In this post – how to create a dream cloffice that’s practical, organized, and stylish.
Welcome to the era of the cloffice—a clever solution that combines productivity and style in the smallest of spaces. A cloffice is exactly what it sounds like: a closet transformed into a fully functional, beautiful home office. It’s the ultimate way to maximize space, bring order to your workday, and make even a tiny corner of your home feel intentional and inspiring. In this post I’m sharing how we transformed our hall closet into a stylish cloffice.
If you live in a smaller home, condo, or apartment—or you just want a tucked-away spot for focused work—a cloffice is the perfect solution. It works whether you have a deep walk-in closet, a spare hallway nook, or even a standard reach-in closet behind bifold doors. With a little creativity and the right design touches, you can transform a forgotten corner into your new favorite room in the house.
Why a Cloffice Is Worth the Effort
Before we dive into the how-to, let’s talk about why cloffices have become so popular:
- Space Saver: Instead of carving out a corner of your bedroom or living room, you’re repurposing existing space you already have.
- Budget Friendly: No need for expensive renovations or adding square footage—this is a low-cost makeover with a big impact.
- Customizable: A cloffice can be as minimal or as stylish as you want, reflecting your aesthetic, whether modern coastal, boho, or Scandinavian chic.
- Out of Sight, Out of Mind: The beauty of a cloffice is that you can literally shut the doors when your workday ends and leave it behind.
Step 1: Clear It Out and Plan Your Space
Start by emptying the closet completely—it’s amazing what collects in those corners! Measure the width, height, and depth. Then think about how you’ll use the space. Is this for daily work, occasional Zoom calls, or just a spot to pay bills and keep your calendar? In our case, I wanted a spot for all of the necessary but not great to look at stuff, like our printer. It also gives us a spot to pay bills, make a private phone call, or hide all of the random papers that seem to find their way into the house.
If you have a deeper closet, you might include a full-size desk, built-in shelving, and even a chair that stays inside, which is what we have.
For smaller closets, you might choose a simple floating shelf as a desktop and tuck a chair away in another part of your home when not in use.
Pro tip: Sketch a quick layout or use painter’s tape on the floor to visualize how furniture will fit before you buy anything. You can also repurpose some smaller pieces of furniture, such as a console table or a spare dining chair, to use as cloffice furniture. We already had this small desk in storage. It used to belong to our daughter. We paired it with one of our old dining chairs from our previous home.
Step 2: Select the Perfect Work Surface
The desk—or work surface—is the heart of your cloffice. Choose a surface that’s deep enough for a laptop or monitor but still leaves room for organization and personal touches. Options include:
Built-In Surface
- For a seamless look, install a custom desktop or a countertop that fits the width of the closet. This creates a built-in feel and maximizes every inch. At some point, I would like to replace the desk with a built-in like the one below to maximize space.
Floating Shelves
- One or two sturdy shelves mounted at desk height make a minimal, airy solution. Your space may already have some shelving from its previous life as just a closet. You could add more shelves above your workspace depending on your storage needs and the depth of your space.
Freestanding Desk
- If you prefer flexibility, slide in a narrow desk that fits the width—bonus if it has storage drawers! This one from Wayfair is very similar to the one we have in our cloffice. It has shallow drawers that provide additional storage.
Fold-Down Desk
- For the tiniest spaces, try a portable or wall-mounted fold-down desk. It disappears when you don’t need it, leaving the closet free for other uses. My husband sometimes uses a portable one in our spare bedroom when he works from home.
Folding Desks
Buy Now → 
Buy Now → Step 3: Layer Your Lighting
Ambient Lighting
Closets aren’t known for natural light, so lighting is key. A layered approach keeps the space functional and cozy. Warm lighting creates a welcoming vibe, while cooler daylight bulbs are better for focus—mixing both gives you the best of both worlds.
Pendant Light
For an elevated look, you can swap the builder-grade bulb for a stylish pendant or flush-mount light.
In our space we were fortunate to already have a recessed light in place. At some point I would like to replace it with a pendant light to soften the light. Did you know they sell adapters so that you can add a pendant light to a regular light socket? If you have the older style recessed lights this is an easy upgrade.
Instant Pendant Light
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Recessed Can Light Conversion Kit to Pendant
Buy Now →Desk Lamp
A small desk lamp or wall-mounted sconce provides direct light for reading and typing. This plug-in desk lamp once belonged to my daughter. I replaced the shade and repurposed it in our cloffice.
Rechargeable Lights
I had an electrician install an outlet in the closet so that I could plug in the printer, paper shredder, etc. This also allows for a plug-in lamp. If you don’t have an outlet or adding one isn’t possible, a rechargeable lamp is a great solution.
