Large industrial home office in San Diego with a library, red walls, light hardwood floors, no fireplace, a freestanding desk and brown floor.

Den

Windstone Partners

Inspiration for a large traditional study room in Houston with brown walls, dark hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a stone fireplace surround, a built-in desk and brown floor.

Tivoli Office Collection

ITALIA FURNITURE

Design ideas for a large contemporary study room in Atlanta with grey walls, dark hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a stone fireplace surround, a freestanding desk and black floor.

Custom Home inspired by Art Nouveau

Larisa Pomescikova Interior Design

Photo of a large traditional home office in Sacramento with blue walls, medium hardwood floors, no fireplace and a freestanding desk.

Cozy Den

Deb Seeley Designs LLC

You enter this den going through french doors, so I had the door moved over slightly to allow room for a custom desk to the right of the door and to the left of this door I designed this custom entertainment center with a walnut finish.

LOHI CONDO

Dado Interior Design

Location: Denver, CO, USA THE CHALLENGE: Transform an outdated, uninspired condo into a unique, forward thinking home, while dealing with a limited capacity to remodel due to the buildings’ high-rise architectural restrictions. THE SOLUTION: Warm wood clad walls were added throughout the home, creating architectural interest, as well as a sense of unity. Soft, textured furnishing was selected to elevate the home’s sophistication, while attention to layout and detail ensures its functionality. Dado Interior Design DAVID LAUER PHOTOGRAPHY

Loft design, loft style in the interior

LV Flooring Ltd.

Photo of an industrial home office in Toronto with dark hardwood floors and a built-in desk.

Arden

Daniel Jason Cordova, LLC

Dominique Vorillon
This is an example of a transitional study room in Los Angeles with grey walls, cork floors and a freestanding desk.

Mahogany Library

Johannings Custom Cabinets

Photo of a mid-sized transitional home office in Cleveland with a library, a standard fireplace, a stone fireplace surround and a freestanding desk.

Private Residence Plano, Tx.

CDA Interior Design

This is an example of a mediterranean home office in Dallas with dark hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a freestanding desk and brown floor.

Tour of Remodeled Homes 2015

Deb Seeley Designs LLC

The reading room was designed with a his and her desk which purposely was positioned in that part of the room so I could specify a large window which would allow them to view their beautiful gardens while on their computers. The desk has a pull-out shelf to hold their printer, which when not in use is hidden behind a cabinet door. The double sliding french doors allow them easy access to their large deck. Both ceilings in the addition were designed with cathedral ceiling with tongue and groove white paneled ceilings, and Casablanca fans to keep the spaces cool.

Historic Homes

James Balston Photography

James Balston
Design ideas for a traditional home office in London with a library, green walls, carpet and a standard fireplace.

East Meets West Office

Antique & Art Exchange

This room was done by Scot Meacham Wood for the "Antiques in Modern Design" project. This office uses a 19th century Chinese coromandel screen as a backdrop for a midcentury glass dining table refashioned as a desk. The red lacquered Chinese Chippendale style armchair adds a pop of color to the otherwise subtle colors in the screen. On the desk is a contemporary print bringing out the colors in the pattern rug. In front of the print is a 19th century portrait of a gentleman. The modern lamp used as a desk lamp with brass shade provides additional lighting on the workspace.

Gunrooms

Julian & Sons

Photo of a traditional home office in Little Rock.

Office

Dominic Fusco Studios

This space was a very small bedroom which was converted to an office, incorporating a custom built in wall unit maximizing one entire wall and a half closet on the adjacent wall. The additional depth of the half closet creates much needed cabinet space and an extra deep shelf for the printer.

Eclectic Home Office

Photo of a transitional home office in Chicago with grey walls, dark hardwood floors and a freestanding desk.

Tudor on the Point

Murphy & Co. Design

Photo by Phillip Mueller
Inspiration for a traditional home office in Minneapolis with dark hardwood floors, a standard fireplace and a freestanding desk.

Sylvan Circle, Naperville, IL

M House Development

Inspiration for a country home office in Chicago.

Vineyard Parade Home

Studio McGee

Transitional home office in Salt Lake City with dark hardwood floors, a freestanding desk and black walls.

The Forward Foreroom

FORBES MASTERS

Kimberly Murray Photography
Small modern home office in Atlanta.

Black Home Office Design Ideas

A home office has many uses and isn’t a mere luxury anymore. You might work from home, or bring work home, or you might just need a place to go through bills, mail or store important paperwork. Kids can use a home office to do their homework, or quietly play a game online. Browse the photos on Houzz for home office ideas and inspiration, and strike up a conversation with the architect or designer or your favourite picks. For more home office ideas, check out the Stories section.

How much office storage do I need?

To ensure your home office or study room isn’t buried under a deluge of paperwork, books and supplies, incorporate plenty of shelves, cabinets and drawers. Floating or built-in shelves with cubbies can stock books and magazine holders; or for a more traditional look, make room for a large bookcase that fits in with the decor of your home. Invest in a filing cabinet to store paperwork, and opt for a lockable filing cabinet if you have sensitive documents. A tray organiser can store incoming mail and will help prioritise bills. The type of desk you choose is also key to keeping things organised. Look for desks with deep drawers and plenty of surface space, and add tray organisers to the drawers to keep track of staples like pens, pencils, highlighters and sticky tape. If you want a streamlined look, find a way to conceal any computer cables or wires, too. One solution is to install a false back on your desk, if it doesn’t already have one.

How do I choose an office desk and chair?

If you spend long hours hunched over your work desk at home, invest in ergonomic office chairs with wheels for better back health and comfort. Consider optimal lumbar support with flexibility in adjusting handles and back angle. Most rolling office chairs come upholstered, typically in leather, but that’s no reason why you can’t have one custom-made to suit your home decor. When picking out your work desk, be sure to consider its overall function. If you work from home and hold meetings, pick an oversized, sturdy desk that is double-sided (can be accessed from both sides). You’ll want it to look professional, so opt for dark timbers over high-shine finishes. It’s also a good idea to create a separate study desk for the kids, so homework doesn’t go missing among your files. If your home office is for the whole family a two-person desk or built-in long work bench are more suitable. Where space is tight, look for a retractable computer desk, or utilise an awkward corner with a corner desk.

What home office decor will encourage productivity?

Use your walls for to-do lists: hang a pegboard and paint it in your favourite colour or be adventurous with chalkboard paint and whiteboard panels. Bulletin boards that keep the whole family in order are an extra feature that always come in handy. Use your stationery and office accessories – think pencil cups, paper trays and magazine holders – to add colour and pattern, and desk lamps, clocks, maps and calendars to personalise the space. Above all else, aim for ease of use.