Don’t let a tight working space get you down – we’ve got all of the small office storage ideas you need to get the most from your office, however big it is.
At Slouch, we know a thing or two about rethinking office designs. Our product engineers took conventional office desk chairs and totally redesigned them to be ergonomic heroes, helping people work comfortably all day long with smart features like adjustable lumbar support.
Now it’s time to help you improve your workspace with the same innovative thinking. Let’s get organised.
Slouch’s best small office storage ideas
When it comes to carving out a productive working space, sometimes it takes some time and effort to get it looking and feeling good to work from.
But with some clever changes, even the smallest spaces, like an office with no windows, can be turned into your ideal workspace. Here’s our tips for how.
Maximise vertical space with wall storage
If you’re short on floor space, make your wall space work harder for you. Wall storage can easily transform blank walls into valuable storage space – and you don’t have to be a DIY pro to achieve it.
Here are two smart office storage solutions to help put your walls to work:
Floating shelves – Floating shelves are a great starting place. Unlike bulky bookcases, they create storage space without visual weight, keeping your office feeling open and airy. Position them above your desk for frequently-used items, or create a floor-to-ceiling arrangement for maximum storage capacity.
Pegboards – For a more flexible solution, consider a pegboard system. This edgy solution isn’t just for tools stored in a garage anyway, it’s a fresh way to add extra storage solutions for offices with limited room for extra storage furniture. They’re also a brilliant way to add a pop of colour to your desk setup.
This customisable storage can be completely tailored to your needs – think pegs to hold your headphones and hang wires from and you can add small shelves for plants or holders for your desk must haves.
Smart desk solutions
When you think of small office storage ideas you’re probably thinking of shelving and cupboards. However, you might be surprised how much extra space you can win back with the right desk solutions.
Firstly, make sure you’re working on a surface that genuinely has enough desk depth. If you work on a desk that’s too compact in an attempt to get more from a small office, you’ll only end up with a cramped surface space, a monitor that’s too close and sore arms from not being able to position them comfortably. A bad move.
Slouch’s office desks are a generous size, meaning you can do these nifty things to help out with storage:
- Install hidden cable management trays to keep wires tucked neatly out of sight and off your desk surface
- Add under-desk drawers that slide smoothly away when not in use – perfect for stashing daily essentials
- Pop on a monitor stand with built-in storage to lift your screen while gaining extra compartments
- Clamp useful extras to your desk edge, like hooks for your headphones or cable tidies to keep your cables organised
Embrace digital storage
Let’s be honest – most of us keep way more paper than we need to when online storage exists. While some documents need to stay in physical form, many could live quite happily in the cloud.
Start by sorting your paperwork into three piles:
- Must keep in physical form (legal documents, signed contracts)
- Can be scanned and shredded
- Can go straight into recycling
That way you’ll have a tidy office with less pointless paperwork taking up valuable space.
Go mobile with storage on wheels
Here’s a small office storage idea that’s simple but underrated. Rolling storage carts can be heroes of small offices, shifting around as needed and tucking away under your desk when you want to free up floor space. Pop your printer on top, organisational supplies in the middle and less used items below.
Tip: Choose a cart that matches your desk height and you’ll have instant extra space to rest a reference book or paperwork on when you need it.
Choose multifunctional storage options
When space is tight, every piece of furniture needs to earn its keep. So whenever you consider adding in an office storage solution remember that it needs to serve as many purposes as possible.
Here’s where you can get creative with solutions like:
- A filing cabinet that doubles as a printer stand
- Storage benches that provide both extra seating and storage
- Stackable storage boxes that work as side tables
- A monitor stand with built-in drawers
Remember, in a small office, single-purpose furniture is a waste of space so embrace multipurpose wherever possible.
Use shelving as storage
Consider making shelving your primary storage solution. After all, as we’ve mentioned, extensive paper filing is a thing of the past. Ditch huge filing cabinets in favour of bookcases or open shelving with boxes for your office necessities.
Need more space? Consider investing in built-in shelving and cabinetry for a cohesive look. You could paint this the same colour as the rest of your walls, even indulging in richer colour schemes for a dark office aesthetic.
Embrace nooks and crannies
You probably know how quirky some of the architectural features of British homes can be, especially period properties. Using a joiner or doing some nifty DIY of your own is a great way to make the most of any quirks of your office space. Don’t let any space go unused in the fight for an organised office space.
Here are some small office storage ideas for otherwise unused spaces:
- Chimney breast alcoves are perfect for built-in office storage solutions
- Awkward corners could be turned into useful spaces with custom-fitted corner shelving units
- Narrow gaps between furniture could house slim rolling storage carts
- The space under sloping ceilings could be fitted with custom cabinetry that follows the roofline
Don’t let doors go to waste
Run out of wall space to use? Consider using your door. In the fight for extra storage in small offices, remember to think outside the box to find space for your essentials. After all – the alternative is a messy office with heaps of visual clutter – a nightmare for productivity and one of the top office distractions.
So, if you’re really stuck on space to store all of the essentials you need for your productivity, use your door too. An over the door hanging rack could do very well for keeping your office knick-knacks like stationery and supplies.
And don’t let the space over your doorway do nothing, either. That’s another underused spot that could house some extra shelving for those files and boxes you don’t need to access every day.
Don’t settle for less
A compact office doesn’t have to be inferior. With the right small office storage solutions, an ergonomic chair and a sturdy office desk you’ll have all the ingredients you need for a tidy and productive space you can do your best work in.
Keep your eyes on the Slouch blog for more handy advice on how to maximise your office space.
Have questions for our customer service team? Get in touch at [email protected].
