Small Home Office Idea on a Budget

Small Home Office Idea on a Budget | Elizabeth Burns Design

Many of us (myself included!) have found ourselves creating a small home office due to the pandemic. I went from working from home one day a week to full-time literally overnight. Since the luxury of a dedicated room for a work area is not always an option, I thought it may be helpful to pull together a compact home office idea that is easy on space AND your budget. 

If the ultimate plan is to return to the office, investing in office-specific furniture is probably not ideal. The home office setup idea below includes a desk that I think is a bit more versatile than standard computer desks. I could easily see this piece having a future life as a cool bar, server, or homework area. Tuck away your computer and paper mess with the fold-up desk surface. I love how it’s a secretary desk with a modern look; you get the space-saving benefits without compromising on style. Add in a storage basket or two to hide office supply clutter and keep this pop-up work space looking neat and tidy! 

While a desk chair isn’t necessarily dual-purpose, I think investing in a comfy task chair is worth it during those long work days! This one is currently 25% off making it a pretty good deal.

I really love adding little luxuries to my at home work space and have gotten a lot of value from cozy items like ambient task lighting and a fluffy throw. This brass lamp is a steal at $20 and both items could easily be repurposed in any room down the road! Another splurge in my office is a scented candle. This one in particular caught my eye with the name “peace and tranquility” - I could definitely use more of that in my life! :)

The total bill for this setup comes in around $365 but is full of multi-functional pieces that can be used for a different purpose in the future. I hope this helps you think about how to make a home office in unused nooks and corners of your house!

Shop the pieces below (affiliate links used):



$130 DIY Small Laundry Closet Storage Ideas & Makeover

$130 DIY Small Laundry Closet Storage Ideas & Makeover

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Downtown Raleigh Bungalow Project | Screened in Porch

Downtown Raleigh Bungalow Project | Screened in Porch

This particular project was so fun because we got to see this screened in porch addition come to life from the ground up! The space started as a deck, but the homeowners hired a contractor to transition it into a screened porch. Here in Raleigh, we get more than our fair share of sweltering summer days and pesky mosquitoes, so a screened in porch is a pretty solid investment!

Downtown Raleigh Bungalow Project | The Dining Room

Downtown Raleigh Bungalow Project | The Dining Room

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Downtown Raleigh Bungalow Project | The Parlour

Downtown Raleigh Bungalow Project | The Parlour

Back in 2015, I was working for a Home Builder in their design center. One day I had an appointment scheduled with a new home buyer and her real estate agent, Meg. To be honest, I usually dreaded appointments where a client's agent was in tow. They were often condescending and didn't trust that I also had their client's best interest in mind. Turns out Meg was the complete opposite. She was so positive, kind, helpful, enthusiastic and just a genuinely nice person. I knew that if we ever sold our house, I would love to work with her. A year later, she helped us do just that and then recently she helped us find our current home (she is the most amazing real estate agent ever). During that time, she and her husband, Gary, bought an adorable fixer-upper bungalow in downtown Raleigh and took on the huge project of renovating and restoring it. They executed the renovation beautifully - the perfect mix of old and new - with so much original character still infused throughout the home.