Find an Agent
Contact Us
Everything you need to know about insurance basics, like coverage types, limits, cost and more.
Walk through the home-buying process with this step-by-step guide.
Learn the ins and outs of life insurance through these helpful articles.
As work-from-home hybrid or full-time opportunities continue to become more common, a great home office space is a must-have! But not every homeowner or renter has an entire room to spare, so creating a functional workspace can be challenging. One solution is a “cloffice,” a closet transformed into a practical office.
It might seem a little far-fetched at first, but with a little imagination — and some inspiration and tips from us — you won’t believe the transformation from a place for your things to a space to work towards your dreams!
A closet office — also called a “cloffice” — is a closet or other small space in your home that has been repurposed into a workspace. You can take any unused or underutilized space, such as a guest bedroom closet or a vacant nook in your living room, and turn it into a cloffice. This space will be great for working from home, virtual learning, homeschooling or whatever kind of work you need to get done!
Besides a space for working, there are plenty of reasons to invest in a cloffice:
While the possibilities are endless when it comes to your cloffice, some inspiration can help get you started. Here are some common areas in your home that can be transformed into a workspace. Check them out and start brainstorming your own ideas!
A small closet is one of the most popular locations for a cloffice. This can be as simple or elaborate as you like, depending on your space and needs.
Create a workspace in a corner of any room in your home. This could be inside a larger walk-in closet, in a corner of the family room, or an unused area in the kitchen.
Have a room that’s too small for a bed but too big for a closet? Whether it’s a cozy den in your apartment or a sunroom in your home, you can give that space new life by adding a small desk to make a functional and private space.
Turning a spare closet into an organized office is an easy and budget-friendly solution to creating more workspace in your home. Live in an apartment? Make sure to talk to your landlord about it first and confirm they’re okay with your plans!
Take a tour through your home and identify any areas that could be better used as a cloffice. Don’t forget to consider the essentials: easy access to a power source, good internet connectivity and privacy if you need a quiet space to work.
Next thing on your cloffice to do list? Get building! We’ll guide you step-by-step to take inspiration and turn it into a reality.
To build a simple desk across the entire length of your closet, you’ll need:
Note: The amount of wood you’ll need will depend on the size of your closet and what you want to build inside it. This could include a desk, shelves or cabinets.
Tools:
1. Choose a height for your desk. A standard desk height is 28 - 30 inches, depending on your height and what feels right to you.
2. Position your studs. Using a level, mark a line ½ foot below the final height of your finished desk for the studs’ location.
3. Build a desk frame. Start by securing 2×2 boards (cut to the desired desk depth minus 1 ½ feet) on the sides of the closet. Line them up along your level line and attach to your studs using the 3-foot wood screws.
4. Secure the frame to the wall. Measure the space between the two boards. Cut a 2×2 board to that measurement and add pocket holes to the ends. Secure it to the walls with the 3″ wood screws and then attach it to the side boards with pocket hole screws.
5. Add a front. For the front of the desk frame, measure the space between the front of the two side boards. Cut a 2×2 board to that measurement and add pocket hole screws to the ends. Attach it to the front of the side boards with pocket hole screws.
6. Add center braces. Measure the space between the front and back boards, then cut two 2×2 boards to this length and add pocket hole screws to the ends. Attach these evenly between the two walls with pocket hole screws.
7. Cut the top. Cut the plywood so it’s the width of the desk and the depth you want your desk minus 3/4 foot. Dry fit the plywood to make sure it fits in your closet. Then cut a piece of 1×3 board to the length of the front of the desk. Secure it to the front of the plywood with wood glue and finishing nails. Sand well for a smooth finish.
8. Attach the desk. Add wood glue to the top of your frame, then place the plywood desktop. Tap the corners down with a hammer to ensure they are lying flat. Secure with finishing nails around the edge and back. Fill nail holes.
9. Stain the desk. Wipe the desk with a damp cloth to clean off the sawdust and open the wood up to get it ready to receive the stain. Then apply your choice of stain according to the manufacturer’s directions.
10. Seal the desk. Let the stain dry completely, then apply three coats of polyurethane. Sand between the coats to get a smooth finish.
11. Add a cord grommet. Make sure you add access to outlets for laptops, electronics and chargers. After the sealer is dry, cut a hole in the desk for cords. Then fill with a cord grommet.
Gaining extra space in a closet can feel impossible. But all you have to do is look up! Taking out the header above your closet will give you more vertical space where you can add shelving and lighting to give your cloffice an open, airy feel.
Good lighting is essential in any workspace, but desk lamps can crowd the already limited desk space in a cloffice. Instead, install light sconces on the wall or overhead lights in the ceiling to get the lighting you need to work without sacrificing desk space. You can even attach lights to the undersides of shelves above your desk for a fresh look.
The back wall is great for shelving and art, but don’t forget to use the sides of your space, too. Adding shelves here will give you even more storage to keep office clutter out of your way.
Storage doesn’t have to be contained to just shelves. Consider installing cabinets to hold (and hide!) your office gear.
Now comes the fun part — decorating your new space. Adding personal touches to your cloffice makes it feel comfortable and inviting. No matter your style, keep function in mind to create a space that’s as efficient as it is personal.
A little paint can go a long way to making your cloffice feel personal, yet professional. Pops of color can add energy to your space to keep you on task all day long.
Personalize your home office by displaying favorite items, showing off family photos and hanging artwork. Small touches like plants and favorite keepsakes will keep you engaged and inspired.
Mounting a pegboard in your cloffice gives you nearly unlimited options for organizing and decorating your new workspace. Paint it with your favorite color, add hooks and organizers for additional storage of small tools like scissors, display artwork and rearrange items as needed. Bonus points: it’s fairly simple and inexpensive to install or remove when you’re ready to redecorate.
If you can, consider keeping the closet doors to create more space for organizing supplies and holding office essentials, like a calendar. You can even line the inside of the doors with corkboard or chalk paint to add additional storage and writing space.
Even if you remove the door to your cloffice, you can add a curtain to instantly hide your workspace. Or, if you have an open space under your desk, add fabric around the edge to cover up clutter without limiting access to necessities. That way when you’re done working, you can truly turn off for the day.
And there you have it! However you decide to create and design your cloffice, just make sure it fits you and your unique needs! With thoughtful planning and creativity, you can create a place to dream big, even if the space is a little small.
You’ve worked hard to set up a home office that works for you. Now make sure you protect it. While fine-tuning your new workspace, be sure to reach out to your American Family Insurance agent. They’ll help you build a homeowners or renters policy customized to your needs.
Plus, head to our Renters and Apartment Resource Hub to discover more tips and advice on renters insurance and apartment living – like safety tips and more fun DIY projects for your place!
This article is for informational purposes only and includes information widely available through different sources.
Related Topics: At Home , Home DIY
