Making Space for Work, Without Losing Space for Living
Remote and hybrid working are part of everyday life now. The trick is carving out a workspace that supports focus without swallowing your home. Here’s how to create a compact, comfortable home study that blends in beautifully, especially when space is tight.
Start with the environment (comfort first)
Long stints at the dining table or sofa won’t cut it. A dedicated desk and a supportive chair are non-negotiable for posture and productivity. If you can, choose a sit-stand desk to break up sitting time and keep energy higher throughout the day.
Let daylight do the heavy lifting. Position your desk to make the most of natural light and reduce the need for desk lamps. With Shelved’s modular system, you can integrate a desk into your shelving and place it exactly where you get the best natural light.
Find the right spot (even if it’s not a “room”)
Great home offices often live in underused nooks:
- Alcoves: Use a built in desk with wall-to-wall shelving for books, samples and tech.
- Under-stairs: Select low cabinets and stepped shelving; add a desk module where headroom is tallest.
- Awkward corners: Corner units and slim uprights turn dead space into productive space.
- Wide but shallow walls: Choose open shelves up top and closed cabinets below to maximise capacity without crowding.
Shelved’s tool-free assembly modular system adapts around doors, windows and sloped ceilings—so your layout fits your space (not the other way round). And because it’s reconfigurable, it can evolve from “work zone” today to “living storage” tomorrow.
Get storage working for you (and your living room)
A tidy workspace feels bigger. Balance open shelving (for the things you reach for daily) with closed cupboards (for the not-so-pretty stuff). Select storage that’s dedicated for cables, chargers and a dedicated printer cubby keep surfaces clear and your evenings clutter-free.
Add personality without visual noise: a couple of plants, framed prints, samples or mood boards. With Shelved units, a desk module can form part of your shelving so you don’t lose storage, and you maximise space.
Why Shelved works well for home offices
- Modular, made-to-order: Configure widths, heights, finishes and features to suit your project.
- Design online: Use the configurator to create layouts, add cupboards, desks and planters.
- Strong, reconfigurable, flat-packed: Easy to assemble with tool-free assembly, and simple to adapt as your needs change.
Quick layout ideas
- “Wall of storage” office: Full-height shelving with a centred desk module; closed bases hide tech and files.
- Living-room workstation: Low sideboard with desk section and open shelves for books and plants.
- Under-stairs study: Stepped cabinets following the stringer; slim desk where the head height peaks.
- Alcove twin desk: Symmetrical shelves either side of a chimney breast with two integrated workstations.
FAQs
How do I set up a home office in a small living room?
Use modular shelving with a desk layout along one wall. Include closed storage below for cables, router and printer, and open shelves above for books and décor.
Can I build a home office under the stairs?
Yes. Combine low cabinets for storage with stepped shelving. Place the desk where headroom is highest and lowest where the least used items will be kept; a modular system makes these angles simple.
What’s the best way to hide cable clutter?
Route power to one side of the desk, use grommets and a cable tray, and store a multi-plug in a base cabinet. Keep chargers in a shallow drawer near the desktop.
Ready to design yours?
Jump into the Shelved configurator to create a modular home office that fits your space, light and workflow—without giving up your living room. Or reach out to the team for help designing here.