Rechargeable Lamp
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Buy Now → Under-Shelf Lighting
You can add battery-operated LED strips or puck lights under shelves for a soft glow at night. As with the lamps, rechargeable cordless under-shelf lights are a good option.
Rechargeable Under-Shelf Lighting
6-Pack Under Cabinet Lighting with Charging Station and Remote
Buy Now →Step 4: Go Vertical with Storage
Storage makes or breaks a cloffice. Since floor space is limited, look up! Think vertically and keep the desktop as clutter-free as possible—it makes even a small space feel bigger.
Floating Shelves
Install floating shelves for books, bins, or pretty baskets.
Floating Shelves
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Buy Now → Pegboard
Add a pegboard for scissors, rulers, or small supplies. This is a great option if you plan on using your space for crafting.
Magnetic Boards
Frame a few small prints or create a gallery wall for motivation. A corkboard or magnetic strip can hold pretty notes or photos. I was able to repurpose a small cork board and some whiteboard calendars from a previous home. The cork board gives me a spot to create a mood board or save mementos.
Printer Stand
Add a printer cart. We have our printer and paper shredder on a stand with wheels. It fits perfectly in the space.
Printer Stand
4 Tier White Printer Stand Table with Adjustable Shelves
Buy Now →Step 5: Personalize with Paint, Décor, and Style
Here’s where the fun begins! Your cloffice should inspire you every time you sit down. The goal is to make this tiny space a reflection of you.
Paint or Wallpaper
A bold paint color or patterned wallpaper defines the space and makes it feel special. For this project, I used a metallic gold speckled peel-and-stick wallpaper from Target. It was relatively easy to work with, and I was able to reposition it as needed while hanging. The pattern is small enough that you really don’t need to worry about matching up the dots. (I tried initially but quickly decided my sanity was more important.)
I used exactly two rolls for this wall.
Decorative Touches
I added some realistic faux plants to bring some life to the space and make it feel like another room in our house. I always like to have a plant or two in a room to make it feel more alive.
Bold Artwork
I went bold with the artwork in this tiny space. We had this very large picture hanging over our bed in our last home. I had been looking for a spot for it in our new home. This was perfect! The picturesque scene gives the impression of a window and makes the space feel less claustrophobic.
Step 6: Pick a Chair That Fits
You need a chair that’s comfortable for work but doesn’t overwhelm the space. Fortunately there are many options to choose from.
Armless Upholstered Chairs
Cozy yet slim enough for tight spaces. An armless upholstered dining chair is a good option for a small cloffice.
Stools or Backless Chairs
Stools tuck neatly under the desk when not in use. You can often find inexpensive and stylish stools and benches at HomeGoods.
Folding Chairs
Folding chairs are practical for super small spaces—you can hang them on a hook when not in use. If you need a more traditional office chair, look for one that folds and tucks away under the desk, like the one below. This one is on my shopping list!
Folding Office Chair
Adjustable Swivel Rolling Task Chair
Buy Now →Step 7: Hide It Away
One of the best parts of a cloffice is its ability to disappear. If you have doors, close them at the end of the day. If your cloffice doesn’t have doors or if you need to remove them, there are other ways to shield it from view.
Curtain Rod
Disguise the space with light, breezy curtains that allow you to hide the space when needed. You may need one or two panels depending on the width of your opening. You can use a tension rod or a traditional curtain rod, depending on the configuration of the space.
Barn Door
Installing a barn door would be appropriate for a for a farmhouse or coastal look if your space allows.
Pocket Door
You may be able to install a pocket door that slides into the wall. You would need to check your local building codes and hire a contractor.
Cloffice Checklist
Here’s a full list to keep you on track:
Empty and measure your closet
Plan your layout and desk style
Install lighting: overhead, task, and ambient
Add vertical storage with shelves and pegboards
Choose a comfortable, space-saving chair
Add power strips and cord organizers
Personalize with paint, wallpaper, or art
Bring in baskets, bins, or boxes for organization
Add décor and greenery
Install a door, curtain, or divider for privacy
Finish with inspiration boards, photos, or quotes
Final Thoughts
A cloffice proves you don’t need a dedicated room—or a huge budget—to create a workspace that works for you. With a few smart storage solutions, layered lighting, and a personal touch of style, even the tiniest closet can become your home’s most productive corner.
So, what do you think? Could you see yourself working from a cloffice? Share your photos or ideas in the comments below or find me on Pinterest and Instagram @FromTheBayToTheBeach—I’d love to see how you make this space your own!
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2 Responses
Looks great Susan. Perfect spot to get some work done. XO- MaryJo
Thanks MaryJo! It’s a great little spot!