You could use some tall shelves or a room divider to create a separate office area within the bedroom. That way you will not have to look at the bed while you are at "work".
Both of my guest rooms will each have a bed, computer desk, and tv. One has a dresser while the other one has a glass topped table and two chairs (which used to be in previous house's kitchen.)
If you have enough space I think you could make the office work fine within that room.

I think I would prefer the quiet of my bedroom to the crazyness/mess of a playroom as my work space.

Make your bed so you're not reminded as much you just crawled out of it and get some good task lighting and play some soft music and you'll get into the work mode.

Plus, I'd prefer to keep my work mess - papers, projects etc. in a more private area. Your master bedroom should be off limits to anyone visiting, so you don't have to worry about that.

Even though a bedroom "should" just be used for sleeping and ... :) ... I agree with 3DGrad in this case, divide off an area of your bedroom if you can, so that you have a clear distinction of bedroom vs. office. and as Caroleoh says,,,, trying to concentrate on work in a playroom area would be difficult.

Best of luck!

Do you have any other choices at all? I'm sure you've run through this before getting to this point, but it's very bad for one's ability to sleep and one's marriage to have a work area in the bedroom. I have had a true home office for 10 years, and early on I went through struggles with my kids explaining that if Mom can't work, then she can't buy you toys (or food, or keep the house, etc.); it took a while, but they got it. I sympathize with your dilemma but I would have to vote for "none of the above."

Is it possible to get the boys bunk beds so their toys can remain in their room? That is what we did when our two youngest daughters were small. It makes for so much more floor space in the bedroom. You can find tons of these on Craig's List.

Another idea is to utilize your garage as a playroom. I'm sure you've seen Vern and other designers covert garages into temporary rooms using really cool storage ideas, temporary flooring and sometimes even temporary walls. This can really be done very inexpensively. You can leave the garage doors as is so that you can covert it back quickly if you decide to sell. Then either get a piece of carpet remnant (either from a flooring store or possibly off Craig's List) or use carpet tiles. There are many possibilities for heating and air, if those are necessary, depending on what climate you live in. There are SOOOO many different ideas for converting your garage. All you have to do is do a little research and I'm sure you could figure out something if you think this is a viable option.

Here comes the advice you didn't ask for...!

I also vote against an office in the bedroom. I would submit that you do have a family room...you're calling it the living room, but isn't it really both? And why call it a living room if you don't do your living there...?

If you re-read your post, I think you'll see that you're setting up a situation where the children are pushing the grown-ups out of the house and into one room. What's wrong with this picture!!

So I'd do three things.
FIrst, have a pow-wow with the children about how lucky they are to have all they have, and how many children are not so lucky. Then ask them to choose some of their toys, and, together, take them to a shelter or to a charity. As part of the process, give up some things of your own, too. Start small, and do it a couple of times, and they will see how rewarding it can be.

Meanwhile, establish some kind of storage in your living/family room, or in a hall or dining room, if that's where the space is. A wall of cubes and baskets, or a deep bookcase, or a wardrobe...there are tons of idas to be had in the Organizing forum here. Let your children help in the planning.

Finally, set up a time every evening to put the toys away. Anything that isn't cleaned up goes in a basket somewhere, and has to be put away the next day before they can do something they want to do...watch TV, or play with something else...

But whatever you do, don't put your office in your bedroom. On top of the bad vibe in your marriage, you will never get your work out of your head at night if you do. And your children might not get the life skills of order and respect that you mean for them to have.

What Bronwynsmom said. If you had tons of space, I'd have no problem with giving a bedroom over to a play room. But if you work from home, I think it takes priority over multiple kid spaces (and you know they will fill whatever space is given to them). Presumably you need the work to pay for the toys.

I'm not one of those no-tv-in-the-bedroom people. I've always had a tv in my bedroom and its looks don't bother me. It's not on all the time, so I don't feel it's an intrusion. Computers and paperwork are harder to contain. What if you need to do some work and your husband has already gone to bed? What if he's sick in bed with the flu and you need to work?

I was guilty of giving my daughter (only child) way too much without placing too many limits on her. I think keeping your office in your third bedroom and confining your kids' stuff to their room or neat, sanctioned areas of your living/family room is a good object lesson for them. There's always the great outdoors for a playroom.

