EVERYONE and their dog is doing the chalkboard paint..................I can't get enough of it. I like it a lot. Great redo!

The OCD devil in me is very happy with this... but what did you do with all that junk that was in there before?

@robesposito I was thinking the same thing. When you do a project like this, it does tend to cause you to edit. That's a win-win. This is a job well done!

Thanks so much for featuring my project, Tara! To @RobEsposito @OwlGirlO & @IAMTHELAB - thanks so much for the kudos! What you can't see in these photos are the slender bookshelf (tucked into the left pocket of the closet) that housed most of the books formerly in those tote bags in the before, and all the office supplies neatly tucked into wire mesh organizers & magnetic spice jars (tucked into the right pocket of the closet, some seen on the right on the desk, some hung on the inside wall) that were formerly in the clear plastic bins. Everything else was props leftover from Shoestring photo shoots, which we donated to Goodwill, and we found that the suitcase actually fit under our bed! I loved doing this project, and being featured here is like dying and going to DIY heaven. Thanks, Apartment Therapy! (And if you want to see more photos, I'm going to post an album on Shoestring's Facebook page later today.

why not take the door off?

What a great little project! Maybe you already have this and it's hidden, but I think a little desk lamp with a pop of color could be a great addition. Again, nice job and thanks for sharing.

great job!

This "cloffice" is a brilliant idea and was very well executed. A great of example of what can happen when functionality meets creativity!

Looks cute but I am not sure I could work inside a cupboard to be honest!

love the hanging vase! such a cute little element :)

Yeah, the little vase is totally cute. Also, is there a lamp inside? That is the one thing that would be totally necessary for me: if it's warmly lit, it is a cozy little cubby, but if it is dark I'd just feel like I was hanging out in a closet.

Pretty clever!

@Sunan, I could see leaving the door on just so that when you're done working, you can shut the door and not have to think about work. Out of sight, out of mind.

Love this redo.

@Sunan In 485 square feet, with a closet smack dab in the middle of a 75 sq foot living room, the idea was to be able to completely hide work, "shut down" and therefore relax from time to time, which is why we kept the door on :)

You have my full permission to come to my place to redo my office space! =)

I actually did this at home and I love it! It's nice to keep the door though, so you can easily hide the "cloffice" when needed. Well done!

I like the IG on the couch the best.

Very clever use of space! For me, I would have to remove the door though. I would maybe use curtains to visually cut it off, but still have a more open feeling when working.

I would go crazy having a chair without a back. If it works for you though, kudos. Looks great!

melissa this is GORGEOUS and BRILLIANT and totally inspiring!!!

how did you make the storage ottoman into a file-holder, exactly? i read the full story on shoestring - and LOVED it - and would actually like to replicate some of your ideas in my own new (tiny) apt....did you simply place tabletop file holders inside the ottoman, or was there more to it?

thanks!! :)

yessss!

I wouldn't have thought I'd like the inside of the office painted dark, but it really works and makes the space seem surprisingly larger!

Thanks again to everyone for the lovely comments. I had been thinking about shutting down my blog, and your encouragement is just the inspiration *I* needed to keep going after 5 years! @Chris M - Dante, my IG/Whippet, is a total diva and pretty stoked to be famous now. :) @Meiralev - yes, they are the wire mesh tabletop file organizers from Target, my storage ottoman easily fit two side by side! @Holler - there was absolutely no way to run a cord in for a lamp, and battery powered options took up too much of the little desk, so we added about 10 eco-friendly tap lights inside the closet. @Pier723 You're on! :)

Looks great! Definitely smart to tuck everything into a small space of its own. My husband used to work at the couch and spread out his papers on the ottoman. Drove me insane. ;) We're both much happier now that he's using the desk in the guest room.

Oh and Melissa, I was a few years behind you in high school and did not realize you started Shoestring! Well done! :)

What a beautiful office, great job! Does it feel narrow though? I do agree that the door could come off and give a little bit more space, and it's not like it isn't attractive enough to show off.

That's wonderful. The colour co-ordination is so good that it looks Photoshopped!

In fact - all the shadows look dodgy too ....

Fantastic! I am going to do this right now. Thank you for the very practical, easily applied inspiration.

Very cute! But...do you have a picture of somewone working at that desk? Wouldn't your elbows hit the door frame? (I think mine would. And I have very narrow shoulders)

@Rogue Stella That's amazing! Find me on Facebook. :) @Amaranta Thanks for the compliment, I'm obsessed with color coordination (and have been since age 4). My mother & husband can attest that nothing is Photoshopped. ;) For everyone else, please check out my follow-up on Shoestring this week.

I love it - great use of much needed space, organised and love you did keep the door - nobody wants work staring them in the face!

Love this!! I did the same thing...I call it my closet sewing room! I used a bathroom vanity that we were replacing and added a piece of laminated wood to the top so I'd have a place for my sewing machine. The closet is quite tall so there was lots of room for my fabric collection (addiction!).

I was looking over deskspace designs and came across this one. Well done! Most other comments below have said it all. I believe you are right in keeping the door for the separation of work and 'home' space. But something occurred to me around that folding door.
Its also a golden storage opportunity. Here's my thought:
Remove the door and put stronger hinges at the fixed end. Mount flat plates along the folded middle section so it no longer folds. Remove the track rails and put on a magnet contact to keep it shut when fully closed. Lastly mount some simple shelves and/or file folder holders, calender etc. on the inside. As long as it won't come in contact with whats already in the closet. As a bonus, you have gained more width inside the door frame as you sit and use it!
Cheers.