How to Create More Storage Space in Your Home Office

Have you ever heard anyone complain about having too much room to store everything they need to have in their home office? It’s about as likely as someone saying they have too much money, they need to gain weight, or they have plenty of free time. (I wouldn’t mind having more of the first one, less of the second, and plenty of the third!)

Finding extra storage space in your home office can be frustrating and challenging. Before you start stashing extra supplies, products and equipment in other parts of your home (where you’re likely to forget you own them), be creative. Either make use of what you already own or invest in a few storage pieces.

Make furniture do double duty

This small storage ottoman (I’ve also featured it on the Bare Essentials page) can give you additional seating in your home office, and has room inside to store files, books, or extra supplies.

This leather cube is small enough to fit next to or near your desk. While it looks good, it works well to store things you need to access quickly, but don’t need to keep within view.

If you don’t care whether or not the ottoman is leather or faux leather, there are less expensive options.

This large storage ottoman can give you an extra place to stretch out in your home office, and plenty of room inside to store bigger items. I bought one for my family room and I use it to store old photo albums. (My new photos are stored online and after certain events, I’ll order small photo albums from Snapfish.)

Although it has clean lines, you could use this in a contemporary home office or a traditional one.

Dressers, converted bars and armoires are ideal for storing supplies. The best part about them is the amount of supplies they can hold and their ability to hide supplies from view. And they’re more interesting than a standard storage cabinet or a computer cabinet.

The Tate Entertaining Bar can hold supplies and even your laptop. What I like best about it is if you want to move it out of your home office, you can use it as a bar in another room.

Would that be considered thinking out of the bar?

Think vertically

If you added shelves to a spare bedroom closet, would you have enough space to store books, supplies and even a file cabinet inside? If so, add simple-to-install shelves within your office closet. Even if you’re not handy, you could install wire shelving fairly quickly.

Several years ago I installed an Elfa shelf unit in my younger son’s closet. This is one of those “if I can do it, you can too” examples. It didn’t take long for me to put up the shelving unit. All you do is secure a thick bar to the wall and attach brackets to it.

Note: Time-wise, it’s easier to place bookcases or metal shelving inside a closet instead of installing built-ins. Space-wise, though, you’re wasting valuable space above, below and beside where you’ve placed the portable shelves.

If you don’t have a closet or storage cabinet in your home office, install shelves near your desk or create a desk within a wire shelving unit. This is the perfect idea for a smaller home office.

One of my favorite organizing supplies (and storage tips) is to use a magazine holder for magazines (of course), but also to hold blank paper and extra file folders.

You can give yourself more storage space by taking supplies out of their original packaging. Also, it’s easier to find extra supplies and see what you have quickly, by storing them in clear containers.

Nothing’s permanent

When you have limited space or you rent your home and can’t attach anything to the walls, a standing bookcase is the perfect storage solution. This EFFEKTIV storage cabinet/bookcase from IKEA has two open shelves at the top, while the rest of the shelves are behind doors.

A storage cabinet or a bookcase is also ideal if you’ve converted a bedroom into a home office and will want to convert it back when you sell your home.

If you tend to be a pack rat, add doors to your shelving unit. If not, you should be fine with open shelves.

You don’t have to spend a fortune to add extra storage space in your home office. Look around your house for furniture you’ve stuck in your basement, attic or garage. Instead of letting it collect desk, put it to work.

How have you created extra storage space in your home office?