Study/Library in beautiful Sepele Mahogany, raised panel doors, true raised panel wall treatment, coffered ceiling.
Photo of a mid-sized traditional home office in Raleigh with medium hardwood floors, no fireplace, a freestanding desk, a library and brown walls.

Our Work at William Blake Homes

William Blake Homes

*Kids craft room *Custom cabinetry *Glass tile backsplash *Concrete flooring.
Design ideas for a mid-sized transitional craft room in Calgary with concrete floors, white walls and a built-in desk.

Contemporary Home Office Built-ins

Little Wolf Cabinet Shop

This is an example of a mid-sized contemporary study room in New York with blue walls, dark hardwood floors, no fireplace and a built-in desk.

Northwood Hills Addition

Traver Construction, Inc.

Ken Vaughan
Design ideas for a large transitional study room in Dallas with beige walls, medium hardwood floors, no fireplace and a built-in desk.

Oriental Rugs

Oriental Rugs of Scottsdale

Inspiration for a mid-sized traditional study room in Other with brown walls, dark hardwood floors, a freestanding desk and a standard fireplace.

Western Attitude

Emily Cathcart Designs

Lou Costy
Photo of a small contemporary home office in Other with beige walls, medium hardwood floors, no fireplace and a built-in desk.

Turramurra Home Office

Alix Helps Interiors

A vibrant home office space incorporating a world map mural and custom cabinetry. Try Rebel Walls for the world map mural. Photography by Jason Denton

Santa Monica Cape Cod Eclectic Home

Christine Markatos Design

Design ideas for a mid-sized beach style study room in Los Angeles with white walls, medium hardwood floors and a built-in desk.

Ash Home Renovation

Fresh Start Contracting Company

Eric Roth
Mid-sized contemporary study room in Boston with white walls, medium hardwood floors, no fireplace and a freestanding desk.

Campagne Bureau à Domicile

Design ideas for a mid-sized country study room in Paris with white walls, light hardwood floors and a built-in desk.

French-Inspired Apartment in New York

Gleicher Design - Architecture & Interiors

Linda Hall
This is an example of a small traditional study room in New York with blue walls, medium hardwood floors, no fireplace and a built-in desk.

Craft Room

Bella Systems - Custom Closets

This is an example of a large contemporary craft room in Other with blue walls, dark hardwood floors, no fireplace and a built-in desk.

Beauty and the Beach

Pineapple House Interior Design

At a beach retreat, sofa beds are a perfect solution. This room has a desk on the opposite wall, and serves as an office the majority of the time. However, when guests arrive, it's easy to convert the space into a private room. Daniel Newcomb Architectural Photography

Elegant White Wallbed Room

Pacific Coast Custom Design

With the wallbed closed the space for Home Office is visually increased. The Glass tops not only add to the clean look but creates a very smooth and durable writing surface. Guest room to functional office in an instant.

Office Spaces

Expression In Wood

Design ideas for a large transitional study room in Los Angeles with grey walls, dark hardwood floors, no fireplace and a freestanding desk.

House of Rock

Minhnuyet Hardy Interiors

Mali Azima
Design ideas for a mid-sized contemporary home office in Atlanta with grey walls and dark hardwood floors.

Urban Rooftop

Kerstin Hellmann Architecture

Shawn-Paul Luchin Photography
This is an example of a mid-sized contemporary home office in San Francisco with white walls, medium hardwood floors, a built-in desk and no fireplace.

Cambridge French Living Room Basement Renovation

Kathy Marshall Design

Once apon a time I was a scary basement located in a congested section of Cambridge MA. My clients and I set out to create a new space inspired by France that could also double as a guest room when needed. Painting the existing wood joists and adding bead board in between the joists and painting any exposed pipes white celebrates the ceiling rather than trying to hide it keeps the much needed ceiling height. Italian furniture, books and antique rug gives this once basement a very European well travelled feel.

Traditional Home Office

This is an example of a mid-sized traditional study room in New York with grey walls, dark hardwood floors and a freestanding desk.

Reclaimed Oak Wide Plank & Chevron Pattern

KB's Hardwood Floors

Photo of a small country study room in Orange County with grey walls, medium hardwood floors, no fireplace and a freestanding 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.