windows; there’s plenty of natural light to encourage a productive day at the office.
Ingrained Wood Studios: The Lab
Built-in furniture is a great way to make your home exactly as you want it. And this is the case with your home office, too. If you work from home only occasionally, consider a multipurpose space. In this case simply pull up a stool to a counter-height shelf tucked inside a spare pantry.
Need space for work and for guests? This sleek built-in easily conceals the office space behind sliding doors and appears as clean, modern architecture when not in use. The space stays free from work-related clutter, and it can work beautifully as a guest room when the sliders are closed — just add a pullout sofa or a bed.
Min | Day Architects
Here’s the ultimate home office built-in. A section of cabinetry can be pulled out to expose a hidden bench beneath the desk. The beautiful stained wood paneling is wrapped around the wall to add interest and to ensure that hidden areas are perfectly camouflaged.
More: 20 of the Coziest Home Offices on Houzz
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Photo hunting: 19 offices in the living room or bedroom
In urban conditions, when there is no extra room for an office, it is arranged in the living room or bedroom.
We learn from professional designers and architects: how they solved the issue of placing an office in the living room or a workplace in the bedroom. 1. Folding table in the living room0003
Instead of separate pieces of furniture, the architects organized a system of cabinets with a folding workplace. Easy to fold back when the table is no longer needed. The table and leg are completely invisible when folded.
See also ...
more photo from this project in the portfolio of architects
Maria Bezrukova
2. The room in the living room without light
place: Moscow
Author's author: Maria Bezrukova
The owner of this small apartment asked for an isolated bedroom with a window, and a working place in the living room. The living room and study area turned out to be in the back of the apartment, so that it would be light there, glazed transoms were installed along the entire partition.
A young man is studying at a university, and a comfortable desk was one of the main requirements. In a complex partition there was a wardrobe from the side of the bedroom and bookshelves from the side of the living room (they were drowned in a niche).
See also ...
more photo from this project in the portfolio of designer
Architectural Bureau Andrei Stube
3. Cabinet in the niche
place: Moscow, Sretensky Boulevard
Authors of Project: Nadezhda Kiblukova, Nadezhda Kibluk Andrei Stube
This apartment, located in an old building, had many surprises - from chimneys in the walls to many niches. One of them, in the living room, was adapted by the architects for the owner's mini-office. In the evenings, the owner likes to spend time at the computer, but he did not want to close himself from his family in a separate room. nine0003
See also .
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more photo from this project in the portfolio of the Architectural Bureau Andrei Stube
Tatyana Bureau Alenina
4. Cabinet in the kitchen
place: Moscow
Author of the project: Tatyana Alenina
The hostess needed not just an apartment, but a background for plants, leaves, branches, delicate buds - flower arrangements, which she is constantly compiling. At the large desktop in the kitchen, it is convenient for her to deal with plants, create compositions, and conduct master classes. There is enough space for chairs around the table; there is a sink for cleaning flowers. In capacious cases it is possible to store all materials and objects, necessary for floristry. nine0003
SEE ALSO…
More photos from this project in designer's portfolio
Olga Shangina | Photography
5.
Study in the kitchen-living room
Location: Moscow
Project authors: architects Ekaterina and Anna Kalinin, studio DECORA
The owner of this apartment is an architect, and she needed a long table for normal work. It was placed behind the back of the sofa, dividing the space into kitchen and living areas. The table itself is made of a thick laminated top with three pairs of IKEA chrome legs. At this table, almost the entire domestic life takes place: they eat at it, and meet guests, and work. nine0003
See also ...
more photo from this project in the Portfolio of the photographer
Marion Studio
6. Workplace in the depths of g
place: Moscow Project authors: Marion Studio ; carpentry: Luis Sanchez
Although this apartment has a separate study, an additional workspace has been organized in the living room.
Please note: the table was not placed at the window and turned so that there were no distracting doors or passages either in front or behind the person sitting. The walls and built-in shelving have been painted in an enveloping burgundy shade that pairs well with the dark wood that the owners love. nine0003
See also ...
more photo from this project in the portfolio of designers 9000 Daria made for herself and her husband. And it was important for her to allocate a separate office. The solution was a zoning rack in the living room - from floor to ceiling. On the shelves were placed the materials needed for work, a printer and decor. Now the study has its own large window, and in the rest of the living room, subdued lighting is appropriate: the sofa part is used only for relaxation. nine0003
Daria's husband made a 2-meter desktop: there is enough space on the tabletop to work at the computer, check drawings, draw and study. Pendants above the table are essentials: Daria does not like table lamps, and the right light directed at the desktop is often needed for work.
