Unexpected Places for Home Offices

Repurpose a wide, shallow closet into a "pocket office."
Replace overlapping sliding doors with either bi-fold doors or a curtain panel. Then add a generous work surface with a built-in countertop and wall-mounted shelves for storage. Pull up an occasional chair to get to work. When guests come calling, simply shut the doors on your incognito office and set the chair against a wall to hold their luggage.

Nest your bed inside the closet.
"Take the doors off and slip the head of the bed into the closet, then hang shelving above and mount under-cabinet or wall lights for reading," says Small Space, Big Style's Libby Langdon, a N.Y.-based interior designer.

Replace the bed for a multi-function piece.
Consider a daybed, an expanding bed within an ottoman (instead of a futon), a trundle or a sofa-bed. All provide a cozy place to work by day and morph into to a full-sized sleeping spot for guests. Be sure to invest in furniture that serves both functions well: Order firm back and side cushions to turn a daybed into truly functional seating, or upgrade to a deluxe sofa mattress so bedsprings won't dig into backs.

Get pretty organized.
When it comes to furnishings, accessories and art, skip the office-supply superstore and choose home-quality pieces to create a cozy, welcoming feel. Space-saving storage options include:

• rolling bins under the couch or bed
• a wheeled cart that hides under the desk
• a dresser or credenza with room for office supplies and visitors' belongings
• leather- or fabric-covered boxes, pretty file holders
• woven baskets on a bookshelf to house rolled-up towels, bath salts and magazines for guests
• two-drawer filing cabinets covered with fabric that double as side tables and nightstands