I converted a disastrous hall cupboard into a tiny home office – people say they’d feel claustrophobic but I feel cosy
IF you have stairs in your home, it can be tricky knowing how to best utilise the space to make the most of it.
One man shared how he transformed his “disastrous” hallway cupboard into a stylish home office – and he did all the work himself.
Taking to Reddit, the man, who works as a filmmaker, shared the incredible before and after shots of his cupboard transformation.
He explained: “The pandemic, coupled with it being insanely cold and snowy, means my pregnant wife can’t get out to exercise, so we decided to turn my home office into a home gym.
“We had a catch-all hall closet (otherwise known as the nightmare you see above) that could function as a new office with (what I thought was) minimal work.”
The man set about transforming the space and started by demolishing the shelves.
He added: “[I] was shocked that they had actually held as long as they did. The plaster was… not in great condition.
“When I removed the baseboard and the plaster literally crumbled off the wall I knew I was going to need drywall caps.”
The man shared how the floor was a “mess” but he decided that he was going to cover it with a rug.
Next it was time for wiring and he got an electrician to help as his building is 120 years old and he “wasn’t about to screw around with electrical.”
He continued: “Drywall caps went on relatively quickly and made the space feel new.
“Added in a compact ceiling fan and light because I know from home brewing that this closet gets hot as hellllllll in the summer time.
“Repurposed wood for an l-shaped shelf up top and a printer shelf and desk down low.
“A little paint goes a long way.
“Used the last of some leftover peel and stick wallpaper for behind my monitor and aforementioned rug fitting snugly over the still ugly but now smooth floor.”
His final task was to “mount a peg board to hold various cables”, and said: “I’m a filmmaker so you never know what you’ll need.”
Eight Easy DIY Tips & Tricks
The ultimate guide for homeowners and renters:
- DIY expert’s lazy painting hack will make decorating your home much easier
- Save time and money with this easy DIY tiling hack to transform a room in under an hour
- Avoid these five mistakes in your next DIY project
- Transform your kitchen with this renter-friendly DIY hack
- Noisy neighbours? Here’s how to soundproof a room
- DIY expert shared her favourite strategy for painting around glass without tape
- If you want to give your kitchen a fresh look, here’s how to paint your kitchen cabinets
- Five tricks to spruce up every room in your home for less than £5
The man was proud of the final reveal, and added: “Finished product!
“The picture makes it look cramped, but it’s roomier than it seems.”
People were impressed with this handiwork, with one saying: “There’s something deeply satisfying about how well that rug fits the dimensions of the closet.
“Nice work all around!”
Everyone kept telling me I’d be claustrophobic but instead I feel focused and cosy
Homeowner
Another added: “This is awesome! I just so happen to have a random closet that could be repurposed.”
And a third commented: “I don’t think I’d feel claustrophobic. I do think I’d feel nervous someone was behind me!”
The man replied, saying: “Everyone kept telling me I’d be claustrophobic but instead I feel focused and cosy!”