The virtual office is becoming an essential working solution to a growing number of businesses across the UK. For many, a desk at home provides the physical side of the virtual office. But for some, this poses a new problem - as not everyone can find the space to create a home office.

Here at virtualofficeworld.com we know that with a little creative thinking, it's possible to fashion a quiet, private workspace out of a corner of the house you never thought had the potential.

Take a look at our top tips to find out how you can put your house to work, with a little help from a masterpiece by CS Lewis, J.K.Rowling, and a New York decorator with a bright idea...

"The bright city of War Drobe"

In The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, a simple wardrobe was transformed into a portal to another world. But the reality of tailoring this idea for your home office is really not so far-fetched.

Rita Konig, a decorator based in New York and who blogs for the New York Times, has recently shared her success in turning a small closet into a functional, space-saving office. In her own words, "Working at home has its benefits, but living in your office is really no good at all," - which is when she first had the idea of turning her closet into a work space.

Rita had a walk-in closet which already had electricity points installed, so she just had to clear out the clutter, remove some of the lower shelves, and put up a piece of laminated wood which served as her desk. She enlisted the help of a carpenter, but many could easily accomplish this themselves. After all, laminate can be found in any DIY store, and shelving just takes a little patience - along with a decent spirit level!

Then once you've found some space-saving commodities, such as a small-based lamp, a wall-mounted in-tray and a comfortable chair that can wheel in and out of the doorway, your new office is ready for use. And best of all, you haven't taken up any extra room in the house - which helps to keep a stronger divide between your home and your working life.

Closet-traphobia?

Of course, not everyone can work in a wardrobe. If you're worried about feeling claustrophobic, try painting the inside of the space in light colours, and make sure you have enough light - invest in more than one lamp if you feel you need to brighten your space.

Reader of Rita's blog, "JulieB", suggested the use of carefully-placed mirrors to increase the perception of size: "Add a big mirror right in front of (and slightly above) where you sit, angled so it reflects some sort of view (and a window if possible). That really made a difference for me."

And Jack Gilbert, of nycdecoration.com, suggests: "Think also of using dark colours on the left and right walls, bright or white/beige for the ceiling, floor and back walls, and DO NOT use fluorescent light, too too depressing."

The shoe cupboard

J.K.Rowling's world-famous character Harry Potter had a tough time when he was forced to live in the cupboard under the stairs. But that doesn't mean you can't make yours a little more habitable.

If you have a space under the stairs, try looking at it in a different light. Rather than a cupboard for shoes you don't wear anymore, could you fit a small desk, a chair, and yourself under there? This space is yet another example of an area that can hugely benefit your business, separate your home and working life, and save you the cost of renting an office.

Finally, in the words of Rita Konig:

"I am not saying that everyone would benefit from working out of a closet, but I love it, and I actually find that facing a wall really focuses my mind and I get a lot of work done."

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