33 Closet Office Ideas for a Productive Workspace

The pandemic catapulted millions of Americans into a work-from-home environment. Many took this challenge as an opportunity to invest in their space and make it conducive to progress and organization. So much so that people made their office workspaces fit into the confines of their homes. If you don’t have a room in your house or apartment to dedicate to working, don’t worry!

The closet office, or “cloffice” as many call it, takes a regular hall closet in your home and transforms it into a home office for remote work. Its popularity is attributed to home improvement aficionados and remodeling genies who have made impressive transformations of ordinary closets into the most eye-catching offices. We’ve compiled an exhaustive list of how to create a cloffice and closet office ideas to inspire you.

How To Turn a Closet Into an Office

For those who want a quick and easy way to spruce up your home office, there are many options for how to upgrade your workspace without breaking the bank. Check out our step-by-step guide to create a modern, organized office with everything you could need as you work from home.

1. Pick Out the Perfect Location

The best location for your closet office depends on your space. If you have an unused hall closet, see if you can install a closet office. When upgrading your personal closet, reallocate space for a desk, some shelving and anything else you would need for your workspace. Better yet, if you have some space under your staircase, there are plenty of ways to spruce up an under-stair nook for a clean, modern office.

Your cloffice is what you make it: some use this as an opportunity to renovate their closet while others slide their desk into an empty closet, add some decor and call it a day. Regardless of how elaborate you’d like the project to be, there are many methods you can use to keep costs low. Things like wallpaper, floating shelves and a new coat of paint can make a world of difference without breaking the bank.

Closet offices can be utilized with a door or without one. If you decide to keep the doors on your closet office, closing them helps you keep your workspace out of sight for guests or your work-life balance. On the other hand, taking the doors off allows for a sneak peek at your home office. Think about what will work best for you and go from there.

Cluttered desks make it harder to focus and find what you need. Try to make this space minimal by using floating shelves and only include what you need.  For an organized desk, only have a few items on it and place the rest of your belongings on shelves or in drawers.

The key to a productive closet office is organization. One of the golden rules when it comes to organizing is making sure that everything has its place, and everything that doesn’t have a place should be thrown out. Storage like shelves, drawers and cabinets can help you optimize small spaces, so investing in the appropriate furniture and home decor is of utmost importance.

When you have less desk space, a desk riser or computer stand lifts your monitor or laptop so that you can add storage underneath. This prevents you from having to push aside items on a messy desk before your next video call.

Many of us have more devices than we can handle, which makes a charging station an ideal option for keeping everything close at hand. Having a designated place for your phone, tablet and wireless headphones helps keep your workspace organized and clutter-free.

If you have space in your DIY closet office, getting a corner bookshelf allows you to store books and other miscellaneous items in a place where you can see them. Perfect for smaller spaces, a corner bookshelf can designate one corner of your closet office to storage as well as decoration.

Many of us love to write things down and this is proven to help you retain information. Getting a dry-erase board or a chalkboard for your wall adds another space for you to write down all the important things for your workweek.

Whether you have keys or glasses, adding wall hooks to your cloffice helps keep things off your desk and shelves and instead lets them hang where the eye can see.

For those who hop on video calls all day every day, having a mirror somewhere in your home office allows you to do a quick check-in to make sure you’re looking your best. Mirrors can also create the illusion of a bigger space even if they’re in a smaller room, so adding mirrors can make your closet office look bigger than it is.

Closet Office Furniture Ideas

Upgrade your office space with furniture optimized for your specific needs. Make sure to measure the depth, width and height of your closet office before buying any office furniture so that it fits. The essential closet office furniture includes, but isn’t limited to, a desk, chair, shelves and additional storage.

While choosing a desk for your office may seem like a daunting task, opting for a simple design will benefit you in the long run. Computer desks and standing desks can be used in your closet office, but those types of desks fit bigger offices better than smaller ones. Desks with built-in storage might save you some money so you don’t have to buy separate items. When choosing a desk for your closet office, make sure to identify the size and style of desk that works best for your work.

Your office chair is just as important as your desk because it has the responsibility of supporting your back and neck muscles while you work long hours. Picking a chair that is not only stylish but comfortable makes for a cohesive closet office. Upholstered chairs provide comfort while also being stylish, while a swivel chair might suit your needs better if you want mobility. Stools and wooden chairs may not be the most comfortable, but finding the optimal pillow provides a cushion for those long workdays.

