Perhaps you’re fortunate enough to have a space which you can dedicate entirely to a home office set-up, but I’ll bet it’s more likely that your bedroom is having to multitask. This is the most common room for Work From Home setups to be squeezed into, usually in a corner which leaves the overall space feeling a little crowded. But when your bedroom is supposed to be your sanctuary, can it ever feel harmonious?

I’m here to tell you that yes, it is possible for your bedroom to accommodate a workspace without both areas feeling completely at odds with one another. The smaller the room, the more difficult it will be, but these tips make the crossover so much easier. 

Creating a Bedroom Workspace

The first important factor to consider when incorporating a workspace into your bedroom is colour. Integrating colour schemes helps your dedicated rest area (your bed) and your dedicated work area (your desk) flow seamlessly into one another without a jarring separation.

With that being said, you’ll want each space to have its own identity - like they’re sibling instead of twins - so opting for everything matching might not be the way to go. Instead, choose texture, tone and colour from the same family to avoid all of your furniture blending into one.

Making Room in Small Spaces

This is where zoning comes in (PSA: I wrote about zoning in more detail recently - you can read the full breakdown here).

Zoning is so important when combining multiple functions within one room as it signals to the eye that different things are happening. Think of zoning as creating rooms without walls, instead using things like rugs, partitions and wall features such as panelling to create divisions.

When fitting a workspace into a bedroom, the easy option is rugs. One rug = one zone, so choose two which will work with your bed and bedsides and then your desk and desk chair. They don’t have to be matching (in fact I think it’s a lot more interesting when they aren’t) but they should work in harmony with one another. Try layering textures like wool & jute.

For more physical zoning, wooden slat partitions can be erected with a little effort or even glass screens if your budget allows. The Kallax shelving units from IKEA are extremely popular for dividing up spaces in the same room, but for a more affordable option, you could also use paint or wall panelling to demarcate the workspace.

Choosing The Right Bedroom/Office Furniture

Bedrooms and offices are not rooms you’d think naturally sing together furniture-wise, but actually, there are quite a few products which can functionally crossover to be doubly as useful.

Storage is unsurprisingly important. Double the tasks often means double the stuff, and the last thing you want to see when you’re settling down to sleep is a stack of folders and to-do lists.

Clutter is not conducive to calm, so having plenty of storage options for both your personal bedroom bits as well as your work is one of the most important factors to having both areas work together. As soon as the clutter starts to spill over into the other space, the whole room will begin to feel messy and claustrophobic.

Anything with hidden storage is your friend. Pieces like chest of drawers look completely at home in a bedroom but can double up as home office storage. Similarly, any taller bedside table unit with built-in drawers can crossover between the two. 

Which Desk Is Right For Your Bedroom?

When space is a commodity, choosing the right desk for your bedroom is crucial.

Consider wall-mounted options to open up space visually. Floating desks come with the added benefit of being able to tuck stools away beneath when the workspace isn’t in use.

If you have room to opt for a larger desk, make sure you’re incorporating storage. As little as two drawers can make a big difference in keeping your workspace and thus your wider bedroom feeling much more tidy.

Substantial Shelving Solutions

And don’t forget shelving.

  Stacking a few on the wall above your desk not only looks beautiful but becomes functional, too, making the area feel as if it has been thoughtfully designed rather than shoved together at the last minute. Use the shelving to house work bits and decorations which speak to your bedroom’s decor.