Make Your Office Bedroom Combo Work for You
Create a functional and stylish bedroom office so you can work smarter, not harder
Melissa Cowan
12 January 2017
Lover of boho, Scandi and mid-century style. Got a project you think I might like? Get in touch!
Lover of boho, Scandi and mid-century style. Got a project you think I might like?... More
Wake up, get dressed (or not), make a coffee and roll over to do some work at your desk. Sounds like heaven, right? There are, without doubt, perks to working from home: no commute time, far fewer interruptions and more control over your own work environment to name a few. But it also brings with it the necessity to make conscious decisions about how you work most efficiently, and how your work space can help.
It’s likely that most of us would choose a separate office over an office/bedroom combo. But when that’s not possible, making a dedicated work space in your bedroom can be the next best thing. For it to be as conducive to productivity as possible, planning is required. Here are some things to keep in mind when planning or setting up your bedroom office.
It’s likely that most of us would choose a separate office over an office/bedroom combo. But when that’s not possible, making a dedicated work space in your bedroom can be the next best thing. For it to be as conducive to productivity as possible, planning is required. Here are some things to keep in mind when planning or setting up your bedroom office.
Have an outward facing desk
Choosing to face your desk towards a wall or window is a smart move. By having your back to the bed, you are less distracted by the thoughts of sweet slumber when you’re trying to work.
Trestle tables look beautiful and are good for wide spaces, but don’t offer the same storage as most other desks. If the majority of your work and documents are online, then you probably won’t need much storage though.
Choosing to face your desk towards a wall or window is a smart move. By having your back to the bed, you are less distracted by the thoughts of sweet slumber when you’re trying to work.
Trestle tables look beautiful and are good for wide spaces, but don’t offer the same storage as most other desks. If the majority of your work and documents are online, then you probably won’t need much storage though.
Get the chair right
What chair you sit in while you work makes a big difference to your health and comfort. If you won’t be using the chair too frequently, you have more scope to have aesthetics as a primary concern. Either way, you’ll want to get a supportive and comfortable chair, preferably of the well-designed ergonomic variety.
What chair you sit in while you work makes a big difference to your health and comfort. If you won’t be using the chair too frequently, you have more scope to have aesthetics as a primary concern. Either way, you’ll want to get a supportive and comfortable chair, preferably of the well-designed ergonomic variety.
Separate the areas
It’s important to keep a distinction between work and relaxation areas. If you have the room, keeping physical space between your bed and desk is an easy solution.
There are also practical steps you can take to create a distinction between work and play. This depends on what works best for you, but keeping a regular start and finish time can help, as can avoiding checking emails after hours.
It’s important to keep a distinction between work and relaxation areas. If you have the room, keeping physical space between your bed and desk is an easy solution.
There are also practical steps you can take to create a distinction between work and play. This depends on what works best for you, but keeping a regular start and finish time can help, as can avoiding checking emails after hours.
The use of a curtain or screen to separate work and sleep areas is another effective way to separate the spaces. Closing the curtains when you’re done is a direct way to signify the end of the work day. The renter of the space pictured installed the curtain with the help of her landlord, by affixing a long copper pole to the floor and ceiling with plumbing anchors and then stringing on some curtains.
Read more about how the curtain was attached
Read more about how the curtain was attached
Consider multi-function furniture
If you’re working with a really limited space, you may want to use your desk as a bedside table. This can be risky in terms of the two parts of life merging in the same area, however. Small things you can do to help include closing your laptop or turning off your computer when you’re done, and removing all papers and work-related items until you’ll be using it as a work space again. I love the use of a cork board as an inspiration board too.
If you’re working with a really limited space, you may want to use your desk as a bedside table. This can be risky in terms of the two parts of life merging in the same area, however. Small things you can do to help include closing your laptop or turning off your computer when you’re done, and removing all papers and work-related items until you’ll be using it as a work space again. I love the use of a cork board as an inspiration board too.
Hide it in a cupboard
Putting your desk and computer in a cupboard that can close when you’re done is a fabulous idea. Not only can you shut the door when you’re done with work, it also means that the office doesn’t have a visual impact on the rest of the bedroom.
Squeeze in a home office anywhere
Putting your desk and computer in a cupboard that can close when you’re done is a fabulous idea. Not only can you shut the door when you’re done with work, it also means that the office doesn’t have a visual impact on the rest of the bedroom.
Squeeze in a home office anywhere
Tie in the decor
Although your aim may be to separate the two areas, the fact is that your work space will have an impact on the feel and aesthetics of your bedroom. Opting for a desk and chair that don’t contrast too heavily with the rest of the room will help create a sense of cohesion in the space. Essentially the idea is to create a sense of unity with the aesthetics, but also some separation from work for your sanity!
