My failed attempt at using a closet as an office
Attempts to convert closets and other marginal spaces into home offices reveal how hard it is to get quiet, well-ventilated, and ergonomically sound work environments in small or awkwardly laid-out homes, especially with young children and multiple remote workers. Commenters trade practical fixes—better microphones, noise‑isolating headsets, weatherstripping, acoustic treatment, and backyard sheds or rented offices—while emphasizing the importance of air quality and psychological separation between “home” and “work.” The thread also surfaces a broader tension: remote work enables people to live where they want, but often pushes them toward investing in dedicated outbuildings, coworking spaces, or extra housing rather than truly “working from the living room.”
Room choice, layout, and renovations
- Many argue a bedroom corner or spare room with a solid-core door is more practical and better isolated than a closet, especially with kids at home.
- Others insist on a fully dedicated room used only for work to trigger “work mode” and allow leaving equipment out.
- Several suggest bigger structural fixes: adding a wall to split the office, converting storage/garage space, or building an outbuilding/shed office; cost, layout complexity, and Bay Area prices are major blockers.
- Some note the house’s shotgun-like floor plan forces traffic through the bedroom, complicating privacy and sound control.
Sound, microphones, and audio treatment
- Strong debate: acoustic foam and panels vs. investing instead in good noise‑cancelling boom headsets or tight-pattern dynamic mics (e.g., SM7B, Procaster).
- One side says a good boom mic/headset can effectively reject office, traffic, and yard noise for listeners.
- Others counter that headsets only help the wearer; acoustic treatment and room choice are still key for good streamed/recorded audio.
- Consensus: solid-core doors help most with isolation; foam mainly improves echo, not transmission.
Ventilation, CO₂, and comfort
- Multiple commenters say air quality is the real killer for closet offices; CO₂ quickly climbs, leading to stuffiness and cognitive dulling.
- Recommendations: CO₂ monitors, intake/exhaust fans, mini-splits, or at least opening doors/windows periodically. Some are surprised they’ve tolerated unventilated “cloffices” for years.
Psychological separation & routines
- Many emphasize the value of physical/ritual separation between work and home (shed in yard, rented office, second small apartment, “walk commute,” or door‑crossing rituals).
- Techniques include strict door/knock rules, visual cues like hats or “On Air” lights, and covering or closing off work areas after hours.
Remote work, offices, and real estate
- Some advocate moving out of high‑cost metros or into rural/suburban homes with room for separate offices or sheds.
- Others deliberately choose dense cities and solve WFH via coworking spaces, small private offices, or extra nearby apartments.
- Broader debate: WFH’s benefits vs. hidden coordination costs, commute/environment tradeoffs, and whether home offices are ultimately less efficient than shared office infrastructure.