Share this article
Small apartment, big space problems?
In the last five to six years, global economies have changed. Working habits have shifted. The price rise seems like an endless continuation. How are you keeping up?
Looking back ten years ago, it seems impossible to imagine how the world, including Singapore, would move from five days a week in-office to hybrid work setups. But this is now our reality. An even greater shift is the popularity of remote and online work.
But working from your couch or a busy cafe isn’t ideal. To get work done, you still require a quiet space or at least a dedicated workstation.
According to a recent report by Singapore’s Housing & Development Board, the percentage of Singapore’s resident population living in HDB flats was 76%.
As most Singaporeans live in apartments, space is often an issue, whether this is because you’re part of a large family, have young kids and need multiple bedrooms, or own a one or two-bedroom flat. Whilst two-bedroom condominiums are most popular, many homeowners are opting to buy one-bedroom or studio-style condos as property prices continue to soar.
Where does one have a whole extra room just for an office?
Instead of thinking BIG, start small. A home office setup doesn’t have to be an entire room. Here are five genius design ideas to create a work-from-home setting that maximises smaller areas.
Integrated desks
Forget about the chunky, clunky, traditional home office desks! Integrated desks are the new thing and suit small Singaporean homes.
If you’re in the process of building your home or renovating your HDB, opt for a wall-mounted desk or a floating desk. This type of home office furniture can be built into any room wall, whether it’s a living room or bedroom.
Design tip: Position the desk near a window so it feels like its own space or flush against a cabinet so it doesn’t look out of place and random.
Convertible guest room
Tossing up between a guest room or home office ideas? Who says you can’t have the best of both worlds? Convertible guest rooms are becoming more popular in Singapore, where homeowners are installing Murphy beds or looking to other clever alternatives, such as roll-out desks, to easily shape a work office that transforms into a guest bedroom when needed. You even find Murphy beds with a desk attached on the other side.
If you’re renovating, consider smart decor decisions for your home office interior design inspiration, like low office storage tables that double as a side table or a standing clothing rail that can be tucked away into the cupboard when no visitors are using the room.
Design tip: You don’t need to forgo bedroom-like aesthetics either simply because it’s an office. Carpets and wallpaper are super chic in a study, too.
Portable standing desks
Not only are standing desks excellent posture configurators, but they’re space-savers. Plus, you get portable standing desks. These include standing desks on wheels.
Nowadays, standing desks come in all shapes, forms and sizes, even standing desks with a built-in treadmill, those where you can easily adjust the desk height and foldable standing desks (which can be added to any surface, such as a dining table or kitchen island).
- Small Standing Desk with Wheels, Adjustable Height Treadmill Desk for Laptop, $130 from Amazon
- Standing Desk Laptop Table Foldable Computer Desk, $49.99 from Lazada
Corner WFH office
Who says you need a whole room to get work done?
I’m sure many, like myself, can attest to working at your dining table–even if you do have an actual office. With kids running around or pets, it’s sometimes easier to keep an eye on your home from the dining table or living room as opposed to being locked away by four walls.
Section off a corner of your living room and make this your mini office with a small desk or a modular shelf with a built-in desk. You can still opt for the best home office chair, even if it’s a corner study. Make sure your corner office is off limits, though, which you can do by zoning this area with living room furniture, like the back of a sofa, or adding a Japanese screen for extra privacy.
Design tip: Add floating shelves near you which gel or blend in with the living room and your corner office.
- Seb Wall Desk with Bookshelf Set, $1519 from Castlery
- Gold Desk Small Computer Desk with Shelves, $239 from Amazon
Reconfigure an unused area
Don’t ever use your storage room filled with junk? Does your balcony feel like a wasted space? Is there an unwanted washroom? Do you have a bare open space beneath your stairs? Or perhaps during your home renovation design journey, you feel as if there is an unused space in a room that is a little big?
Think outside the box for your home office ideas and reconfigure an unused area into a non-traditional office. It doesn’t have to be massive.
Design tip: Is there part of a large room with no furniture? Consider building a structure to zone it off, creating an office cubicle. If you’re sectioning off the area, glass doors allow for light to filter through, so the space won’t appear dark. Add mirrors to create an illusion of space.