Working Smarter, Not Harder
Cloffices are the hot new homeworking trend, but what exactly are they and how could they make home working easier?
Find out here…
Home working spaces that disappear into the background
Since the home working peak of 2020, a lot of us have never made it back into the office full-time. Remote and hybrid working is very much here to stay, and along with it, the rise of the home office space.
But the one perennial problem that comes with working from home is ‘how do I set up my desk space’?
Leaving your laptop set up at the dining room table is hardly convenient, but likewise, a lot of people simply don’t have an entire room to dedicate to work.
This is where the ‘cloffice’ steps in…
But what is a cloffice and how can it transform your home working setup?
What is a cloffice?
A cloffice is a built-in home working space recessed inside a closet or fitted wardrobe that allows you to hide your desk away when it’s not in use.
A portmanteau word of ‘closet’ and ‘office’ smooshed together, the concept of a cloffice has taken off in recent years because it provides a fantastic compromise for people working from home. It offers a comfortable, practical workstation, all without taking up any extra room.
Aside from their space-saving nature, the beauty of cloffices is that their more enclosed design gives them a wonderfully snug feel.
And by adding your own decor and accessories, they can feel a lot more welcoming as well.
Pros and cons of cloffices
So, if they’re the hot new trend in home working, should you have one in your own home? Before you rush out to buy yourself a new desk chair, it’s well worth looking into the pros and cons of a cloffice setup to make sure it’s going to support how you prefer to work.
Or, if you want to take a deeper look into the different home office setups available to you, we definitely recommend reading our blog ‘what type of office suits you best’ which goes into these options in more detail.
Benefits of a cloffice
1 .Creates a defined space to concentrate
The last thing anyone wants to do when home working is to have all their work strewn around the house. And the good thing about cloffices is that they give you a clearly defined place to keep your working life. This means you can concentrate more easily on the task at hand, comfortable in the knowledge that all of the things you need to work well are right by your side.
And for cloffice spaces with doors, they can also effectively help to block out external distractions by acting like a room partition. Great if you’re having to do home schooling at the same time!
2. Doesn’t break up the look of your home
Easily the least obtrusive of all the home office solutions, people love cloffices because they’re designed to blend into your home unnoticed. Once those doors are closed, it’s just another part of your home storage, and people can walk past it without ever suspecting it was there. Where a traditional desk can be visually conspicuous, and maybe even a touch too utilitarian, a cloffice makes a superb alternative. It combines form and function to create a solution that enhances homes, rather than feeling like a compromise.
They seamlessly integrate to make sure your interior design always looks fantastic.
3. Lets you disconnect from work
Because home working often blurs the line between your personal and professional life, it can be really hard to mentally switch off. Even more so if your desk is constantly in view.
By using a cloffice setup, you shut the door on your working day in the most literal way. It creates a barrier between your home and your work so you can enjoy a stress-free evening with no unwanted reminders. You never have to worry about your unfinished work staring you out over a dinner party with friends. A cloffice helps your home stay feeling like a home.
4. Doesn’t take up any extra space
As we’ve mentioned previously, the whole point of a cloffice is that it’s recessed into existing storage, so it won’t take up any extra floor space. And that can be a real lifesaver in busy family homes where every space is needed, or in trickier interiors where you need to optimise your layout.
5. Can be used for things other than work
Yes, a cloffice can be more than just a work space too. Replace your laptop with a mirror and it’s suddenly a chic little dressing table to help you get ready for a night out. Or clear the desk and make room for an afternoon of journalling, crafting, letter writing - or dare we say it - taking care of life admin!
They’re fantastically versatile and well worth the investment if you need your tabletop to act as a multipurpose solution.
Drawbacks of a cloffice
1. May not be an option for some room layouts
Perhaps the most obvious drawback to a cloffice is that some rooms simply won’t accommodate one. So in smaller rooms or rooms with awkward room geometry, a cloffice might not be an option in the first instance. In which case, you’d be better off looking at alternative home working solutions (don’t worry though, we have plenty of inspiration at Sharps!).
2. Offer less space than traditional desking
Cloffices are cosy but if you need room to spread out, you might find yourself running out of space. If your home working needs are simple, a cloffice will suit you just fine; but if you need a lot of tech, multiple monitors, space for filing and more, you’ll be better off with a full-sized desk.
3. Can lack natural light if you’re not near a window
Cloffices are best when they’re near to windows or in rooms that get plenty of natural light, otherwise, you could find your workspace a little bit dingy. However, you can minimise this by adding integrated lighting into your cloffice design to make your desk area more comfortable and convenient to use.
What do you need to have your own cloffice?
To make a cloffice, you’ll need a suitable alcove or nook to transform. Usually something like a walk-in wardrobe, a linen cupboard or a storage closet.
But if you don’t have an alcove going free, another way to enjoy cloffice working is by integrating one into the design of new fitted storage.
For anyone adding fitted wardrobes to their home, getting your designer to build in a desk space is simple.
Take a look at our cloffices page if you need help visualising the layout of your potential design.
How to design your own cloffice
Are you eyeing-up a space in your home to transform into a practical and petite cloffice area? Before you get stuck in, here’s some handy pointers to help you plan your overall design.
Make sure you measure up the interior first! This is essential when you’re buying or building a desk to fit into the space.
Building in lights will make it easier to work and make it feel bright and inviting.
Adding in storage solutions, like vertical shelving, will help you make maximum use of your cloffice interior.
Consider adding tech solutions, like power outlets, charging docks or monitor mounts.
Think about seating. Larger options will prevent you from closing the door of your cloffice, so you may want to choose a stool that fits under the desk.
Statement wallpaper will make your cloffice feel unique, and with the right accessories, you can personalise it however you like.
If you use your cloffice regularly, you can even add some low-maintenance plants.
Make cloffice design easy. Talk to Sharps.
Want to take the strain out of designing a cloffice space?
Get in touch with our team, who are just a click away.
With our free, no obligation design visit, we can talk about your office needs and create a completely bespoke solution that makes home working work for you.
Feel energised and productive in a workspace tailor-made to fit your lifestyle.
