Before and After: A $350 Redo Turns an Empty Closet into a Personality-Packed WFH Office

Sure, closets are handy for organizing clothes or storing household necessities, but they’re pretty handy for more than that, too. In fact, a big enough closet doesn’t have to be a closet at all, as shown by this redo from Sourya Venumbaka (@sovehome).

Sourya, who is a pro at upgrading rental apartments, found that her recent move from a 500-square-foot place to a 1600-square-foot one meant that she could sacrifice a bit of storage to create a more functional home overall.

While the before was a “perfectly nice, spacious step-in closet in the guest room,” Sourya says, she knew that it would be better for her as a small home office.

While gathering her supplies took some time, once she was all stocked up, Sourya needed only a day and a half to pull off the transformation. She started by removing the standard wire shelving that was in place. Then, she applied peel-and-stick wallpaper from Target to all three walls. The peel-and-stick factor makes it a great choice for rentals, since Sourya can easily peel it off the walls before she moves out.

The bold pattern is a perfect pick for this enclosed space. “If you like prints and patterns but are scared to use them in other areas of your house, small spaces like closets and half-baths are where you can indulge those design dreams,” Sourya says.

Sourya created her new desk with pre-made MDF shelving she got from the hardware store, installed at table height. As for the shelf above? That’s the same wire shelf from before, reinstalled and covered in MDF board to match the desk below.

Sourya finished off the office with custom pin boards she made from burlap and soundproofing panels, and a thrifted chair that she refreshed with new stain and a reupholstered seat. The final touch: artwork and books that turn this one-time closet into a true sanctuary, all for about $350 total.

“I love how it’s like a hidden surprise behind an otherwise non-descript door,” Sourya says. “And not only is it pretty, but is also functional and is a nice quiet place to get some work done.”

Inspired? Submit your own project here.