Inspiration for a mid-sized eclectic home office in San Francisco with a library, grey walls, medium hardwood floors, a freestanding desk and brown floor.

Colonial on the Bluff

Murphy & Co. Design

Photo of a beach style home office in Minneapolis with a library, blue walls, a standard fireplace, a brick fireplace surround, a built-in desk and light hardwood floors.

Iris II

Brandon Architects, Inc.

Design ideas for a transitional home office in Orange County with beige walls, dark hardwood floors, a built-in desk and brown floor.

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Cavallero Estate

Lane Myers Construction

Photo of a transitional craft room in Salt Lake City with white walls, a built-in desk and grey floor.

Квартира на Пролетарской

Lavka-Design

Design ideas for a contemporary home office in Moscow.

Carlsbad Remodel

BDS Contractors

This is an example of a mid-sized traditional study room in San Diego with blue walls, medium hardwood floors, a freestanding desk and brown floor.

North Shore Revamp

Wike LaFrey

The area off the kitchen becomes the dedicated homework area for the family's two children. This allows the family to stay connected during their busy evenings.

Gayler Design Build began transforming Nancy’s home to include a spacious 327 square foot functional art studio. The home addition was designed with large windows, skylights and two exterior glass doors to let in plenty of natural light. The floor is finished in polished, smooth concrete with a beautiful eye-catching v-rustic cedar ceiling and ample wall space to hang her masterpieces.

Fossil Creek Study

Haven Design and Construction

This beautiful study was part of a whole house design and renovation by Haven Design and Construction. For this room, our objective was to create a feminine and sophisticated study for our client. She requested a design that was unique and fresh, but still warm and inviting. We wallpapered the back of the bookcases in an eye catching metallic vine pattern to add a feminine touch. Then, we selected a deep gray tone from the wallpaper and painted the bookcases and wainscoting in this striking color. We replaced the carpet with a light wood flooring that compliments the gray woodwork. Our client preferred a petite desk, just large enough for paying bills or working on her laptop, so our first furniture selection was a lovely black desk with feminine curved detailing and delicate star hardware. The room still needed a focal point, so we selected a striking lucite and gold chandelier to set the tone. The design was completed by a pair of gray velvet guest chairs. The gold twig pattern on the back of the chairs compliments the metallic wallpaper pattern perfectly. Finally the room was carefully detailed with unique accessories and custom bound books to fill the bookcases.

Paddington Terrace

Alice Bonicelli Interior Design

Inspiration for a small scandinavian study room in Sydney with white walls, light hardwood floors, brown floor and a built-in desk.

Sunset Harbour I

Studio RODA

Inspiration for a small contemporary study room in Miami with a built-in desk and no fireplace.

Hermosa Row

Kennedy Cole Interior Design

Design ideas for a small modern study room in Orange County with grey walls, dark hardwood floors, no fireplace, a built-in desk and brown floor.

Home Office

Hudson Cooper Design

gray curtains
Design ideas for a transitional study room in Charleston with grey walls, light hardwood floors and a built-in desk.

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.