Controversial opinion, perhaps, but someone needs to share it with Virginia Woolf: you don’t need your own room to be successful at your home job; you just need an office. And while we would all love to enjoy the spatial luxury it has made, even those with a free room to study, email, take meetings, get creative or strategize know that the real key to productivity is is to have a workspace to work on (i.e. a desk). If you have to be content with working in an unused bedroom or living room area, or trying to figure out how to transform your kitchen or dining room by moonlight, you’re in luck. We’ve scoured the best designer portfolios to come up with 15 home office and home office ideas that will let you turn any room into a must-have workspace. From smart reuse ideas to easy DIY tips, makeshift desks get the job done.

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1) Build it yourself

If you’ve got some scrap wood on hand – and you’re already pretty handy with power tools – consider building this DIY structure. The trickiest part is getting your measurements right with these simple easel stands.

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2) make your dining table serve dual purpose

Combine your dining room and home office with a modular long table that can double as a surface for eating and working. In this space designed by Devin Kirk, the chairs are staggered to allow owners to flourish and get down to business at the same time.

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3) Bring your patio furniture indoors

Revive an unused console table or outdoor patio table with a fresh coat of paint (or leave it as is in more rustic spaces). Here, a crisp white bursts against a monochromatic blue background, while a comfy cushion reinvents an iron garden chair for the interior.

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4) Install a shelf with brackets

This home office might not be fancy, but it gets the job done. A floating shelf gives you a dedicated place to start work when you’re short on space. Just make sure it’s deep enough to fit your laptop and installed at the right height, then slide it onto a chair and get an email.

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5) transform a breakfast nook

You don’t need a lot to create a proper workspace. Just place a table lamp on a side table, slide out a chair and voila, you have a makeshift little desk. This vibrant vignette designed by Anthony Baratta is a maximalist example, but any combination will do in a pinch.

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6) do it neat

Turn a bumpy, uneven surface into a professional job site by adding a glass top. A skirt like the one on this vanity designed by Cameron Ruppert Interiors allows you to store files and documents underneath while ensuring a clean, clean aesthetic.

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7) Add bells and whistles to a floating shelf

Designed by Lindsey Bond, this workspace is both modern and casual and features a floating desk mounted to the wall in a master bedroom. An aged mirror reflects light and makes the room feel larger, while the Ghost Chair minimizes bulky furniture for a feeling of wide openness. Follow Bond’s lead and stuff your floating shelf with leather, then add a nail head trim for a bespoke look.

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8) Go looking for a secretary

Keep your eyes peeled for a secretary to re-fit you at local antique stores, vintage stores, estate sales, or flea markets. This one in a Libby Cameron designed bedroom has been remodeled with new paint, but you can also swap out the hardware or put a thin slab of marble on top to add a personal touch.

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9) Secure a shelf

By installing a shelf on the wall in an unused corner of his apartment, Tariq Dixon, co-founder of furniture brand TRNK, turned a small space into a writer’s retreat.

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10) use an old picnic bench

Use an old bench, side table, or console table like Leanne Ford did in this artist’s retirement. Whether you choose a reclaimed wood piece or a rustic exterior option, you won’t have to be too precious with it, especially if you are working with paint and other messy materials as an artist or designer.

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11) find a good DIY kit

Verdant greens set the stage for a calming home office designed by Ingrid Rasmussen. This kit allows you to assemble a similar wooden desk yourself in a few easy-to-follow steps.

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12) build a personalized flyer

A DIY or custom foldable desk is the best option for small home workspaces where the extra furniture just isn’t in the cards. Brockschmidt and Coleman personalized this built-in bookcase with a fold-out desk so work can be hidden away at the end of the day. Out of sight, out of mind and out of the way.

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13) Stack a Cubby Shelf on Top

Stack a shoe box or DIY floating shelf on a console table to give it the added benefit of storage space. Not only does it look more visually interesting, but it will definitely help you stay organized.

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14) Corner or corner shelf

Because it’s in an alcove, the study in this bedroom feels totally separate from the rest of the space. While an architectural nook can make a floating shelf-desk hybrid look very neat, a floating shelf in any old nook will do the trick as well. Designed by Shapeless Studio, every nook and cranny of this New York apartment reaches its full potential.

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15) use a pantry rack

This converted kitchen pantry proves that you can make just about any space home-friendly with the right organizing tools. If your surface is large enough, use trays on the desk to store odds and ends and keep your papers organized. If you don’t have room on your desk, attach a cork board to the wall and enjoy vertical real estate.

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16/16 SLIDES