Ask Joshua - No Space for a Desk

Hi Joshua,

I’ve recently moved into a small home with no office space. The kids and I have been working on our dining room table, but this, to me, isn’t a long term solution and I’m getting really tired of clearing off the table for meal time. I don’t really know where we can find space for a desk. Any suggestions would really be appreciated. I’ve attached some pictures of my first floor home.

Thank you,

Alina, Schaumburg, IL

California casual style office alcove designed by Joshua Jones, JJones Design Co.

Hi Alina,

Thanks for reaching out to me with your dilemma. This is tough, especially in the past year, with so many more of us having to find work or school space in our homes when we didn’t anticipate using them in that way. Thank you very much for sending some pictures of your space, as that’s incredibly helpful for me to address your particular situation.

So, I noticed that you have an open staircase with a bookshelf underneath and a bench. My suggestion would be to utilize that space with a bookcase/desk combo like pictured above. Though it’s small, it is an independent work area that’s not your dining table and it still provides storage and shelving that you need. There are quite a few options out there if that particular style doesn’t suite you. Based upon the colors in your home, I would suggest a neutral color, like a white or cream, as well.

I hope this is helpful! I’d love a follow up and see pictures of the solution you find.

Warmly,

Joshua

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