Think you don't have space for a home office? Think again.

You don't need to dedicate a full room to an office. With a little creativity, homeowners or apartment dwellers can carve out a functional, attractive work niche.

We found some clever area homeowners who have turned a guest-room alcove, a hall closet and a balcony into workable home office spots.

Guest room/office
Homeowner: Bob Hyde
The story: Hyde works at home as a Johnson & Johnson sales representative. For years, he functioned with only a computer desk in a corner of a 10-by-10-foot guest room in his West 43rd Street home. In January, he removed the bedroom's dresser and replaced it with a wall-sized, built-in office system. He now has a desk and chair space surrounded with cabinets -- one that holds his printer and office supplies -- and drawers, including two designed for hanging files. One of the tall cabinets serves as a wardrobe for overnight guests since the office still doubles as a spare bedroom.
Designer: Closet Works of Virginia
Cost: $2,300
Bob says: "Before, I had papers piled everywhere. I still work that way, but it's much easier to clean up now."

Hall closet office
Homeowners: Sunny and Read Goode
The story: Sunny is a professional decorative artist whose Goodtime Paint Products help novices brighten their homes with color washes and glazes. Her "real" work office is out of the house. In their Albemarle Avenue home, Sunny and Read removed louvered doors from a double-sized hall closet, opening an office nook. Sunny turned a recycled door into a counter space for a computer. A fabric skirt hung with cup hooks and framing wire hides a storage area beneath the counter. She covered a Homasote board with fabric and affixed ribbons with upholstery tacks to serve as a bulletin board. Assorted wire baskets, garden tins and other nifty devices hold desk and art supplies. Track lighting illuminates the space. The office chair is a tall stool.
Designer: Goodes' do-it-yourself project
Cost: About $400
Sunny says: "Before, it was like the junk closet -- the most random space. Now, it's our home command center. I wanted it to be slightly uncomfortable so the kids wouldn't start staying on the computer too long."

Second-floor balcony office
Homeowner: Freddie Gray
The story: Gray, a volunteer extraordinaire, has a lush, plush office that once was a covered balcony on the second floor of her Tapoan Road home. How lush? Heated limestone floors, custom built-in cabinets and drawers and bamboo wallpaper. The décor, with a live orchid, hot-pink tropical flower photos and a view of the spacious backyard, reminds Gray of her native Florida. One wall is solid cabinets and shelves. Another has cabinets with a shelf divided into nooks below. The desk wraps under those cabinets around the corner and stretches under the wall of windows.
Designer: Phil Zepp, contractor; Trademark cabinetry by Mark Cohen.
Cost: Gray isn't sure: "It was custom, so . . . "
Freddie says: "My office had been our kitchen for 10 years. This is a little piece of tropical heaven. It's just decadent to have this kind of space. It makes paying bills fun."

Contact Julie Young at (804) 649-6732 or jyoung@timesdispatch.com.