Space-saving tips to create efficient kitchen office

The kitchen is the heart of a home, a central gathering place to tackle the family finances, plan schedules and oversee homework. As a temporary workspace, the kitchen table can convert into the command center until the next mealtime. Eliminate the chaos and shuffling of projects and papers, with a kitchen office. Take advantage of an underutilized corner or a built-in nook to turn a portion of the kitchen space into a high-functioning, compact kitchen office.

Here are a few tips to help you make the most of your small kitchen office:

“Keep the surface area clear with mounting hardware to hang a computer monitor from under the cabinet or attach to the wall. Look for a mount that rotates a full 180 degrees for full viewing from any angle. Use a pullout keyboard and mouse tray that can be placed under the counter.

“Hide the equipment. To make the keyboard and mouse even less obtrusive, tuck it behind a false drawer front by using hinged drawer slides to customize an existing drawer. Even the CPU can be tucked away with an under-the-desktop computer mounting system.

“Corral the wires on top. Eliminate the unsightly mess of cords and wires by using grommets to guide power cords and cables through the countertop. The grommets come in a variety of metal finishes or in hardwoods to match existing cabinetry.

“Round up the wires down below. Another eyesore is the tangle of wires and cords near the outlets. If you’re working in a small corner space, you probably won’t be left with much leg room and could find yourself inadvertently tangled in wires. Running the wires through a length of PVC pipe might be one solution. Be sure to create a barrier between your feet and the power strip.

“Use proper task lighting. Adequate lighting is important for any work area and is sometimes overlooked. A simple solution for retrofitting is to incorporate low-voltage lights for under-cabinet lighting.

“Consider cabinetry with pullout shelves. Supplies and bulky equipment like a printer can be stored out of sight, but still readily accessible. Install pull out shelves or drawers in an existing cabinet. Full extension drawer slides will give you full access to the drawer.

Incorporating a few pieces of specialized hardware lets you turn an underutilized space into a kitchen command center that is organized, easy on the budget and pleasing to the eye.