Post contains affiliate links.
I went through a pretty big change in my life in February. I left the corporate world to stay home with my kids. If you would’ve asked me 3 years from now or even a year ago if I ever would stay home with the kids, I would say no. I never thought it would be possible to be a stay-at-home mom but the stress of the corporate world was not good for me. I worked about an hour away but with traffic, it sometimes took an hour and a half. By the time I got home, I was exhausted. Dinner still had to be made, kids had to get ready for bed, and preparing for the next day was too much. I barely spent any time with my kids. I didn’t want that, so I resigned. We sold our big house and downsized to a townhouse. In doing that, I lost the office I had. I had to come up with an alternative place to work. I’ll be sharing my essentials for a small home office area.
Essentials for a Small Office Area
Multi-functioning Desk
The “office” ended up in a corner of my bedroom. I’ve read that having a desk in your bedroom isn’t good for Fung Shui but it has worked really well for me. I added a tabletop mirror and it also works as my makeup/hair area. I bought the desk at Ikea and it fits all my needs. It has two drawers where I store makeup and office stuff. The desk holds my laptop, printer, planner/notebook, and my table top mirror.
Shelving
Since space is an issue I decided to add some shelving to my desk area. I can display quotes, photos, and other items I love. My favorite is the light box and the letter board. The floating shelves are also from Ikea and match my desk perfectly. Lots of mermaid stuff on my shelves since I love mermaids! Get shelves that fit your needs whether it is floating shelves or regular shelves. Whatever fits your decor style.
Corkboards
The corkboard was a must because I need to be reminded of deadlines, upcoming events, and sometimes just inspiration. I picked up these two framed corkboards at Ikea (similar one here). They are the perfect addition to my little office area. Buy some cute push pins like these and make it your own!
Prettify the area
Guys, I had some ugly switch and outlet covers. They were hideous and not functional at all. We purchased the house from an older gentleman who thought mustard yellow was a great idea. We had it everywhere! It wasn’t just painted it was sponged on so it looked awful. I was so happy that Legrand partnered with me and sent some beautiful switches and outlets from their Radiant collection. I painted my bedroom a beautiful calming light blue with bright white trim. It really made the space feel serene and peaceful. I had beautiful switches that are multi-functional too! My favorite is the outlets with USB ports! Game-changer! Now I can charge double the amount! It has been a big problem saver for me because the battery in my kid’s tablet seems to die at the same time when I am also charging something. Now I can take care of all 3 at once – winning! Be sure to make the area feel comfortable and pretty. Remember you are going to be sitting here doing work, couponing, browsing the web, or whatever else you’ll be using it for. Make it your own.
Storage
I needed a place to put my extra office supplies, hair products, and little miscellaneous stuff. I found a small ottoman at Marshall’s for only $25! Ikea came to the rescue again with their ERIK drawer unit. It is very spacious and fit perfectly under my desk (without the casters). The desk is long enough to accommodate the storage unit. Find storage items that fit your needs as it will help avoid clutter.
Comfortable office chair
I knew I would be sitting down for long periods of time because I blog and do social media work for a few companies. I needed a chair that was comfortable for sitting for long periods of time but also looked cute. The perfect chair was waiting for me at HomeGoods. Love that store for home decor items. Here is a similar one. It was just sitting there at the end of the aisle. The perfect seat! Be sure to test out the seat in stores so you know exactly how it feels. I tested a few at Ikea and Target but they didn’t feel right or were too pricey.
My little corner of the room offers everything that I need. I have a functional desk, plenty of shelving, and everything that makes me happy. Now I have a little place that is all my own even if it is shared with my bedroom. I hope these essentials for your small home office area helps you create the perfect space for you!
What is your small office essential?
Disclosure: I partnered with Legrand on this post. All opinions stated here are my own.
