Turning a closet into an office: a step-by-step setup

Does your closet work as an office?

A standard reach-in closet is at least 24 inches deep, according to Angi's guide to closet sizes, and typically 3 to 6 feet wide. That is enough for a desk, but not for the chair: in most closet offices the desk sits inside the closet and the chair stays in the room.

Check these numbers before you start:

The room in front matters because your chair sits there. Office space planners suggest at least 36 inches behind a desk to sit down and get up, and 42 to 48 inches for daily comfort.

Step 1: Empty it and measure

Public Storage's closet-office guide suggests emptying the closet completely and recording the interior width, depth and height, the door opening, the shelf height, and the distance to the nearest outlet. Photograph the empty closet: it makes planning easier.

Step 2: Decide what stays

• Doors: Removing them makes the space feel bigger and lets light in. Keeping them hides your work at the end of the day. Bifold and sliding doors often block the corners when open. If you remove doors in a rental, store them and the hardware so you can reinstall them.
• Top shelf and rod: Keep the shelf for storage if it sits high enough above the desk for a monitor. Remove the rod; it is usually at the height your head and screen need.

Step 3: Choose the work surface

Most closets suit a desk 20 to 24 inches deep. Compare footprints in desks that fit small spaces.

Make sure your knees fit: OSHA's work-space guidance suggests leg room at least 20 inches wide and 17 inches deep at knee level. Drawer units on both sides can make that hard in a narrow closet.

Step 4: Bring in power safely

Many closets have no outlet. Public Storage's guide notes that a properly rated power strip run from a nearby outlet can work as a temporary fix, and that strips and extension cords should not be daisy-chained. For a new outlet inside the closet, use a licensed electrician (and your landlord's permission in a rental).

Route the cord along the wall rather than across the floor in front of the closet, where your chair rolls. Our cable guide covers renter-friendly routing.

Step 5: Light it

A closet is a windowless space, so it needs a task light plus some general light:

• A monitor light bar or a clamp lamp for the desk surface.
• Battery or plug-in puck lights under the top shelf for general light.
• Light-colored paint or peel-and-stick wallpaper on the back wall to reflect light.

Details: lighting a windowless home office and desk lamps for small desks.

Step 6: Mind the heat

A closet with the doors closed can hold heat from a laptop, monitor and lamps. Leave the doors open while you work, and avoid closing a running computer or charger inside the closet overnight. If the space still feels warm, a small fan in the room pointed toward the closet helps air move.

Step 7: Add storage up, not out

The back and side walls are free storage. Use the original top shelf for boxes, add a narrow shelf above the monitor, and hang a small pegboard or rail on a side wall for headphones and cables.

Renting? Ask before you change anything

Most of this setup is reversible, but check these with your landlord first:

• Removing closet doors (and where to store them)
• Screwing a wall-mounted desk or shelves into the walls
• Adding an outlet or a hardwired light, which needs a licensed electrician
• Painting or using wallpaper inside the closet

Get approval in writing, and photograph the closet before you start so you can restore it when you move out.

What it costs

Public Storage's guide describes two do-it-yourself closet offices finished over a weekend, with materials costing roughly 275 to 400 dollars. Your cost depends mostly on the desk and whether you need an electrician for a new outlet. Reusing a desk you already own and keeping the original shelving keeps it at the low end.

Closet office shopping list

Checklist

• Interior width, depth, height and door opening measured
• At least 36 inches of floor in front for the chair
• Hanging rod removed; top shelf kept or removed
• Desk fits through the door and leaves knee room
• Power from a single rated strip, no daisy chains
• Task light plus general light
• Doors open while working