First impression count as you enter this custom-built Horizon Homes property at Kellyville. The home opens into a stylish entryway, with soaring double height ceilings. It’s often said that the kitchen is the heart of the home. And that’s literally true with this home. With the kitchen in the centre of the ground floor, this home provides ample formal and informal living spaces on the ground floor. At the rear of the house, a rumpus room, living room and dining room overlooking a large alfresco kitchen and dining area make this house the perfect entertainer. It’s functional, too, with a butler’s pantry, and laundry (with outdoor access) leading off the kitchen. There’s also a mudroom – with bespoke joinery – next to the garage. Upstairs is a mezzanine office area and four bedrooms, including a luxurious main suite with dressing room, ensuite and private balcony. Outdoor areas were important to the owners of this knockdown rebuild. While the house is large at almost 454m2, it fills only half the block. That means there’s a generous backyard. A central courtyard provides further outdoor space. Of course, this courtyard – as well as being a gorgeous focal point – has the added advantage of bringing light into the centre of the house.

Collis, Brighton East

The Kitchen Design Centre

Mid-sized contemporary home office in Melbourne with white walls, carpet and a built-in desk.

Farmington 001

Ezra Lee Design+Build

Inspiration for a contemporary home office in Salt Lake City with white walls, carpet, a built-in desk and grey floor.

Saratoga Hills Residence

Lorissa Kimm Architect

Photo of a mid-sized contemporary study room in San Francisco with carpet and a built-in desk.

Gramercy Park Combination

Lauren Rubin Architecture

Primary Bedroom with a secret desk. Pocketing doors open fully to a custom desk and shelving unit. Oak veneers for the cabinets and shelves.
Design ideas for a small contemporary home office in New York with white walls, carpet and grey floor.

Albert's Home Office

Organized Interiors

Organized Interiors has every colour, style or finish you could ever want to create an effective and highly functional home office. This room continues to be of major importance in homes today as it provides a location for busy professionals to separate work from home life. Photo by Brandon Barré.

1970's Townhouse

Bo Fentum Design

Fun and fabulous home office
This is an example of a contemporary home office in London with multi-coloured walls, carpet, no fireplace, a built-in desk, beige floor and wallpaper.

Style King

User

Design ideas for a contemporary home office in Chicago with blue walls, carpet, a freestanding desk, brown floor, wallpaper and panelled walls.

715 Condo

Studio Build

Bob Greenspan
This is an example of a mid-sized contemporary craft room in Kansas City with white walls, carpet, no fireplace and grey floor.

Standing Desk Office Display - Campbell Showroom

Valet Custom Cabinets & Closets

Karine Weiller
This is an example of a mid-sized contemporary study room in San Francisco with beige walls, carpet, no fireplace and a built-in desk.

Minty Residence

Designs Australia

Floor to ceiling compact home office with a rotating desk for optional work space in front of window. Floating shelves and storage above desk. Storage cupboards, file drawer and general drawers below. Recessed LED strip lighting with cable management throughout. Left wall size: 2.2m wide x 2.5m high x 0.4m deep Back wall size: 2.9m wide x 2.5m high x 0.7m deep Window desk size: 1.2m wide x 0.7m high x 0.6m deep Materials: American oak veneer with 30% clear satin lacquer finish. 5mm solid American oak to front edge of desktop. Laminex Parchment Natural Finish 202.

Castellina 1394

Arthur Rutenberg-Oakmont Custom Homes

Design ideas for a mid-sized contemporary study room in San Diego with brown walls, carpet, no fireplace, a freestanding desk and beige floor.

Chamfer House

Mihaly Slocombe

The home office comprises plenty of built-in storage. Photo by Andrew Latreille.
Photo of a mid-sized contemporary study room in Melbourne with white walls, carpet, no fireplace and a built-in desk.

A Bespoke Bedroom With Home Office Furniture By Burlanes

burlanes interiors

Our brief was to design, create and install bespoke, handmade bedroom storage solutions and home office furniture, in two children's bedrooms in a Sevenoaks family home. As parents, the homeowners wanted to create a calm and serene space in which their sons could do their studies, and provide a quiet place to concentrate away from the distractions and disruptions of family life.

Home office on a budget

Making Spaces

Making Spaces
Small contemporary study room in Other with black walls, carpet and a freestanding desk.

Chevy Chase Family Office

InDesign / Lori Ludwick

Photo of a mid-sized contemporary study room in DC Metro with beige walls, carpet, a freestanding desk and brown floor.

Diablo Custom Home Office and Art Studio

User

This office was created for a couple who wanted to accommodate their financial work with their artistic endeavors. The room was stripped to the studs, a closet was removed and the new cabinetry was designed and installed.

Modern City Loft Home Office

Jennifer Gustafson Interior Design

Custom floating citrine wall shelves and a custom designed desk are the spotlight of this San Francisco SOMA loft home office. Photo Credit: David Duncan Livingston

Santa Monica Office

JAC Interiors

west elm parsons desk, vintage louis arm chair, white coral branch Anthropologie drum shade lamp, LG Designs custom made bulletin board, No.3 original Mark Williams oil on canvas painting. Photo by Andy Parke

Concealed Storage

Treowen Custom Woodworks

The client had a home office with existing panel trim and wanted to mimic the look with cabinetry in an adjoining hallway.
Design ideas for a large contemporary home office in DC Metro with grey walls, carpet, no fireplace, a freestanding desk, grey floor and decorative wall panelling.

Contemporary Home Office Design Ideas with Carpet

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 contemporary 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 contemporary 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 contemporary 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 contemporary 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.