If you're looking to create a dedicated office or study space in a small space or tiny home, you might want to consider a small bedroom and office combination. The key to a small and efficient small bedroom and office combination is to balance practicality with style so as not to encroach on your sleeping space.
But even if you don't have the space to create a dedicated room, there are plenty of ways to incorporate a workspace into your existing bedroom office space. To help you get started on your bedroom renovation, we've rounded up lots of practical and beautiful home office ideas, as well as some expert tips on how to beautifully blend these two spaces.
Small bedroom and office combination ideas
As more people work from home in a post-pandemic world, having a dedicated room that doubles as a small bedroom and office is becoming increasingly important to maintain a stable work-life balance.
Featuring practical home office storage solutions, handpicked home office paint colors, and enviable interior design schemes, these small bedroom office combos are sure to inspire your own home office setup.
1. Use a consistent color scheme to improve flow
(Image courtesy of Little Greene)
“With many of us spending more time at home than ever before, interiors have had to adapt to accommodate new and often multiple uses, with home office areas being incorporated into bedrooms, living rooms, landings and alcoves. Decorating is a great way to zone office space or work it seamlessly into a design scheme.”
“For a small bedroom office combo where you want to blend your home office desk area into your existing design scheme, consider a tonal colour palette and choose colours from your existing scheme for the desk and chair to create a seamless, harmonious feel,” says Ruth Mottershead, creative director at Little Green.
2. Replace a traditional desk with a wall-mounted one
(Image courtesy of Ligne Roset)
“Making a small bedroom/office combo work beautifully and efficiently requires a few interior design tricks,” says Jennifer Ebert, digital editor at Homes & Gardens. “If possible, free up floor space with a wall-mounted desk; here, this space-saving design from Ligne Roset folds up at the end of the day. There's also a dedicated space within the unit to store a notebook or tablet.”
3. Make your home office stand out with a patterned rug
(Image courtesy of Kitesgrove)
“We positioned this compact Sebastian Cox desk directly in front of the window to allow the desk area as much natural light and a beautiful view as possible, which is crucial when planning a small bedroom/office layout,” says Clara Ewart, head of design at Kitegrove. “The rug under the desk and desk chair not only separates the area in the room, but also adds a luxurious touch underfoot.”
4. Let in the light while still maintaining privacy
(Image courtesy of Purlfrost)
“Finding the right spot for your home office is key to being productive,” says Joanna Baumard, co-founder of Purlfrost. “It doesn't necessarily have to be spacious, but it does need to have natural light and be free of clutter. If you don't have a separate room, the bedroom is often the next best place.”
“Find a spot close to a window to let as much natural light into the room as possible. If you're worried about nosy neighbours or don't have a great view, window film can be a great solution for your windows. There are a variety of designs available – you can keep it simple with a subtle frosted design or go for a colourful, bold design that will make an impact.”
5. Make use of corners
(Image courtesy of Carpetright)
“Most rooms have 'dead' space, usually in a corner,” says Lucy Searle, global editor-in-chief of Homes & Gardens. “That's where you put a desk. It doesn't have to be neatly placed – maybe at an angle, as shown here. Make sure you choose a desk and chair that matches the rest of the bedroom for a unified look.”
6. Create a desk space along the wall
(Image courtesy of Ward & Co/Jon Bond)
“In this small bedroom, we maximised the space by designing a streamlined, bespoke millwork unit that includes a desk, open storage and wall-to-wall wardrobe, with room for a double bed,” says Rosie Ward, co-founder of Ward & Co. “A midnight blue wallpaper by Philip Jeffries behind the desk adds a unifying touch.”
7. Use curtains to hide your desk
(Image courtesy of Neptune)
“Luckily, you don't need much to set up a home office these days – all you need is a small desk, a laptop and a chair,” says Simon Temprel, interior design manager at Neptune. “When creating a workspace in your bedroom, it's important to find a way to 'disappear' when not in use. If the room is large enough, you can use curtains or screens to zone the area and keep it out of sight when you're in bed.”
“A four-poster bed with curtains hung over the front rail can act as an anchor for a small writing desk, creating a soft division between day and night. And if you have a deep bay window, you can attach curtains to the front of the alcove to create an unobstructed work space. Consider the focal point of the room, so the bed is always the center of attention.”
8. Define your desk area
(Image courtesy of Natalia Miyar)
If you stray from the boring, corporate vibe, you'll find plenty of desk ideas to match your home's architectural and decorative tastes.
“A small bedroom office is the perfect place to showcase your creativity,” says digital editor Jennifer Ebert. “Take advantage of empty wall space and create a gallery wall, which can not only be a great source of inspiration but also liven up a boring or small bedroom.”
“Before you begin, think about your style. Whatever your style of decorating – maximalist, colorful, minimalist, tailored – how you do it matters when it comes to hanging artwork on your walls.”
9. Add personality with a vintage desk
(Image courtesy of Francesca's Paints/Artist Residence)
“The key to creating a successful small bedroom/office combo is balance,” says Melanie Griffith, editor at Period Living. “If the space is small, you need to consider what furniture you can fit in the bedroom so the two elements work in harmony. Here, this vintage desk is the perfect fit. It's narrow but not so narrow that you can't fit a laptop, notebook, or lamp on it, and it's long enough to fit under the bed without encroaching on floor space. Vintage furniture is well-suited for this, as it comes in more irregular sizes.”
10. Make the most of every nook and cranny
(Image courtesy of Little Greene)
“If space is limited and you have to fit your workspace into your bedroom, you can get creative and repurpose a corner, alcove or under-eaves to create a workspace that helps you concentrate,” says Ruth Mottershead, creative director at Little Green.
“For smaller or quieter spaces like bedrooms, a soft, neutral color scheme like the combination of Stone Dark Cool and Slake Lime on the woodwork and desk works best. This creates a calming, yet bright contrast that creates an elegant and functional space, perfect for an unused corner that doubles as a small bedroom and office.”
How do you set up an office in a small bedroom?
There are lots of smart ways to set up an office in a small bedroom.
We recommend scaling back or using the right bedroom colours and prioritising which areas of your small room you want to focus on.
This is a great opportunity to show off your logistics and decorating knowledge and prove to everyone that with a spark of imagination and a bit of motivation, you can transform a bedroom into a little bedroom/office that not only inspires your creativity but also looks beautifully tailored.