Looking to convert your walk-in closet into an office? This is the article for you! Today I’m incredibly thrilled to unveil my DIY cloffice and share closet office concepts for a compact area.
Previously, I had a snug office nook situated in the corner of our bedroom. However, I yearned to establish a dedicated workspace within our bedroom closet, where I could have an entire space (though small) solely for myself.
Moreover, I recognized it would be pleasant to close the closet doors at the end of the day, rather than having my office arrangement in the bedroom.
If you’re in need of a home office for remote work and seeking cloffice concepts, I trust you will find this article beneficial! I will be detailing how I transformed my walk-in closet into an office, alongside design ideas for a closet home office.
This article may include affiliate links.
Transforming a Walk-in Closet into a Home Office
There are numerous reasons one might wish to change their walk-in closet into a home office. Most importantly, having a designated area for your desk aids in preserving work-life harmony.
Here are the steps I followed to convert our closet into an office! This is a relatively straightforward DIY endeavor that you can accomplish in just a few days. For reference, our walk-in closet measures 57 square feet.
Commence with an Empty Closet
Initially, clear out clothing and other items until you have a vacant closet. This is a fantastic chance to evaluate your wardrobe and donate any unused items.
Related: Curious about where I placed our clothes? Take a look at my IKEA PAX Bedroom Wardrobe Design Ideas and Honest Review.
Take Out the Closet Shelf System
Next, it’s time to detach the existing closet shelf system. We had wire shelving from our builder, which I didn’t particularly like, so I was pleased to remove it!
If you possess similar wire shelves, here’s how to take them down.
- Gently lift and detach the wire shelves from their supports.
- Extract nails (or screws) from the plastic wall brackets using pliers (or a screwdriver).
- Utilize pliers to take off the plastic brackets from the wall.
Related: Replace Wire Pantry Shelves on a Budget
Repair Holes and Paint Cloffice Walls
Now that you have taken out the walk-in closet shelves, it’s time to fix the walls.
Here are some straightforward steps to patching nail holes in a wall:
- Employ spackling and a putty knife to fill the holes.
- Once the spackling has dried, utilize a fine grit sanding block to smooth it out.
- Repeat steps 1 and 2 if necessary to ensure the wall is perfectly smooth.
Next, it’s time to paint your cloffice walls! I opted for a soft green, my top choice for walls. I selected Woodland Sage by Behr paint in eggshell finish.
Change the Overhead Light
Most walk-in closets come equipped with a ceiling light. You can either keep the current light or replace it with something distinctive for your closet office.
I chose to install a fluted brass flush mount to make a bold impression. While I enjoy DIY projects, I’m not comfortable with electrical tasks, so I hired a handyman to set up the light fixture.
Related: Best Flush Mount Ceiling Light Replacements for Boob Lights
Add an Electrical Outlet to a Closet Office
Though the majority of this DIY cloffice project was economical, I had to take the plunge and hire an electrician to include an electrical outlet. It wasn’t inexpensive, but since I planned the room layout and managed most of the manual labor myself, it was a worthy investment to transform this small area into my designated home office!
We decided to position the outlet in the corner, where my standing desk would be situated. It required significant effort for the electrician to climb into the attic and route the new electrical wires to the necessary location, but it was absolutely worth it!
Install Curtains or Blinds in a Cloffice
Ultimately, if your cloffice features a window, you might wish to include curtains, shades, or blinds to manage the natural illumination.
I opted for a brass curtain rod along with plaid curtains, though a chic alternative would be a woven wood roman shade. This variant of shade can be installed inside the window frame or above it.
Related: Viral Amazon Curtains Review: Budget-Friendly Pinch Pleat Drapes
Cloffice Inspirations for a Workspace
After I finalized the DIY aspects of my closet office, it was time to incorporate a desk, chair, storage solutions, and cloffice embellishments!
Standing Desk in the Cloffice
Personally, I decided to retain the standing desk that was previously part of my bedroom office combination.
I enjoy the ability to stand and stretch my legs during part of my work hours. This electric sit-to-stand desk is the one I have! It measures 40 x 24 inches and is also available in white and natural wood finishes.
Traditional Desk for Closet Office
Conversely, you might prefer a classic desk with drawers. I will provide some elegant options below!
- Wood desk
- Secretary desk
- Compact desk
- Floating desk
- Built-in desk
- Small desk
- Ladder desk
Desk Chair for Cloffice
There are numerous choices for fashionable desk chairs. I selected a beige linen upholstered dining chair with wheels for easy maneuverability to my filing cabinet 😉 Sadly, my specific chair is not available right now, but this one is nearly identical.
Alternatively, you might utilize an adjustable desk chair, barrel chair, or various accent chairs.
Related:70+ Best Affordable Accent Chairs for a Living Room
Open Shelving in the Closet Office
Open shelving is an excellent concept for a closet office environment. Utilize it for decorative pieces like picture frames or functional items such as jars filled with paperclips and push pins.