Thanks for all your comments but now i'm even more confused...
Here are some more details that may help you to help me:
1. threegrad, caroleoh andjennava- we can't use tall shelves or a room divider to create a separate office area in our bedroom. We just don't have enough room for it. If we place two desks and two chairs in the bedroom we will sit with our backs to the bed (we will see the computers from the bed but not the bed from the place we sit).

2. bluekitobsessed- i don't have other choices. It's one of the two.
3.bronwynsmom and linelle- Our living room is the family room! We have the TV there and my son's computer. We don't have an extra room for toys' storage- it's a small open space combined with a dining room.
I hear what you say about the office in the bedroom and i have to tell you that my husband feels the same...
He wants the office/play room idea (but he is only using the office at night when the kids are sleeping).
3. Finally: do you really think that this bedroom office is that bad? I can imagine myself working in a room like that- but maybe i don't understand how bad it will be to look at my computer from our bed...

I really hate this. no ideal solution :-(

Here is a link that might be useful: [can it work?[(https://www.houzz.com/photos/kanner-architects-modern-home-office-los-angeles-phvw-vp~10323)

Before we built my home office, my office space was in the playroom. It was not ideal, particularly when I had to be on the telephone (which was not often, fortunately).

I don't think I'd like having my office in my bedroom, though. I'd rather keep the stacks of work out of my visual field. If it were in my bedroom, I would feel downright oppressed!

I work from home and I have 4 kids. I have had an office in my bedroom before and it was certainly far from ideal. I would put the office in the playroom and instruct the children that when mommy is working, they must take their toys to their room or to the living room. I feel it is important to have a place where I do not have a reminder of all of the work waiting for me or reminding me of it, thinking of it, etc.

I think all of the above suggestions make sense to some degree or another.

Only you can determine what solution will bring you the most stress reducing in your life.

Personally, I wouldn't have a problem with working in my bedroom. Heck in college, you sleep, hang and work in your bedroom without any problems.

For me, having a spot for the kids stuff, where they can go and have friends etc. would be less stressful than having them all over the house with their friends and toys if their room is too small. Plus, sometimes you need two play spaces so one can play in the playroom and one in the bedroom.

This is only for a few years. Once they get bigger, they will not have as many toys or such big messy toys, so they probably will be able to fit in their bedroom and you can have your office back.

But, if it is going to drive you mad to see your work stuff when you're trying to sleep etc., then use the playroom and out the kids when you need to get things done, or schedule your work hours when they're at school or sleeping etc.

All of the suggestions above contain excellent ideas and various ways to make this new arrangement work for you (not against you -- LOL! :)

O.K. Let's start with the basics:

a) Excellent ideas above about sorting and clearing out any clutter (this includes THEIR toys and YOUR work items alike!)

b) Really measure out every single inch in each of the spaces -- and map them out on paper. Take photos. Post them here if you can! (create a free photobucket account and load them onto a fresh message)

c) YOUR office can be in YOUR bedroom. Then place your son't computer into the playroom. Divide and conquer.

d) YOUR bedroom office should be pretty -- and organized. Clear out any clutter -- and organize paper and supplies. Buy or create pretty boxes/binders to hold necessary stuff. Add good-looking lighting. Invest in the time it take to be organized. Emphasize that fact to the whole family.

e) Add shelving and storage baskets to the family room. Do the same to the new playroom.

Jan

Adi, did you look at the thread on home offices in the Gallery? There are lots of pretty inspirational pictures in there for you.

If you move the kids out of the living room and into the office, can you move the office into the living room/dining room?

You might have to purchase some new furniture, say a floor screen to hide the desk and computer, or a computer armoire that you can close up at night, but it might be doable. I would certainly do some mock-up floor plans before putting the office in the bedroom.

The kids' noise and toys would be contained in their new playroom, and you would keep your bedroom the way it is.

I know that it's not what you want to hear, but I completely agree with those that think that you should not have your office in your bedroom. I think brownysmom is right on.

