Hidden Home Office: Repurposed Kitchen Cabinet

Sometimes you just have to look at things a little differently. Take this utility cabinet in Annie’s kitchen. When Annie bemoaned her lack of an office space in her new home, friend and professional organizer Judy Moss pointed straight to the cabinet. Why not create a tidy little office right beside the kitchen counter, Annie’s favorite place to work, pay bills, and surf online?

Annie started by clearing out the cabinet and relocating its household cleaning supplies—which didn’t actually need to be near the kitchen—into a nearby, unused lowboy. She removed the existing shelving and painted the inside the same pale grey as the rest of the house, which not only lightens the feel of such a small space but also makes it easier to find items inside.

Then she installed pull-out shelves on tracks from The Home Depot. This makes everything—from her hanging-file box to her printer and desktop supplies—easily accessible. (Lucky for Annie, electrical and phone wiring were already in the cabinet, so all she had to do was hook up her equipment.) To maximize her use of the space, she also installed a magnetic board on the door for storing invitations and other important reminders, which keeps them organized and off her countertops. Because Annie’s a big believer in little details that make a big difference, she framed the magnetic board in the same trim as the rest of her home.

She put lesser-used items in the bottom drawer, t0 minimize bending, in clear plastic containers, and placed all the important stuff front and center, where it’s easy to grab. She added in some fun, colorful accessories for a lively look, and, of course, all the standard office essentials.

The final result is polished and professional, and, in a pretty tiny space (about 85″ high by 22″ wide by 24″ deep), blends a fully functional office seamlessly into Annie’s kitchen.

What’s your take on Annie’s hidden home office? What’s your favorite tip for keeping your own office space organized?