Budget-Friendly Fixes For Home Office In a Bedroom

You might have to have your home office in a bedroom.

This is not the ideal situation, but it can happen, and you have to make the best out of the situation.

Here I have gathered some budget-friendly tips to improve the space use and make it look more cohesive and thought-out.

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Use IKEA hacks like a dresser-desk combo or shelf-desk combo

Usually, when you combine two functions in the same room, the space might get a little tight.

That’s when you should find space-saving solutions – sometimes, opting for smaller furniture pieces is the answer, and sometimes finding pieces that double the function is!

One of the solutions is to combine work desk and a vanity table or a dresser: you can use Ikea MALM Dressing table to do your makeup or put your laptop on!

Another option is to get a wall-mounted shelf-desk.

Great thing about these is that the desk will hide the techno-clutter when you are not working!

Not all of them are budget-friendly, but hey, you are not buying those every day!

For example, this mid-century modern teak wall unit: you can freely choose the configuration of elements.

They have all the elements in stock, as they were originally in the 1960s.

You can choose between different shelves, cabinet elements and wall strips.

Whether you need a small, single-strip set or an entire wall of shelves. You have size options as well: 80 cm – 480 cm wide (or more).

Alternatively, you can also modify an existing built-in shelving unit to fit the workstation function.

If you are bold enough, you might as well get a custom-made unit that folds the tabletop in and out of a stationery unit!

Reuse a console or entryway table as a desk

You might have a console table in the entryway that you are thinking to switch with something new.

If that is the case, instead of throwing it out or selling it on Facebook marketplace, think about ways you can use it as a work desk for your bedroom.

I know that some of them are not comfortable to be used for work, but some of them might be just enough!

There are several things to consider:

• Height Ergonomics:
  Most console tables are a bit taller or shorter than standard desks (ideal height: ~29-30″ – 75-80cm).

If it’s too high, your shoulders and wrists may suffer. Consider adding a height-adjustable chair or a seat cushion to balance it.

• Legroom:
  Console tables often have narrow depth and limited legroom. Make sure your knees aren’t squished and there’s space for movement.
  
  I would suggest adding a flip top with a hinge so that there is enough depth for your legs or workspace surface.

Transformable dresser-desk

Another idea is to get a dresser, add a wall-mounted upper top drawer and have a simple sliding table under it.

Install discreet, lockable wheels under the sliding table for smooth movement and stability when in use.

Route a narrow groove along the back or underside of the sliding top for cable pass-through—essential for a clean laptop/charger setup.

Make sure to account for the added thickness or use the drawers beneath the sliding top for cable management.

Use drawer organizers in the dresser for dual-use (stationery by day, personal items by night).

You can also design the sliding table with a leaf or drop-down edge to temporarily extend depth for larger laptops or writing tasks.

Don’t forget to add soft-close drawer glides for the sliding table to avoid slamming and reduce wear over time.

Use curtains or a folding screen to zone off the workspace.

Often when we work from home, we need to have zoom calls with colleagues or clients.

Of course, having a digital background is always an option, but in my opinion, they look inauthentic and I would rather avoid them, if possible.

Working from home already creates a lot of distance between you and the people you work with, and an inauthentic background adds another layer to that distance.

So, considering room dividers is a great idea.

If space allows, you can either create separate zones within a room, or place temporary dividers when needed.

Print and hang free art prints or your own photography.

Good news: you can first install a peg board and then add prints or framed art on that.

Photo by Laura Trevey – Browse home office photos

This way, you wan always mix up the “exposition” if you get bored!

Plus, having pegboards is a great way to reimagine the design!

Photo by Makers Zoo – Discover home office design inspiration

Paint old furniture to unify mismatched pieces.

If you have brought furniture from different places into your bedroom-home office combo (like, the console table from the entryway, as we discussed above), the space might need some extra touches to feel unified.

Colos is one of the best ways to do just that!

Here are some strategies to use paint and make your space look more cohesive and intentional:

Single Color Scheme – Use one unified paint color across all pieces (e.g., all matte black, ivory, sage green).

Tone-on-Tone Neutrals – Slight variations of the same hue (e.g., greige, taupe, ivory) for subtle dimension while still coordinated.

Two-Tone Effect – Paint bases and legs in one color and tops in another (like wood stain or contrasting paint).

Color Drenching – Match the furniture color to your wall color for a seamless, elevated look.

Monochrome with Texture – Same color on all pieces, but use different paint finishes (e.g., matte vs. satin) to add depth.

In addition to color, there are other style unification design tips to take it to the next level:

• Uniform Hardware – Change knobs/handles to matching ones (brass, black, wood, etc.).
• Add Furniture Feet or Skirts – Standardize silhouettes by adding uniform legs or base trims.
• Consistent Accessories – Style each piece with similar decor (e.g., same lamps, trays, or books) to pull them together.

Conclusion

Creating a hybrid home office in a bedroom can be an intimidating task, especially if it’s your DIY project and your budget is a constraint.

With these ideas in mind, hopefully it becomes less of a hustle!

I have covered related topics as well, so make sure to check out this article all about Home Office Spare Bedroom Combo That Prove Small Is Enough!

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