Home Office Storage & Organization Solutions

Create a corner office at home by zoning a section of a larger room (such as a living room or family room) as a work zone. Behind this desk, a large bookcase fulfills all the storage needs of this work area in one simple system. For more storage, hang floating shelves along the wall. When planning your home office, make sure there are adequate outlets nearby for computers, printers, and task lighting.

Put an awkward corner to use and add in office functionality with a classic secretary. Although the design is antique, a piece like this one has modern appeal. The pullout desk easily accommodates a laptop, and the shelves above the desk, as well as the drawers below it, can be fitted with baskets and boxes for filing paperwork and organizing supplies.

A small desk tucked into a kitchen is suited for many tasks, such as doing homework or jotting down a grocery list. Incorporate a few drawers and cubbies to maximize the space's storage capacity.

In a small space, take office storage to the walls to keep work surfaces clutter-free. In this space, cubbies were mounted to the wall and magazine holders were screwed into the bottom of the cubbies for an innovative mail sorter. For an easy and affordable work surface, transform a slab door into a desktop by mounting it to a wall and placing bookcases or file cabinets beneath it for support.

Bump a desk up against a window with a deep window sill and use the sill as an improvised shelf for baskets and boxes. Plus, placing a desk near a window provides plenty of natural light.

Do you need an office for more than one person? Use a dining table as a desk and place it perpendicular to a wall so several people can sit at the table at once. This table bumps up against a wall of built-ins, which add storage. A large bookcase also works wonders for an office setup like this.

If your office space is used for creative endeavors, such as scrapbooking and crafting, incorporate storage around your work space and keep all supplies at your fingertips. This desk area has an abundance of drawers, plus at-your-fingertips supply cups along the back of the desk. Achieve this functionality by drilling large holes the size of silverware cups into a desktop, dropping the cups into the holes, and filling them with scissors, markers, and more.

Turn storage upside down with an inventive way to use kitchen cabinets. Hang a cabinet horizontally and attach piano hinges to the doors so it can open to become a mini desk area. When not in use, the door can simply be closed to conceal the work area and maintain a sleek appearance.

Turn an existing dresser or other unit with deep drawers into a file cabinet with one simple addition. Install adjustable hanging file frames (available at office supply stores) in the drawers and develop a filing system with tabbed hanging folders.

Add storage to a minimal, no-frills desk with a small shelf or table tucked underneath. Look for a unit on casters so you can easily slide it out and use the top as an extra work surface.

Line a wall with two identical tables for a chic symmetrical look. This work space, stationed in a living room, can be cleared of office supplies and double as a buffet or bar for hosting parties.

Turn an awkward closet into an office with a few quick changes. Remove the closet doors and paint (or wallpaper) the interior. Hang shelves along the wall and tuck in a desk for a quick-fix office that packs efficient function into a small sliver of space.

For a simple, do-it-yourself desk, employ sturdy file cabinets as a base and a large desktop, or painted panel, as the work surface. Position the desktop on the file cabinets and screw into place.

Capitalize on a corner office space by extending upper cabinetry into an L shape rather than just straight across the back of the desk. Use this newfound storage space for display or for office necessities, such as files and desk supplies.

Take a storage lesson from this small desk space and add in storage wherever you can. Cubbyholes along the bottom of the desktop provide space for tucking in papers and notebooks, while a file cabinet below stores more supplies, as well as important paperwork. Above the desk, a shelf stores even more supplies, and magnetic strips act as a posting place for important notes and to-do lists.

Serve all your organizational needs with a combination of basic solutions. Mount squares of fabric-covered corkboard for posting notes, pegboards for hanging supply cups and bins, and whiteboards or chalkboards for jotting down reminders.

A curved desk such as this one provides a work surface on both sides of a computer while leaving plenty of space for stationing storage trays and baskets. Use large boxes to tuck supplies under the desk for a quick storage fix.

An underused alcove was given new life as an office and storage station. A basic desktop was upgraded with a pretty skirt to conceal storage beneath. Shelves were mounted high along the wall to create more head space above the desk. Higher shelves such as these are ideal for storing infrequently used items. When needed, they are easy to locate but are kept out of the way to make room for things used on a regular basis.

Inconspicuously add an office to a living area with a few simple tricks. Incorporate as much concealed storage as possible, such as these clean-front cabinets, which add office functionality without distracting from the rest of the room. Take steps to add in elements to tie the space to the rest of the room. A bamboo chair and burlap-covered bulletin board harmonize with the living room's natural look.

If you need a lot of space for paperwork, consider this setup. Nix the office chairs and basic desk, and replace with plush armchairs and a handsome round table, perfect for spreading out all your materials. Position a bookcase nearby to organize files and archived paperwork.

If floor space is limited, bring storage off the floor and onto a desk. Place a small bookcase on top of a desk, which will give you a space to store supplies at your fingertips.