Creating larger-than-life spaces can be challenging, but not impossible if you have a few tricks of the design trade in your back pocket. Simple things like accent pieces and appropriately placed mirrors and glass components may be all you need to expand your home office space with a minimal investment of time and money.
Here are some ways to magnify the feel of even the smallest of spaces and work with what you have available to create a home office you can work in.
Smart Side Table
One of the most common problems in office spaces is inadequate lighting. A commercial office building can increase the amount of fluorescent lighting to improve on the shade, but who wants that in your home office? And installing things like ceiling pot lights may not be an option either if it’s an expensive renovation fee or you’re renting a home and can’t change the structure permanently.
This simple solution to the longstanding problem of inadequate lighting in a home office is not only inexpensive but also a temporary fix you can take with you if you move. Add a custom cut mirror to the top of the side table and place a lamp on top! The mirror will reflect the light from the lamp as well as any other available light in the room and make the room feel instantly larger.
Translucent Furniture
Besides outfitting the table with a mirror, why not go the extra mile and incorporate clear furniture pieces wherever you can? This might include a glass table top or even a clear acrylic desk chair.
Anytime you can remove physical boundaries in a room such as chairs and tables, you trick the eye into seeing more space because there are less things blocking the line of sight.
Bright Bookshelf
Another easy way to make the most of the space you have is to replace wooden shelves with glass shelves and cover the back of the bookcase with a mirror.
You can purchase glass shelves cut to order to fit existing or built-in bookcases and in a variety of colors and thicknesses. And by lining the back of the bookcase with mirrors, you create the illusion of a ‘never-ending’ backdrop that seems to have no beginning and no end.
Placing a light inside the bookshelf or installing LED lighting under the cabinet around the inside of the shelf completes the bright effect of this smarter storage unit!
Some additional tips and tricks include:
- Enter glass doors whenever possible. Sliding glass doors are ideal for smaller spaces as they eliminate the space required for clearance when opening and closing the door. If sliding doors aren’t an option, replace your standard wood doors with French doors or doors with one or more panes of glass.
- Keep your glass clean. Nothing shatters the illusion of nothingness faster than a smudge or smudge screaming for attention!
- Be careful; remember the material. Although many types of glass are tempered and manufactured for strength, be sure to use coasters when drinking hot coffee or tea and don’t overload the surface of the glass with anything heavy.
What type of glass and mirror update would you like to try in your home office?
