Carve out a home office niche for yourself in the seldom-used guest room in your home or apartment. It's true, you may have to give up your home office a few nights a year, but on the bright side you won't have to wipe the morning's breakfast off your laptop on a regular basis because you'll no longer be confined to using the kitchen table as your office desk. A small home office tucked in an extra guest room is cozy; it easy to keep clean, just in case an unexpected visitor arrives; and it's convenient. Scoot an attractive accent chair or double-duty stool up to a home office desk that complements your bedroom's personality. You'll have all you need to relax and read the paper, write a paper, or just sit and sip your coffee while staring out the window.

Okay, So Where's the Office Desk?

A desk can be nearly any piece of office furniture with a flat top. Don't get hung up on visions of the traditional office filled with giant desks and huge filing cabinets. Updated home office desk designs have personality, the sizes are user-friendly and the styles are endless. Your room size is limited, so this small home office needs to be functional and hopefully blend with the room's decor. This office is your personal retreat, so make selections that suit your style.

If you love a contemporary vibe, then choose a tempered glass-top desk with a frosted border and gracefully curved legs. This sleek office desk creates an open-air and spacious feel in the room, and a curved corner connector lets you expand your desktop if you have the space. It also makes a handy place for your guests to write postcards, or a place to work if they need it.

A small writing desk that doubles as a dressing table makes a sweet complement in your double-duty home office and guest bedroom. Store your files in the coordinating, fabric-cushioned cube seat. If space is really tight, add in a small workstation or computer cart.  Even a rectangular folding table on the side of the bed or standing in the room's center makes a stable temporary desktop. It's unconventional perhaps, but also functional, portable and easily stored.

Accent Chairs Make a Statement

Welcome your guests to their room with a pretty accent chair that's helpful when dressing, yet also doubles as your desk chair. Support your back with a handy dual position comfort wedge or choose a low-profile task chair with wheels. Choose a chair in pink or purple or other bold hue for a pop of color, or black to keep things simple. If space is cramped when company arrives, cheerfully wheel the chair down the hall and into another room for a few days. Have fun with it. Pick a chair that makes you smile each time you use it, such as a whimsical baseball theme chair.

Can You Ever Have Enough Storage?

Free up floor space and create storage in your small space with wall-mounted shelves that appear to almost float in the room. These floating shelves are great for storing plants, pictures or some decorative ceramics when guests are present, they also neatly store your office essentials. Pick stacking drawers with clear front panels for easy identification and access to supplies, or pick out a few sturdy photo boxes in cheerful colors and prints; these are usually stackable and have a small, unobtrusive place for labels. A small rolling file cabinet lets you keep your desktop organized but is easily tucked away with the rolling chair in the other room when guests arrive.

Tricking out your guest bedroom so that you can create a comfortable, cozy and functional home office is a breeze with accent chairs, small desks and ingenious storage options. Choose designs and finishes that complement or accent the existing decor, or pick out some trendy home office furnishings and redo the guest bedroom to complement your new office.