No Space to Work? Here’s How to Create a Stylish, Affordable “Cloffice”

If you’re like most of us, you’ve probably been working from home for a while now. And, if space is limited, you’ve most likely taken meetings everywhere from your living room to your bedroom to your kitchen table. Luckily, though, there is an alternative to playing musical chairs during your next Zoom call: the closet office, or “cloffice.”

According to the 2021 Pinterest Trend Report, searches for “cloffice” doubled in 2020, as more and more people began working remotely. And, if social media is any indication, the hot new design trend is only on the rise. 

“Many people have had to be creative with creating a work environment within their existing homes, regardless of having the space to do so,” says Britany Simon, owner and principal designer at Britany Simon Design House. In Scottsdale, Arizona “For productivity, it is important to have a designated and organized space to work. Working from home can be very distracting, so it is ideal to have a quiet place to escape and a closet office is a great place to do that!”

Here, Simon shares her top five tips for creating your very own DIY closet office.

1. Customize Your Desk

“An easy and affordable desktop can be purchased from Home Depot,” says Simon. “They can actually cut your top down to fit whatever width or depth is needed, in-store. Ikea is also a great resource for inexpensive desktop options in multiple sizes from their Linnmon series.”

2. Add a Touch of Whimsy

“A peel-and-stick wallpaper is a great and easy DIY  project to dress up your new cloffice and give it a different vibe,” says Simon. “Opt for a nature-inspired theme to bring the outside in. There’s also a great site to give your desk a more stylish, personalized look called Pretty Pegs. They make legs specifically for Ikea tabletops.”

3. Channel Your Inner Marie Kondo

“Try keeping your workspace and desktop clear,” says Simon. “Opt for creative ways to organize your files and documents. Leather file holders are a clever and design-friendly way to stay organized and uncluttered. You could also consider using a small nightstand to house your printer on top and have drawers for storing files or supplies.”

4. Sitting Pretty

“For the desk chair, I would opt for a non-traditional office chair in a more modern style,” says Simon. “The simple lines of the chair keep it from feeling too bulky within the footprint of a tighter space. CB2 has fabulous furnishing items for the office. Try a more modern office chair to finish off the space in true designer form!”

5. Steer Clear of Clutter

“Consider organizing the closet to declutter the space,” says Simon. “This will help with focus. These bins are a great way to store shoes or other small items that can overwhelm a closet space. Also, a tighter space won’t allow for much storage on your desktop. Try a storage rail system mounted on the wall with a coordinating storage container. These can house pens, scissors, and other everyday items neatly and out of the way of your workspace.”

Did you create a “cloffice?” Show us your closet office ideas on Instagram @Lulus and score cute desktop essentials from our Home & Novelty shop!