Since today's home office needs a lot of equipment, establishing a productive work area can present a problem for people living in apartments or small homes. One way around this problem is to turn a castoff portable closet or unused in-house one into an office. The closet's upright position means you'll leverage space vertically, rather than horizontally, as you would at the traditional desk. When the work area is not in use, simply close the door. Standalone closets can be found at second-hand furniture stores, charity outlets or a garage sale, and priced at less than a new one. Does this Spark an idea?
Instructions
1. Using the mallet or hammer, remove the closet's shelves and railing, then sand the insides.
2. Customize and design the shelving according to your office needs. Consider placement of items like files, stationery and computer equipment. Give thought to ergonomic design with regard to shelf height for the computer and sitting comfortably.
3. Screw shelving into place. In the portable closet, cut an opening in the back wall with a hole saw. Feed computer cords through the hole and connect to a power outlet. If the closet is large, there may be space for a printer/scanner/fax machine. Cut extra holes for cables and cords if required. For an in-home closet, you may want to hire an electrician to install a power outlet.
4. Refresh the closet with a coat of paint. Choose a color that complements the home's interior decor or room in which the closet will stand. Pale colors visually create a feeling of space. The inside of the closet will appear larger and more open.
5. When the paint is dry, attach a keyboard tray beneath the shelf on which the computer will sit.
6. For the portable closet, you may want to attach stylish handles as a final touch.
Tags: portable closet, closet want, closet will, office needs, power outlet, work area
