Inspiration for a mid-sized transitional study room in Orlando with a freestanding desk, brown floor, grey walls and dark hardwood floors.

Formal Mediterranean - Paradise Valley

Argue Custom Homes

Mediterranean home office in Phoenix with a freestanding desk, black walls, dark hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, brown floor, coffered and panelled walls.

Grayhawk Scottsdale

Willis Baker Design

Photo of a transitional home office in Phoenix with grey walls, medium hardwood floors, a built-in desk and brown floor.

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Altbauwohnung Arbeitszimmer

Julia Rafflenbeul Interior Architecture

Inspiration for a large contemporary study room in Berlin with a freestanding desk, white walls, no fireplace and medium hardwood floors.

Arbogast Homes Spanish Oaks Santa Barbara

Arbogast Custom Homes

This is an example of a large mediterranean study room in Austin with white walls, medium hardwood floors, a freestanding desk and brown floor.

Transitional Living - Single Story

Hampton Bay Homes

This is an example of a transitional home office in Orlando with beige walls, medium hardwood floors, a freestanding desk and brown floor.

Library

Trilogy Cabinets & Design

Photo of a large industrial home office in Other with a library, concrete floors, a freestanding desk, beige walls and beige floor.

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Downtown Condo Oasis

Barbara Dalton Interiors

Photo of a small traditional study room in Other with a built-in desk, beige walls, dark hardwood floors and no fireplace.

Quantum Windows & Doors | FINNE Architects | Gordon Gibson Construction

Quantum Windows & Doors

This California art and exercise studio located near the Pacific Ocean incorporates Quantum’s custom wood Signature Series windows and Lift & Slide doors. The architect called for Clear Vertical Grain (CVG) Douglas Fir throughout the project with Ironwood Sills used on the Lift & Slide doors. Sequential angled windows with sandblasted, or obscure, glass allow for natural lighting to enter indoors, yet add ventilation, security, and privacy for its inhabitants. Steel reinforced mullions satisfy the need for structural integrity. Inside the studio are found interior hanging panels with sandblasted glass sliding along an overhead track system. These panels allow for the building’s interior to be partitioned off into two distinct spaces. Leading to the exterior are bypass pocketing Lift & Slide doors complete with screens. To further enhance security no flush pulls were installed on the exterior of the door panels.

Scandinavian Home Office & Library

Design ideas for a large scandinavian study room in London with grey walls, carpet, no fireplace and a built-in desk.

West Hollywood Modern

BAR Design + Construction

Inspiration for a modern home office in Los Angeles with white walls, concrete floors, a freestanding desk and grey floor.

Simply Classic

Aneka Interiors Inc.

Inspiration for a large transitional craft room in Denver with grey walls, slate floors, a freestanding desk and no fireplace.

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.

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.