I selected these scalloped floating shelves from Amazon and painted them to match the wall. Here are a few more discoveries:
Decor and Art for Over a Desk
Many individuals ponder what to hang above a desk for decoration. In addition to shelves, here are some closet office wall decor suggestions!
- Oversized artwork
- Gallery wall
- Large mirror
- Wall baskets
- Brass rail with hooks
- Dry erase calendar
- Bulletin board
- Wooden pegboard
Regarding the area next to the desk, I used these brass accordion hooks and a hanging storage basket with faux flowers.
Decor Ideas for the Back Wall of the Closet Office
Finally, to enhance your small home office workspace, you may want to create an appealing background for video calls and Zoom meetings. I decided to repurpose the vintage art gallery wall I created for my prior office arrangement.
In addition to the aforementioned ideas, you could also incorporate bookshelves styled with your favorite volumes. Alternatively, style a ladder shelf with decorative items, if there’s enough space behind the desk!
Related:30+ Best Arched Cabinet and Bookcase Finds
Cloffice Inspirations for Storage Solutions
Next, I wanted to share the storage and organizing ideas I used for my DIY closet office!
Filing Cabinet for Essential Documents
For essential documents, I opted for a filing cabinet
on one end of the desk. A suspended file system is an excellent method to maintain essential documents arranged.
Sideboard for Home Office Enclosed Storage
Next, I selected a chic sideboard (the hue is Fairfax Oak) to provide ample room for storing office necessities and several of my beloved books. On top, I set this sizable French country mirror.
Alternatively, you could opt for custom-built cabinets! Nonetheless, should you have the closet space for a sideboard, it’s a fantastic option that is economical.
Related:30+ Top Rattan Sideboards and Buffets with Cabinet Storage
Here are additional accent cabinets that you might appreciate:
Tidied Closet Office Supplies
To maintain my office supplies organized within the sideboard, I am utilizing paper storage drawers. Here are additional options for small space office organization!
Home Office Task Lists and Calendars
Should you wish to showcase a remote work task list or calendar, here are some adorable choices!
- Acrylic dry erase calendar
- Acrylic dry erase task list
- Floral paper memo pad
- Paper roll task list
- Rainbow paper task list
- Floral weekly calendar pad
- Meal planning paper pad
Cloffice Pin Boards
Lastly, pin boards are an excellent method to display pictures, notes, and other small items in your cloffice. Here are some elegant selections:
Lighting Concepts for a Closet Home Office
Proper illumination is a crucial component for office setups at home. Here are a few of my preferred cloffice lighting ideas!
Cloffice Wall Sconce Lighting
Wall sconces are one of my preferred lighting choices for any area. Not only are wall lights fashionable, they are also functional.
For example, if you are working within a snug area in your closet office, a large table lamp may not be ideal as it could occupy valuable desk space. Wall lighting addresses this concern by leaving ample space on your tabletop.
Although I didn’t utilize a wall sconce above my desk, I implemented a rechargeable LED picture light over the sideboard. This is the hue “gold,” but now they have a “brass” option that has a more realistic tone.
It was the ideal spot for a battery-operated light as there is no outlet nearby. I do need to recharge it occasionally, but it contributes a warm ambiance to my cloffice!
Closet Office Desk Light
Conversely, should you have ample room to use on your desk, you might select a compact table lamp.
I opted for this one for a gentle glow in the evening, in case I am wrapping up some tasks. In this instance, I can plug in the lamp with the new outlet near my standing desk.
Here are several more mini lamps you might find appealing for a cloffice:
Cloffice Overhead Light
Ultimately, I already mentioned adding an overhead light
(or swapping it out for something chic) in this segment.
I would suggest adding at least two light sources for your closet office to ensure adequate illumination. Conversely, if you possess a window in your cloffice, one additional light source might suffice!
Closet Door Concepts for a Cloffice
To conclude this article, I wanted to present several concepts for office closet doors.
I opted to retain the current door to my walk-in closet converted into a home office, but this would also be an excellent opportunity for a sliding barn door to conserve space. Alternatively, you could install French doors for a sophisticated appearance.
On another note, here’s a suggestion for a reach-in closet office. If your closet is smaller, consider removing the doors entirely and using drapes instead. The curtain rod could be set up either inside or outside the closet.
This arrangement keeps your desk readily accessible, yet easy to conceal at the end of the working day! I plan to utilize drapes to cover my entryway closet soon and will include images here when I complete it.
DIY Closet Home Office Summary
I hope you found this article motivating if you aim to establish an ideal workspace in your walk-in closet!
Having my own compact office has enhanced my work-life equilibrium and enabled me to concentrate completely during work hours. Additionally, it was incredibly enjoyable to craft a distinctive space that mirrors my personal style.
Do you have a home office closet for remote work? I would be eager to hear your closet office suggestions in the comments below!
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