Designate With Color

• Instead of placing a desk, chair and bookcase in the corner of a room and calling it an office, designate the space with color. Tape off the area that will be used as the office by using painters tape along the walls and ceiling. Make sure there is enough room to really move around within the space. Lay out the office by placing the actual furniture where it will be used and treat the area as if there were walls and a door in place. Choose a paint color that works with the office décor and the rest of the room and paint within the taped off area. For example, if the room has walls that are a butter color, paint the taped off office area a clay color, an olive or even a red. Color ideas can be taken from textiles and area rug patterns used in the room.
  
  

Close With A Door

• Redesignate space by using closets, corners that are usually ignored or areas of a room that are under utilized. Create the office by replacing existing doors with pocket doors or building one or two walls as needed and including a pocket door for entry. Pocket doors do not take up space like a bi-fold door or conventional door because they slide into the existing wall when open. Closet sized offices will need to be deep enough to close the pocket door when the desk is not in use. Before walling off corners or building walls, make sure the space is large enough to hold a desk, chair, bookcases and other necessities along with adequate space to walk around and sit behind the desk. Use a floor plan software program to draw the space before building.
  
  

Repurpose Furniture

• Just because furniture was bought for the dining or bedroom room doesn't mean it must be used in those rooms. Repurpose a dining table, armoire or breakfront for office use. Refinish with a paint color or stain that fits the décor of the remodeled office. Change inset door panels on a breakfront or armoire by hiring furniture refinishing professionals to cut the panels out and replace them with glass (stained, clear, frosted, etched) or upholstery. If tables are a few inches too low for comfortable desk chair use, raise them by adding casters or levelers to the legs. Levelers and casters can be found in hardware stores, home improvement stores or through furniture hardware manufacturers.