The so-called pocket office or micro-office is becoming more and more popular these days as a trend towards living smaller is demanding a more creative use of space within the existing confines of our homes.
A dedicated home office is something many of us aspire to but is often unachievable because of limited space. The pocket-office resolves this by providing an ultra-efficient office space tucked away into an area that’s readily available — under a stair, in a closet or at the end of the kitchen counter. The key element to this small office space is its functionality. It acts as a hub of sorts for the house and is there for office use as well. It’s not a nine-to-five office space by any means but the value of the micro-office can’t be overstated. This is the place to unload the mail, to sort and process, to leave your keys and charge the phone. It’s a place to pay the bills, post a reminder or to simply open a laptop and look for a recipe for the Christmas potluck.
I’ll often locate the pocket office close to the kitchen and design it so the homeowner can use it without interfering with other functions in the home. I’ll provide mail slots for incoming and outgoing mail and a recycling bin to get rid of unwanted paper and junk mail. I’ll allocate space for essential reference items and create little cubbies for keys, wallets and the like. I’ll typically incorporate a bulletin board or erasable writing surface into the design and make the space the go-to point for all reminders and messages. For households with school-age children I’ll dedicate space exclusively for the piles of school-related material that makes its way home. And for those more technologically inclined the mini office can be wired to adjust everything from heating, to lighting, to security, to music, all from this one centralized location.
I like to delineate the micro-office from its surrounding in order to make it feel special. In the kitchen I may drop the counter to a more ideal sitting height and will typically change the counter material and the surround. A little wood to warm things up goes a long way as do specific tasks lights for the work that will go on there. Being able to close off the pocket-office is also desirable as the clutter and mess that goes with any office space can be closed off when needed. I’ve created pocket offices that have closed to look like a closet or a piece of kitchen cabinetry.
In the end, one cannot over-estimate the value of a micro-office as a defined space to take care of the disparate tasks that go with a busy life. For individuals looking for inspiration for their pocket-office project I encourage you to take a quick look on Houzz.com. It won’t be long before you’re swimming with ideas.