For smaller spaces, shelving is an easy and efficient way to increase storage space. Most closets already have some shelving installed, so feel free to utilize that built-in storage space. Don’t shy away from adding narrow or floating shelves to the empty wall space as they are easy to install and very minimalistic. If you need a more temporary shelving option, you can hang wire baskets on the walls using hooks or use plank-and-bracket shelves.

Cabinets and file drawers can be stored underneath your desk or table for compact storage. Finding furniture that incorporates storage is a great way to optimize space in a more compact closet office. That way, you can save money and save space.

Baskets and bins are also a great idea for shelf storage so that you don’t have cluttered miscellaneous items on your shelves. Even if the contents of the basket aren’t perfectly organized, you have a space to put little items so your space doesn’t look cluttered.

Storage caddies can help you organize your drawer space so you can easily find what you need. They can also be used inside baskets or on shelves to make your office space neat and easy on the eyes.

Folders and file holders help you keep your paperwork and documents organized, whether that be by color-coding or alphabetical order. You can add them to your wall or on top of your desk depending on how you organize your space.

Desk lamps can help brighten up your space if you don’t have natural lighting. By picking one with a built-in USB charger, you get light and utility with one piece of decoration!

For those who spend the workweek at their desk, adding a cushion to your office chair can help make a stylish chair more comfortable. Working long hours while seated doesn’t do your back any favors, so making sure you have enough lumbar support makes you as productive and comfortable as you can be!

Closet Office Decor Ideas

Decorating is arguably one of the best parts of the process of putting together your closet office. Whether you’re more of a minimalist or you prefer lots of items in your workspace, there are plenty of options to spruce up your closet office and make it more personalized.

Adding a rug to your closet office gives it a homey feel and a classy touch. Sticking to simple rug patterns and muted colors is the safer route unless you want your floors to make a statement.

Posters, murals and photographs are great options to personalize your office space. Finding pieces of art that inspire you can help you be more productive in your new closet office space. To create a cohesive theme, try to keep all your art and decorations within the same color palette.

If you don’t have the time or energy to give your cloffice walls a fresh coat of paint, wallpaper is also a great option, especially if you like patterns and prints. If you’re not ready to commit to traditional wallpaper, removable wallpaper is a great way to redecorate your apartment or home, especially when you’re a renter.

Adding some vegetation to your desk is a great way to decorate your cloffice, especially if your plants or flowers can get natural sunlight in that area. If you don’t have natural light, don’t worry! Faux plants and flowers are just as popular and require no watering.

Although we can see the time on our computers, tablets and phones, having a clock on the wall for decoration is great for visual folks and provides a vintage appeal. For those who like to put their phone away while they work, using the clock to keep track of time is a way to avoid one extra screen. 

Adding a candle to your cloffice shows that you care about ambiance while you work. Candles come in all shapes and sizes, and their aesthetically pleasing packaging makes your closet office workspace look relaxing and sublime.

Literature and coffee table books are an amazing way to store what you already have in an elegant and modern way. Adding books to your shelves or desk space serves as storage and decoration. Add a pair of bookends to complete the look and keep everything organized.

Putting a calendar on your desk or your wall is a great way to remember important dates and appointments without the hassle of having to check your online or phone calendars. Writing things by hand is a great way to remember important dates as well as a great way to reduce screen time.

For little trinkets, keys and other small items, a catchall dish is great for keeping miscellaneous knickknacks organized. This isn’t limited to your closet office, however: these nifty dishes can help keep any counter space organized and decluttered.

Paperweights might sound boring at first, but there are so many options when it comes to the different styles and designs that they come in. Adding a decorative paperweight with your personal style adds a unique touch to your DIY closet office.

Closet Office Lighting Ideas

If your cloffice doesn’t have enough natural light, there are plenty of office lighting ideas for how to brighten your DIY home office. Ideas on the different types of lighting you can use for your workspace include pendant lighting, lamps and more.

Pendant lighting has become a popular way to add light to your cloffice with an attachment to your ceiling. You can also use up to three pendants to add even more light to your workspace.

Whether it be a table lamp or a floor lamp, adding additional lighting to your workspace can not only brighten your surroundings but can also improve your mood.

Although sconces were originally meant for candleholders, nowadays they utilize lightbulbs by bridging vintage and modern lighting styles together. Adding a sconce to your wall or ceiling is great for low-light areas or if you want a softer lighting option.

Whether you’ve decided to enter a full-fledged renovation project or you just want to reorganize your hall closet, we hope these closet office ideas help you craft your ideal closet office. But an integral part of a DIY closet office is maintaining it using closet and desk organization techniques. Organization is a lifelong skill that takes everyday practice, but over time it creates a harmonious and peaceful home.