Although your aim may be to separate the two areas, the fact is that your work space will have an impact on the feel and aesthetics of your bedroom. Opting for a desk and chair that don’t contrast too heavily with the rest of the room will help create a sense of cohesion in the space. Essentially the idea is to create a sense of unity with the aesthetics, but also some separation from work for your sanity!
Tying in colours with rest of the room through art placement above the desk or a carefully-selected ornament will help to unify the flow of the room. It will also help provide vibrancy and inspiration to your work environment.
Use a wall bed
Wall beds can work well for a lot of small spaces with different functions, but especially for a bedroom office. Putting the bed up and into the wall makes the space feel like an independent study rather than a combined space. Having the bed away will also help you avoid using your laptop in bed.
Wall beds can work well for a lot of small spaces with different functions, but especially for a bedroom office. Putting the bed up and into the wall makes the space feel like an independent study rather than a combined space. Having the bed away will also help you avoid using your laptop in bed.
Ensure you have enough storage
The amount of paper files, stationery and other work-related bits and pieces you need will obviously depend on what type of work you’re doing. If you want to be on the minimalist side, you could scan in all your important documents to your computer and get rid of the originals (only after you have backed up – to several locations). If paperwork is unavoidable, have a combination of shelves and filing cabinets/folders to keep everything organised and easy to locate.
The amount of paper files, stationery and other work-related bits and pieces you need will obviously depend on what type of work you’re doing. If you want to be on the minimalist side, you could scan in all your important documents to your computer and get rid of the originals (only after you have backed up – to several locations). If paperwork is unavoidable, have a combination of shelves and filing cabinets/folders to keep everything organised and easy to locate.
Have adequate lighting
There’s nothing more demoralising than trying to work in a dark space, or one with fluorescent lighting. The right lighting is important for your eyes, productivity and morale. If there’s a window in your bedroom, place your desk near it and make the best use of beautiful natural light by keeping the blinds fully open, or half open if there is a glare.
If there’s no window, opt for bright but warm overhead lights and/or desk lamps. You’ll want to avoid lighting that causes a glare on your computer screen. Task lighting behind the screen can be one way to improve this.
There’s nothing more demoralising than trying to work in a dark space, or one with fluorescent lighting. The right lighting is important for your eyes, productivity and morale. If there’s a window in your bedroom, place your desk near it and make the best use of beautiful natural light by keeping the blinds fully open, or half open if there is a glare.
If there’s no window, opt for bright but warm overhead lights and/or desk lamps. You’ll want to avoid lighting that causes a glare on your computer screen. Task lighting behind the screen can be one way to improve this.
Think about who’ll be using the space
Will it just be you using the work space? If so, set it up solely according to your own preferences and needs. If, however, you and a partner or friend will be sharing the work space, you’ll need to consider their needs as well. If you will ever be using the work space with someone else at the same time, make sure it’s not going to be too cramped. If there is adequate space, separate the two areas and chairs as much as possible. And make sure you talk about how you can avoid distracting or annoying each other while you work.
Will it just be you using the work space? If so, set it up solely according to your own preferences and needs. If, however, you and a partner or friend will be sharing the work space, you’ll need to consider their needs as well. If you will ever be using the work space with someone else at the same time, make sure it’s not going to be too cramped. If there is adequate space, separate the two areas and chairs as much as possible. And make sure you talk about how you can avoid distracting or annoying each other while you work.
Play with bed levels
The sunken bed pictured looks super cool and helps to create that elusive separation between work and rest zones. If the bed isn’t level with the desk, it will feel less cramped.
TELL US
Do you have an office in your bedroom, or are you thinking of making one? Tell us your thoughts in the Comments.
MORE
Read more bedroom stories
The sunken bed pictured looks super cool and helps to create that elusive separation between work and rest zones. If the bed isn’t level with the desk, it will feel less cramped.
TELL US
Do you have an office in your bedroom, or are you thinking of making one? Tell us your thoughts in the Comments.
MORE
Read more bedroom stories
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How the heck would one get OUT of the sunken bed?!?
Thank you for some great ideas. We are in the process of switching our two guest rooms and making the smaller room an office/overflow guest room. I didn't even think about using that room's closet for office storage!
When I moved, I was able to continue to have a separate room as an office/library, but I went from a dining room to a dining area. I turned my dining room table into my desk and the kitchen table is being used in the dining area. Not exactly elegant (kitchen able in dining area), but very practical. I can thank Houzz for showing me how a dining room table can be just as useful as a desk.