Traditional home office in Other with medium hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a stone fireplace surround, a freestanding desk, brown floor and beige walls.

Two Creeks

KA DesignWorks

David Marlow Photography
Photo of a mid-sized country study room in Denver with medium hardwood floors, a ribbon fireplace, a stone fireplace surround, a freestanding desk, beige walls and brown floor.

LA Office Project

West Eleven Lane

Shannan Leigh Photography
Inspiration for a mid-sized traditional study room in Los Angeles with white walls, light hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a brick fireplace surround, a freestanding desk and beige floor.

MEDINA CUSTOM

The Grey Door Design & Build

This is an example of a transitional home office in Seattle with white walls, medium hardwood floors, a ribbon fireplace, a freestanding desk, brown floor and a tile fireplace surround.

Woodside

Nicola Hicks Designs

Design ideas for a traditional home studio in London with grey walls, a standard fireplace, a metal fireplace surround, a freestanding desk and grey floor.

Contemporary Home Office

Photo of a contemporary home office in Vancouver with white walls, light hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a metal fireplace surround, a built-in desk and beige floor.

Hancock Park Mediterranean

Koffka Phakos Design

Furniture & Decor: Nickey Kehoe Photography: Roger Davies
Design ideas for a mediterranean home office in Los Angeles with white walls, medium hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a stone fireplace surround, a freestanding desk and brown floor.

SNUG HARBOR

Vulkan Architects

Inspiration for a mediterranean study room in Orange County with white walls, a standard fireplace, a tile fireplace surround, a freestanding desk, light hardwood floors and beige floor.

Villa

Lange Geller Kuehl Interiors

This is an example of a mid-sized contemporary study room in Hamburg with grey walls, medium hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a stone fireplace surround, a freestanding desk and brown floor.

Studio

smbstudio

Eigenes Foto
Design ideas for a mid-sized contemporary home studio in Other with white walls, concrete floors, a standard fireplace, a plaster fireplace surround, a freestanding desk and white floor.

Stil.Bewusst.Leben. Mit Kork Wohnen wie auf Wolke 7

Deutscher Kork-Verband e.V.

APCOR
Design ideas for a small traditional study room in Other with white walls, a wood stove, a stone fireplace surround, a freestanding desk and brown floor.

All Fireplace Surrounds Neutral Palettes 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.