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More photos from this project in the designer's portfolio
CHOICE interior studio
0008
Place: St. Petersburg
Authors of the project : CHOICE interior studio
The workplace in this living room was placed in a shallow niche, which was highlighted with veneered panels. In addition to the traditional table, they also found a place for an electronic piano.
SEE ALSO…
More photos from this project in the designer's portfolio
Dina Aleksandrova
0009 Location: Moscow
Authors of the project: owners of the apartment, Anya and Lesha
The owners have provided two working areas. She is one of them, for Lesha, is in the living room. A table on wheels easily turns into a dining table - in cases where many guests come to the owners.
A table for Anya was placed in the bedroom, the area of which is only 7 sq.m. “My dad, like me, loves old things,” says the owner of the apartment. One day he found a sewing machine on the street and brought it home; we took the legs from her and bought a countertop for them at Leroy Merlin. This is how this table came about. I really like it, although sometimes I wish it was bigger.” nine0003
See also ...
more photo from this project in the portfolio of photographer Dina Aleksandrova
Irina Kireeva
10. Cabinet with the library in the depths of the living room
place: Moscow
Irina Kireeva, studio, studio interior design dots&points
This is not a very large two-room apartment in which the owners did not want to start a major redevelopment. They decided to make a workplace in the living room, where they also placed a library on the entire wall. nine0003
See also .
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more photo from this project in the portfolio of designer
SPECIAL-STYLE
11. table near the living room
place: Moscow
9000
The owner of the apartment asked for an interior with Italian accents and offered to decorate one of the walls with architectural painting. She was dissuaded from the long process of drawing a picture: the decorative scenario was embodied with the help of special wallpapers. Now on the wall is an enlarged engraving by the Dutchman Gaspard van Wittel - the Italian Cathedral of Santa Maria della Salute. Closer to the window, a small dark wood table was placed so that during the daytime the hostess could work in natural light. nine0003
Artem Babayants / Artem Babayants Architects
12. Workplace in the bedroom
Location: Moscow
Designed by: Artem Babayants
The owners of the apartment sometimes work from home.
Therefore, they asked to make a working area in the bedroom, which at normal times will serve as a dressing table. “We installed a console-type table, added an armchair that is comfortable for responsible work,” says Artem. - They did not begin to take out the desktop to the loggia and turn it into an office. But between the loggia and the bedroom, large sliding doors were installed, thanks to which the room is very light. For this, floor convectors were replaced with wall-mounted radiators.” nine0003
See also ...
more photo from this project in the portfolio of designer
Oksana Tsymbalova/Studio "House"
13. Study cabinet at the window
place: Moscow
Project : Oksana Tsymbalova, HOUSE OF THE SUN studio
There is not much space in this small apartment, and the study was organized in a quieter bedroom. The table was placed near the window so that there was comfortable natural light.
nine0003
Pay attention to the wall in the bedroom: it is covered not with wallpaper, but with burlap sheets, which were then covered with paint.
See also ...
more photo from this project in the portfolio of designer 9000
In this small bedroom we found a place for a mini-study. The owners preferred a wide window sill to a separate table, on the sides of which there were shelves for books and working materials. nine0003
See also ...
more photo from this project in the portfolio of designer
Evgeny Apolonov
15. Bend the cabinet
place: Nizhny Novgorod
Evgeny Apolonov
In this one In the project, a mini-office was made in the bedroom space, but so that working moments do not interfere with rest, zoning was provided. The workplace can be easily hidden behind a pair of curtains.
SEE ALSO…
More photos from this project in designer's portfolio
Olga Shangina | Photography
16.
Study in the alcove
Location: Moscow
Author of the project: Tatyana Krasikova
The work desk in this bedroom was placed in the alcove to add functionality to the room: now you can work in privacy and work here . The table and showcase were made to order according to the dimensions of the niche. The owner of the apartment, Ekaterina, calls the alcove one of the most comfortable and favorite places in the house. nine0003
See also ...
more photo from this project in the portfolio of designer 9000 IN-DECO
The small bedroom has a bed, an office and a dressing area. The head of the bed serves as the base of the desktop, and a bookcase with diagonal shelves forms the basis for the dressing room, which is located on the back side. At the head of the bed, from which the desktop “grows”, there are many sockets. All the light in the apartment can be activated with a single button, and even the control of table lamps is brought to the switches so that the wires do not spoil the interior.
