Be extremely careful not to drive the screws too far! I chose Varathane water-based non-yellowing finish for my desktop. If you use maple plywood I would recommend you choose something non-yellowing as well. Usually anything water-based will have this property.

• Behind custom cabinet pocket doors lies a built-in desk that otherwise would look like a pantry.
• By installing shelves and a file cabinet, you can create a functional and stylish office that is perfect for storing all of your paperwork.
• Fortunately, there are some simple tricks that can help to keep your workspace organized and tidy.
• I built this entire thing (and painted the space) for only $40.
• While I could have made the desk in such a way that the doors would still close, I decided not to.
• The entire process took a few weeks of work spread over evenings and weekends.

It’s okay if you don’t like the current color of the walls. It’s the right time to change it into something bolder. The light converting closet to office strip looks best when installed onto the inside edge of the U-shaped shelf, so that it shines on the back wall of the closet.

Create a Built-In Desk (If You’re Handy)

I scribed a line about an inch from the edge as a reference. Then, installed the little mount brackets using the included screws. The closet had a few shelves and bars in really weird places, all anchored to the walls with a whole assortment of different fasteners. I removed them all, and of course the fasteners left behind massive holes. It was also clear that the closet had been repainted several times over the years, each time painting around the shelves.

Then I used some left over navy blue paint to create this faux patterned tile design. You have to do this quickly so you don’t get streaks (the wet wood from the wipe down and black tea also help reduce the streaks). The wood will immediately start to oxidize and will continue to deepen in color for a few hours. Secure with a couple finishing nails around the edge/back. And since you have a few extra feet of inexpensive 2×2 boards, it doesn’t cost anything to add this extra support. Attach it to the front of the side boards with pocket hole screws.

Step 13: Install the LED Light Strip

However, we assume most of you don’t have access to all of that. In that case, we suggest you take proper measurements of the area (height, depth, width) and ask your local wood workshop to cut you some pieces. If you like working in an open space, you might hate it here. It requires a lot of remodeling to be used as your office and store supplies.

The reasons being that there are fewer distractions, less cognitive load on our brains and as a result, a more focused working environment. There are a few preliminaries to get straight before you begin. The first is to sit down and take a good hard look at what you’re working with. Maybe you need to shift things around to free up the best space for you. Or you may need to make some compromises for the sake of the bigger picture—you may still have to share the space with the winter coats, for example.

Use a Freestanding Desk

It can be a quiet and cozy nook to work in and it can make a huge difference for you and for your home office work life. Read more about our guide on home office built in ideas here. Some shelf lights or under-cabinet lights might also help in illuminating your desk. Read more about our guide on the different types of lighting fixtures here.

You’ll want to put soft curtains or even blinds on the window to keep it from glaring, but this can help you look great on video calls. A lot of closet storage options are made of clear plastic. While this works great for a traditional closet (where utility is king), it can make your office look cheap and cluttered. Instead of using clear boxes for storage, try using baskets that are opaque to introduce texture and hide the items inside.