However, for those that don’t have the space for a dedicated room there are many ways to incorporate a workspace into your existing bedroom office. To help get you started on your bedroom remodel we’ve rounded up a host of practical and beautiful home office ideas along with some tips from the experts on how to beautifully blend these two spaces.
Small bedroom office combo ideas
With more and more people working from home in a post-pandemic world, having a dedicated room for a small bedroom with an office is becoming increasingly important as a way to separate to maintain a stable work-life balance. With practical home office storage solutions, curated home office paint colors and enviable interior design schemes, these small bedroom office combos are bound to inspire your home office setup.
1. Increase flow with a coherent color scheme
‘With many of us spending more time than ever at home, our interiors have had to adapt to incorporate new and often multiple uses, home office areas are being incorporated into bedrooms, living rooms, on landings and in alcoves. Decorating is a fantastic way of zoning an office space or seamlessly incorporating one into your design scheme. ‘For an small bedroom office combo that blends your home office desk area into an existing design scheme, consider a tonal color palette, choosing a color from your existing scheme for your desk or chair to create a seamless and harmonious feel,’ says Ruth Mottershead, creative director at Little Greene (opens in new tab).
2. Forgo a traditional desk for a wall-hung version
‘Making a small bedroom office combo work beautifully and efficiently takes a few interior design tricks,’ says Jennifer Ebert, digital editor, Homes & Gardens. ‘If possible, keep the floor clear with a wall-mounted desk. Here, this space-saving design from Ligne Roset can be flipped closed at the end of the day – and there’s even a dedicated space for notebooks and a tablet to be kept within the unit.’
3. Define your home office with a patterned rug
‘We placed this compact Sebastian Cox desk directly in front of the window to allow as much natural light as possible, as well as a beautiful viewpoint, to the desk area which is hugely important when considering the layout of a small bedroom office combo,’ says Clara Ewart, head of design at Kitesgrove (opens in new tab). ‘The rug, sitting beneath the desk and desk chair, helps to define the area within the room as well as adding a touch of luxury underfoot.’
4. Allow the light in, but with privacy
‘Finding the right spot for your home office is key to productivity,’ says Joanna Baumard, co-founder of Purlfrost (opens in new tab). ‘You don’t necessarily need ample amount of space, but you do need natural light and a space that feels clear of clutter. If you haven’t got the luxury of a separate room, the bedroom can often be the next best spot.’ ‘Find an area close to the window, to allow as much natural light into the room. If you’re overlooked by nosey neighbours or perhaps haven’t the best view, window films are a great addition to the window. Available in a whole host of designs; keep it simple with a frosted delicate design or opt for a colorful and bold design for added impact.’
5. Utilize your corners
‘In most rooms there can be ‘dead’ space – more often than not, in corners,’ says Lucy Searle, global editor in chief, Homes & Gardens. ‘This is where you can place your desk, it doesn’t need to sit neatly in there, we like the idea of it being angled as shown here. Make sure you choose a desk and chair that fits the rest of your bedroom scheme for cohesion.’
6. Integrate a desk space along one wall
‘In this small bedroom, to maximize use of space we designed a streamlined bespoke joinery unit including a desk, open storage and wardrobe that runs the length of one wall, freeing up space for a double bed,’ says Rosie Ward, co-founder of Ward & Co (opens in new tab). ‘Philip Jeffries midnight blue wallpaper behind the desk adds a note of cohesion.’
7. Use a curtain to hide your desk
‘Fortunately, you don’t need much to set up a home office these days: just a small desk, a laptop and a chair,’ says Simon Temprell, interior design manager at Neptune (opens in new tab). ‘When creating a workspace in a bedroom it is important that you find a way of making it ‘disappear’ when not in use. If the room is large enough, you could zone the area with the use of curtains or screens so that you can’t see it when you are in bed.’ ‘A four-poster bed with curtains across the front rail could be the anchor for a small writing desk, creating a soft division between night and day. And if you have a deep bay window you could install curtains across the front of the alcove, creating a work nook that doesn’t encroach. Consider the focal points of the room and make sure that the bed remains the centre of attention.’
8. Make a feature of your desk area
Step away from the dull and the corporate and there exists a plethora of desk ideas that will complement your home’s architecture and your decorating tastes. ‘A small bedroom office is the perfect place to showcase your creativity,’ says digital editor, Jennifer Ebert. ‘Use barren wall space to create a gallery wall that will not only serve as vital inspiration, but will also enliven a dull or tiny bedroom.’ ‘Think about your style before you get started. Your decorating approach, whether it’s maximalist, colorful, minimalist or tailored, will lead the way when it comes to displaying artwork on your walls.’
9. Add character with a vintage desk
‘The key to a great small bedroom office combo is proportions,’ says Melanie Griffiths, editor, Period Living. ‘When space is tight you need to consider what bedroom furniture you can fit in, so the two elements work together harmoniously. Here, this vintage desk fits perfectly – it’s narrow, but not too narrow you can’t fit a laptop, notebooks and a lamp on, and long enough to fit at the bottom of the bed without encroaching on floor space. Vintage pieces are good for this as they come in more irregular sizes.’
10. Utilize ever nook and corner
‘Where space is limited, and your work area needs to be in a bedroom, you can be creative by repurposing the corner of a room, an alcove or space in the eaves to create a workspace for focus that helps to aid your concentration,’ says Ruth Mottershead, creative director at Little Greene (opens in new tab). ‘Smaller spaces or calm rooms such as bedrooms will work best with a soft neutral scheme such as ‘Stone Dark Cool’ combined with ’Slaked Lime’ on woodwork or your desk, which will provide a gentle, yet brighter contrast, creating an elegant and functional space, perfect for an unused corner of your small bedroom office combo.’
How do you set up an office in a small bedroom?
There are many smart ways to set up an office in a small bedroom. We recommend scaling things down, or, in other instances, using the right bedroom color and prioritizing which areas of the diminutive room are to be the focus. This is a wonderful opportunity to show off your logistical and decorating knowledge and prove to everyone that, with a spark of imagination and a can-do attitude, you can turn bedroom into a small bedroom office combo that not only inspires creativity but also looks beautiful and tailored.