Transparent cubes on the table are also lamps, although it is not easy to guess their purpose. In fact, this design find highlights the outline itself. nine0003
See also ...
more photo from this project in the designer portfolio
EVA Priest
18. Additional light for the office in the bedroom
place: Moscow
Project author: Without the right lighting, it is unlikely that you will be able to work normally. In this bedroom, the place for the desktop was not chosen by the window. And to make it comfortable to write and read there, the lighting in the room was divided into two blocks. One illuminates the bed, the second illuminates the desktop area. nine0003
See also ...
more photo from this project in the portfolio of designer
in [ex] Terior by SolnyShkova
19.
Transparent workplace
place: Moscow
Project author: Olga Solnyshkova , studio in[ex]terior
In order to make the desktop not too noticeable in the interior, it was chosen in an almost “invisible” glass version. Such a countertop visually dissolves in space, hiding the working purpose of the table. nine0003
SEE ALSO…
More photos from this project in the designer's portfolio places in the living room. I'll tell you where is the best place to do it. I will name the subtleties of zoning a room with an office, and what is the best interior design for this. I will help you understand how to properly place furniture. I’ll give you some ideas on the proper arrangement of the table, I’ll consider whether it is possible to combine the bedroom with an office. nine0003 Pros and cons of a living room with a work area
The positive side of designing a space for working in a living room is saving usable space. For small apartments, sometimes this is the only opportunity to create an office.
Ideally, when the window is on the left side of the worker.
Whereas the main disadvantage of such a neighborhood is the lack of insulation. It will be difficult to concentrate when children are running around or someone is watching TV.
Zoning allows you to use the living room as an officeWhere is the best place for an office
The best place for such a space is closer to the window. Thanks to natural light, a person does not give in to fatigue for a long time.
If there is access to a loggia from the living room, then it is better to arrange an office there.
The advantage of such a move is isolation, which allows you to work quietly, without being distracted by extraneous noise. Moreover, a wide window sill can become a good desk.
It is best to place the work area near windowThe subtleties of zoning a room with a workplace
A wooden or plasterboard rack will create a dedicated corner. Of course, this will not provide sufficient isolation and silence for the workplace, but a decrease in the volume of the room will occur.
Moreover, it is better to put books, folders and other attributes of a real cabinet on the resulting shelves.
Moreover, their density by and large does not matter. It all depends on the chosen style of interior decoration. nine0003 You can separate the working space with the help of curtains
Use various ceiling and floor coverings to visually separate the business and leisure space. Buy different wallpapers, materials of other textures, or just use other colors and shades.
Office interior designers often provide different false ceilings, and they can even differ in color.
If it is not possible to make a space near or to the side of a window, then it is important to provide this place with sufficient lighting. Plus to the ceiling, it is recommended to install local lighting in the form of a table lamp. nine0003
A podium can be used for the working area.
Moreover, it will carry not only the aesthetic meaning of zoning.
But it can fit and store a lot of things conveniently.
Interior design
Zoning the space of the office and living room can be divided by their style design.
The area around the table is designed in a more restrained way.
At the same time, pastel and light colors, which will brighten the space, will not distract from work. The living room can be made bright and colorful. The main thing is not to use large and bulky furniture and decor elements. It is necessary to make the space as free and spacious as possible. nine0003 Wall decoration is best done in a single color, and paints can be diluted with decor elements and furniture
Proper placement of furniture
It is best that the table is located near the window. This will provide you with natural light during daylight hours.
If you choose the right table model, then even two people can comfortably sit behind it.
But if this is not possible, it can be placed in the center of the room. This is suitable for apartments with a small footage. Since you need to place all the most important areas for a comfortable life in one room. nine0003 The table is best placed by the window.
For rooms that have a niche, or they have a non-standard shape, you can use the chance and order custom-made furniture for arranging the working area. It will create the effect of isolating a place between cabinets. So at the same time useful space will be saved and a convenient place to work will appear.
If there is a niche in the room, then you can allocate it for a workspace. The cabinet is perfect as a partition. This will not only visually hide the table, but also hide from distracting surroundings. nine0009 If the living room is square or rectangular (narrow), then the cost can be placed diagonally in one of the corners. If you put a chair there, you can simultaneously look after, for example, children. It will appear that this is your office.
To hide your office space from prying eyes, enclose it with curtains or curtains.
Ideas for the interior of a living room with a work area
Consider several options for the competent combination of work space and relaxation area in the living room:0003
- creative workplace
- Workstation on a balcony or loggia
- Wide window sill as a working surface
- a workplace separated by a curtain
- cabinet between cabinets
- hidden cabinet
- zoning the office using different heights
For small apartments, sometimes it happens that several vital areas need to be placed in one room.
