Plan to Downsize into a Tiny House? How to Create a Small Home Office

By Alexis Stephens | December 19, 2019

Effective tiny home office space is possible! See our tips below.

The tiny house lifestyle comes with tons of fantastic opportunities:

Travel with your home
Experience financial freedom by living more simply
Have a smaller carbon footprint and live more eco-friendly
Have less to clean

But if you're new to tiny living, it can be frustrating trying to figure out how to create living spaces to meet all your needs in limited square footage.

If you work from home, a workspace is an essential ingredient to your quality of life. You need to have your area for focused, uninterrupted work.

There are a lot of things that you can do without, but your means of making a living shouldn't be one.

Read on to figure out how you can create a small home office, no matter what your square footage is.

Where Do I Start?

When you're trying to decide what you need in your tiny house home office, start with the necessities. Sort out what you need to have, and get rid of what you don't need.

Must-Haves

What things do you need to have to do your work? What size are these items, and how accessible does each element need to be?

How big is your computer? If you have a desktop or a laptop, know your measurements so you can see the amount of space it will take up in your workspace.
Do you need to have a printer, scanner, landline phone, or the like?
Is a shredder necessary for your work?
Do you need a filing system?
What do you use to keep yourself organized? (calendar, corkboard, desktop organizers, etc.)

Look around your current workspace. Everything you use takes up valuable real estate in your small home office, so only keep what you need.

If It's Not a Must-Have, Get Rid of It!

Everything that you considered as a "maybe," should go straight to the "get rid of" pile. When it comes to creating a small home office that won't make you feel cluttered, less will always be more.

An accountant's 22' tiny house with a cleverly placed home office!

What Does My Small Home Office Need?

Now that you know what equipment you need for your work, how can you make your space work for YOU?

Desk / Workspace

Your desk is the foundation of your workspace. Find an unused space in your home that would work for your office, and then find a desk that fits that space. Depending on the size and layout of your tiny home, a built-in table might be work better.

Depending on the equipment you need, your desk needs to help you feel more comfortable rather than cramped. If desired, look into an adjustable desk option that can give you seated and standing options.

Comfortable Seating

Your career can take up 40+ hours of your week every week. If you're not comfortable, you will spend valuable moments fidgeting or distracted because of your discomfort. While your electronics are the biggest ticket item, your chair should be the second. Even if you opt for a bench seat of some kind, go for the top-quality, high-density foam cushions.

Shelving and Storage

Tiny homeowners are experts at making the most of every inch of space. Figure out what you need to keep handy, and then figure out where you stash things that aren't needed daily. Find ways to simplify your decorations to help make your workspace feel as large as possible.

Lighting

Proper lighting is essential to preparing you for an effective workday. You don't want it to be so bright that it's harsh on your eyes and glaring off your computer, but you don't want it too dark that you feel sleepy and unmotivated.

If tabletop lighting is your preference, choose small lights that won't take up a ton of space; or mount them on the wall for more space-saving.

Wall Space

Make the most of your area by utilizing your walls. Put clipboards on your wall to hold relevant documents, put up corkboards to pin up your work, or stack shelves for your work resources.

The wall space under your desk is also a great place to put some organizational tools so you can use your desktop space for what is essential.

A 30' tiny house with a spacious home office in a seperate room!

I Don't Have Space!

If you're looking around your tiny living space and shaking your head because you don't have the space to commit to an office, consider these alternative ideas to make your space more comfortable:

Let your desk work part-time for you and serve another purpose for the rest of the time.
Choose a fold-down desk that can lay flat against the wall when not in use.
Look into a shipping container office for a space that is all your own, especially doable if you own land.
If your climate is right, consider working outside with a picnic table and sun cover.
Utilize temporary workspace at a local coffee shop or library. It can be a refreshing change of pace! Sometimes you may also find free wi-fi that is more powerful than what you use in your home, but not always.
Join a coworking space for a dedicated workspace that comes with great perks.

A container home office on a tiny homestead!

One Size Doesn't Fit All

Every workspace isn't created equally. Figure out what you need and then adjust your space accordingly. After a few months, you'll likely come up with ideas for perfecting your home office space.

Don't be discouraged if you feel like you lack adequate space. There are always options, so keep an open mind.

A small home office is a great way to make the most of your space, while still having room to do the things that bring you joy. Don't settle for an area that is too small, cramped, or distracting. Your home office is where you will spend a lot of time, so make sure you are comfortable while you are working.

Look for ideas that inspire you, and don't settle for anything that isn't exactly what you need to do your job right.