9 Clever Storage Ideas for Your Home Office
Whatever size of office space you have at home, these solutions will help you keep it tidy, organised and inspiring
Whether your home office is tucked in a corner or housed in a dedicated room, you can create a desk space that’s clutter-free and productive by choosing the right storage. Check out these schemes to find ideas for designing the perfect home office storage for your space.
2. Hide away
If you have a lot of office items to store, you might find it easier to keep them concealed in a cabinet. Make the most of any wall space by fitting a line of cupboards in which you can organise all your work paraphernalia while keeping the rest of the space clutter-free.
The designers of this home office have built the cabinets right up to the ceiling and along the sloped surface. If bespoke joinery isn’t in your budget, consider adapting freestanding wardrobes or kitchen units instead.
If you have a lot of office items to store, you might find it easier to keep them concealed in a cabinet. Make the most of any wall space by fitting a line of cupboards in which you can organise all your work paraphernalia while keeping the rest of the space clutter-free.
The designers of this home office have built the cabinets right up to the ceiling and along the sloped surface. If bespoke joinery isn’t in your budget, consider adapting freestanding wardrobes or kitchen units instead.
3. Design a nook
Create a cosy desk area by constructing cupboards either side of your desk. Here, a window forms the central area where the desk is located, while cabinets either side turn it into a snug workspace.
Drawers and cupboards are ideal for stowing everything out of the way, while handy shelves are positioned within easy reach of the desk.
Planning some bespoke storage in your home office? Find carpenters and cabinetry professionals near you.
Create a cosy desk area by constructing cupboards either side of your desk. Here, a window forms the central area where the desk is located, while cabinets either side turn it into a snug workspace.
Drawers and cupboards are ideal for stowing everything out of the way, while handy shelves are positioned within easy reach of the desk.
Planning some bespoke storage in your home office? Find carpenters and cabinetry professionals near you.
4. Create some cubbyholes
If you’re planning to install wall cabinets above your desk, consider adding a few useful shelves below where you can quickly access frequently used items.
In this home office space, the shallow wall cabinet has a few cubbyholes below it for paper and stationery items. These are built in as part of the cabinetry, but you could create something similar with simple shelves.
If you’re planning to install wall cabinets above your desk, consider adding a few useful shelves below where you can quickly access frequently used items.
In this home office space, the shallow wall cabinet has a few cubbyholes below it for paper and stationery items. These are built in as part of the cabinetry, but you could create something similar with simple shelves.
5. Fashion the perfect combination
It’s a good idea to combine both hidden storage and display shelves in your home office. Cupboards and drawers will allow you to conceal functional items and keep the room uncluttered and tidy, while shelves will provide a perch for things you need to grab quickly. You can also use ledges to display attractive items to ensure your office space feels cosy and inspiring.
Here, the owners have the best of both worlds – a modular system that consists of both cabinets and shelves.
5 Ingredients for a Home Office That Works
It’s a good idea to combine both hidden storage and display shelves in your home office. Cupboards and drawers will allow you to conceal functional items and keep the room uncluttered and tidy, while shelves will provide a perch for things you need to grab quickly. You can also use ledges to display attractive items to ensure your office space feels cosy and inspiring.
Here, the owners have the best of both worlds – a modular system that consists of both cabinets and shelves.
5 Ingredients for a Home Office That Works
6. Blend in with the living space
If your office area is part of another room, blend it in by choosing storage furniture that fits with other pieces in the space. Here (pictured above and left), for example, the desk takes up half of the reception room, so the designers have used a sideboard for office storage.
The design of the furniture item replicates the alcove cabinets throughout the room, which helps to give the whole space a balanced, cohesive look.
If your office area is part of another room, blend it in by choosing storage furniture that fits with other pieces in the space. Here (pictured above and left), for example, the desk takes up half of the reception room, so the designers have used a sideboard for office storage.
The design of the furniture item replicates the alcove cabinets throughout the room, which helps to give the whole space a balanced, cohesive look.
7. Tuck in some trays
Avoid a pile of paperwork building up on your desk by incorporating trays into your office storage.
The design here is super-efficient, as the cabinet shelves have each been fitted with individual trays. The owner can organise their paperwork into categories and simply pull each tray out when they need to find a particular item.
If building them in isn’t an option, slot tiered letter trays onto a shelf for a similar effect.
Size Matters: Dimensions to Note When Designing Your Home Office
Avoid a pile of paperwork building up on your desk by incorporating trays into your office storage.
The design here is super-efficient, as the cabinet shelves have each been fitted with individual trays. The owner can organise their paperwork into categories and simply pull each tray out when they need to find a particular item.
If building them in isn’t an option, slot tiered letter trays onto a shelf for a similar effect.
Size Matters: Dimensions to Note When Designing Your Home Office
8. Build above the door
Take a look around your home office to see if there are any dead areas you could utilise for storage. The space above the doorway is often overlooked, but can be a useful area for shelves.
In this study, the designers have fitted simple shelves above the desk and, rather than stopping at the door, have carried on right across the wall. The additional storage space provides a handy spot for bulky box files.
Take a look around your home office to see if there are any dead areas you could utilise for storage. The space above the doorway is often overlooked, but can be a useful area for shelves.
In this study, the designers have fitted simple shelves above the desk and, rather than stopping at the door, have carried on right across the wall. The additional storage space provides a handy spot for bulky box files.
9. Add an extra surface
When you’re devising storage for your office, don’t forget to make room for the printer. If you don’t want this bulky item to take up room on the worktop, you could incorporate an additional surface instead.
A low shelf like this one is ideal, as it allows the printer to be located right next to the workspace, and there’s even more surface for storage or display alongside.
Browse more home office ideas
Tell us
How have you included useful storage in your home office? Share your ideas and photos in the Comments section.
When you’re devising storage for your office, don’t forget to make room for the printer. If you don’t want this bulky item to take up room on the worktop, you could incorporate an additional surface instead.
A low shelf like this one is ideal, as it allows the printer to be located right next to the workspace, and there’s even more surface for storage or display alongside.
Browse more home office ideas
Tell us
How have you included useful storage in your home office? Share your ideas and photos in the Comments section.
Before you install shelves along your desk wall, take some time to work out what you want to store. Sort through your items, recycling anything you don’t need and relocating things that aren’t used in the office. Once you’ve done this, you should have an organised collection of items that need allocated storage.
Now you can work out how much shelving you need for each group of items, and the amount of room you require above each shelf.
The shelving unit in this home office has been devised to fit all the owner’s items perfectly, so there’s no wasted space.