Have you truly exhausted all the options related to purging and storage? The reason that I ask is that my life changed when I invested a fair amount of money in an closet organizing system. It made a space for everything and left open spaces on the floor for baskets of small toys. The two older kids (5 and 3) are completely responsible for cleaning up their own toys, so toys around the house are a non-issue. Have you tried tackling all of the closets to find more space?

The photo in the link is attractive, but that's a photoshoot, not real life. That home office has no papers, printer, phone, etc., just a little tiny monitor and an office chair.

You can't live in peace...you can't, your husband can't, and your kids can't...if you are keeping more things than you have room for. We all live with space constraints, and I can tell you from experience that the constant stress of too much stuff and no room put it, and no efficient means of living and working, is TERRIBLE for your relationships, your energy, your sense of accomplishment, and your health. I am still sorting and pitching from our move out of a big house into a small one two years ago. Trying to keep more than you can live with makes you feel poor, not rich.

The thing that jumped out at me in your post was that your husband doesn't want your workroom in your bedroom. And assuming that your childrens' reasonable needs are met, nothing is more important to family life than the happiness of your relationship.

So from the way you describe your house, it seems to me that perhaps your dining room would make the ideal office for you. If you can keep it organized and hide it away when your workday is over, then you can turn your attention to storage for the toys your children will keep...after you explain than nobody can live with more stuff than they have room for.

Last idea...do you have the budget for a small storage locker somewhere? Can you ease the process of reducing the toy mess by making a game out of choosing this month's toys...only as many as you can put away every night...and storing the rest? Then once a month, you all go to the locker and pick out a different set for that month. Like going to the toy store, only without the spending? If your children are very young, twice a month might be better...or even once a week.

I think if you make a whole-house, whole family project out of this, you will all gain a sense of control and accomplishment that will bring you closer, and make everything go better.

I've worked at home for the last 8 years, since our boys were 3 and 5. My office has been in various locations during that time. For the first few years, it was in our dining room. It was not ideal, and I had to clean up whenever I needed to use the dining room, but it worked.

In our second house, it was in the guest room. That was perfect until guests arrived. Again, I made it work.

In this house, my office is at one end of the rec room (play room). We have built a long desk the entire length of one of the walls using inexpensive cabinetry and stock counters. This currently houses two computers, but we could put three up if we needed to.

As for the kids, they were taught from an early age that when mom is working the noise level had better be kept down. Also, there is simply a "no friends over" rule while I'm working. I work set hours. In the summer, I usually work from 7 a.m. until 3 or 3:30 p.m. The kids know that once 3:30 hits, they can have friends over, play Guitar Hero with the volume cranked, and whatever else makes them happy. Prior to that, they can read, do puzzles, do some art work, or play outside - anything as long as it's quiet!

I strongly vote against an office in your bedroom!

Thank you so much for your great inputs. It sounds like most of you think that having the office in our bedroom is not a good idea...
My husband and I will try to rearrange our office so it can function as a playroom too. When I will work in that room the kids will have to be in their bedroom or the living room (and we will arrange the living too to work as a family room with some of their toys).

Thanks again,
Adi

Good for you, Adi. Sounds like you are ready to tackle this challenge as a family, so that the solution works for everyone.
And isn't that what life is all about?

Just one more idea Adi, Closet space can be turned into an office. I have seen it done in a hall closet, was behind bifold doors, which were simply open when in use and closed when not in use. Could be painted or wallpapered with shelves or cabinets. Would probably need to add some electrical outlets for computers etc.

Here is a link that might be useful: Office in a closet

Thanks bronwynsmom, I agree with you that this is a challenge we need to tackle as a family- I hope that our solution will work out for everyone.
msannie- unfortunately we don't have any available closet that can work out but i like the idea... thanks!

Adi, I didnt catch this thread until now-- sorry I missed it as I worked at home for much of the last 6 years. Unfortunately, I am back IN the office most days but I know your struggle.

I suspect it depends a lot on what kind of work you do, but I find I do best with a space that is distinct from my relaxation spaces -- it is really important to keeping the home life/work life seperate. That said, I couldnt imagine working at home with kids home so I am sure we do very different types of work.

I would definitely not be able to work in my bedroom but if that is what works for you, then great. Just make sure that you have a comfortable chair and sufficient space. I never wanted a frilly office-- but I do recommend a bit of personalization that will make you happy.