Before & After: Melissa’s “Cloffice” on a Budget

Written by

Tara BellucciNews and Culture Director
Tara BellucciNews and Culture Director
Tara is Apartment Therapy's News & Culture Director. When not scrolling through Instagram double-tapping pet pics and astrology memes, you'll find her thrift shopping around Boston, kayaking on the Charles, and trying not to buy more plants.
updated Mar 11, 2020
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(Image credit: Apartment Therapy)

The challenge (and fun!) of small space living is finding the best use for every inch. Even though tiny apartments are usually short on closet space, a place to stash your suitcases is less useful if what you really need is an office. Melissa put her closet to work for her — for only $130!

(Image credit: Apartment Therapy)

Melissa Massello is the Stealfinder in Chief of Shoestring Magazine, and with a title like that, you know she’s looking to save a buck. Working from home started to take over the kitchen table, leaving little space for her and her husband in their 450 square foot North End rental. With the help of a professional organizer, the “cloffice” was born!

We love a good closet office at Apartment Therapy, and this one has some elements we adore. The storage ottoman-turned-file cabinet is clever, doubles as seating, and means you don’t have to stare at your expense reports every day. A slim desk/sofa table is easily movable when the lease is up. Chalkboard paint covers magnetic primer, offering multiple ways to leave notes for yourself. And all for under $130!

For organizational tips, budget breakdown, and more photos, check out Shoestring Magazine.

MORE CLOSET OFFICES ON APARTMENT THERAPY:
• Work Around: Closets as Offices Roundup
• Mai’s Cozy Closet Home Office
• Turn a Cluttered Closet into a Bright Home Office