With all the encouragement to #stayhome in the past few weeks, I’ve never seen the acronym WFH (work from home) pop up so much! Many of us are having to adjust to working from home full-time and we’re having to carve out some workspace for an adult or two, and maybe even for some kids. If you’re lucky enough to have a dedicated office, you might be in good shape, but what if you don’t? You might have to get a little bit creative!

Squeezing in a small desk or table into a spot in your home to create an office may be a perfect solution, and I’ve got three ideas for how to do it when you don’t have an extra room to use. I’ve also rounded up some affordable small desk and chair combos so you can take action and get set up ASAP!

I’ve kept all of desks under $400 and chairs under $200 - I know we’re all thinking hard these days about where to spend our dollars, so balancing the need for function with our budgets is important!

Office Idea #1: Swap your nightstand for a small desk

Need an office space, but don’t have a room for one in your home? Swap your nightstand for a desk and chair! This allows you to squeeze in a workspace to work from home without needing to dedicate a whole room to it. // Small space office ideas

via West Elm*

I’m a huge fan of this option if your bedroom can accommodate it. Carving out a spot in your bedroom means that you’ll have a door to close when needed and the desk won’t take up much more space than a nightstand if you choose a small one. You’ll also still be able to use it as a bedside table to house a lamp and anything else you typically keep there.

Pairing the desk with a pretty chair will make it feel more integrated into your bedroom and won’t take away from your decor. The one above is a great example - it’s plush and comfortable, and complements the room perfectly.

Office Idea #2: Use a console table as a makeshift desk

Short on space? Have a console table double as a desk! Place it in a hallway, entryway, or behind a sofa, pull up a chair, and you’re set. It’s a perfect place to set up a laptop to work from home when needed.

via Room & Board

I love this idea because console tables will always be handy to have around even when you head back to the office. They work seamlessly with existing decor and don’t look like a desk when you’d rather not have your room scream “I’m a home office too!”

They tend to be narrower than a desk, so it’s perfect if you just need a space to plop down a laptop and have a little bit of writing space. That’s what most of us need these days, so console table works well for this setup. Depending on how long you plan to sit there, you could stash a stool underneath to use as seating or just pull up a dining chair.

If you do go this route, be sure your console table has an open base (no crossbars or shelves - those will wreck your ergonomics if you have to work around them!) and that the height is around 30”, which is a standard desk height.

Office Idea #3: Grab a C-table to use as a desk

Short on space? Use a “C table” as a desk. Pull it up to a sofa or chair to use as a workstation when you need it, and as a side table when you don’t! // Small office space ideas

via Overstock

Really short on space? No problem! Grab a “C-table” to use as a tiny desk! C-tables are a kind of accent table shaped like - you guessed it - a C that can be placed next to any lounge chair or sofa. Pull it over in front of your sofa or chair to act as a workstation when you need it and use it as a side table when you don’t. This can be a nice step up from plopping your laptop on your lap - your neck and back will thank you later!

I like this option most for folks that need an occasional spot to work and don’t have any other great options. It’s not the ideal setup for spending long hours since your typical sofa or lounge chair won’t give you the kind of support you need, but it works beautifully in a pinch.

Six small desk and chair pairings for your makeshift home office

All of these come in at under 48” wide and many come in several colors/finishes, so be sure to hop over to the websites to check them out in more detail if you see one that fits the bill for your home!