www.ellenmcdermott.com
Photo of a mid-sized contemporary study room in New York with medium hardwood floors, a built-in desk, white walls, a standard fireplace and a brick fireplace surround.

Weston Residence

Design Complements

Deep blue and coral vivid tones for this amazing library. In this room you will find a blue velvet sofa and two ottomans with orange tray tables, coral reef decorations and orange pillows, along with a colorful chair.

Palmetto Bluff - Trout Hole

Court Atkins Group

McManus Photography
Mid-sized traditional study room in Charleston with beige walls, dark hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a brick fireplace surround and a freestanding desk.

Upper West Side Penthouse Home Office

Broderic Design

Design ideas for a small transitional home office in New York with white walls, medium hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a brick fireplace surround and a freestanding desk.

Modern Farmhouse Bellaire Showcase

Stone Acorn Builders

Large country home office in Houston with a library, blue walls, light hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a brick fireplace surround, a freestanding desk and beige floor.

Beach Style Home Office

This is an example of a beach style home office in Boston with a brick fireplace surround.

Stone Canyon

Wesley-Wayne Interiors (LA)

Transitional study room in Los Angeles with beige walls, medium hardwood floors, no fireplace, a brick fireplace surround, a freestanding desk and brown floor.

Rural Vineyard

Patrick Ahearn Architect

Greg Premru
Photo of a large traditional study room in Boston with medium hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a brick fireplace surround and a freestanding desk.

Private Residence

Sloane Design Group

Mid-sized traditional home office in Boston with dark hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a brick fireplace surround, a freestanding desk and brown floor.

Charming Freestanding Home in Leichhardt

Pilcher Residential

Pilcher Residential
Eclectic study room in Sydney with carpet, a standard fireplace, a brick fireplace surround, a freestanding desk, beige floor and brown walls.

Beverly Hills Post and Beam Mid-Century

Joel Reis Architecture and Real Estate Photography

Inspiration for a mid-sized midcentury home office in Los Angeles with light hardwood floors, a ribbon fireplace, a brick fireplace surround and a freestanding desk.

OTR Republic Street

Omg LLC.

Inspiration for a large industrial study room in Cincinnati with grey walls, light hardwood floors, a freestanding desk, a standard fireplace, a brick fireplace surround and beige floor.

Misc. #6

User

Traditional study room in Oklahoma City with brown walls, medium hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a brick fireplace surround and a freestanding desk.

Traditional Home Office

This is an example of a large traditional study room in Other with brown walls, medium hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a brick fireplace surround and a freestanding desk.

Seattle Historic Revival

Michelle Dirkse Interior Design

Aaron Leitz
Traditional home office in Seattle with medium hardwood floors, a wood stove, a brick fireplace surround, a freestanding desk and brown floor.

Long Crendon Longhouse

Cairn

Simon Maxwell
Mid-sized scandinavian home studio in Buckinghamshire with white walls, light hardwood floors, a wood stove, a brick fireplace surround, a built-in desk and brown floor.

Home Library

Diane Hasso Studios

Our home library project has the appeal of a 1920's smoking room minus the smoking. With it's rich walnut stained panels, low coffer ceiling with an original specialty treatment by our own Diane Hasso, to custom built-in bookshelves, and a warm fireplace addition by Benchmark Wood Studio and Mike Schaap Builders.

Davidsonville Entertaining Space

Timberlake Design Build

Tommy Sheldon Photography
This is an example of a large transitional study room in Baltimore with beige walls, medium hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a brick fireplace surround and a freestanding desk.

Work From Home Style

Camden Grace LLC

Bonus room turned home office/ work out room gets a fresh makeover with spaces that complement it's multi-use purpose.
This is an example of a large eclectic home office in Bridgeport with white walls, carpet, no fireplace, a brick fireplace surround, a freestanding desk, beige floor, exposed beam and wood walls.

Bushey Project: Interior Design & Furnishing

FCI London

Mid-sized contemporary study room in London with grey walls, a standard fireplace, a brick fireplace surround, a freestanding desk, grey floor and brick walls.

Home Office Design Ideas with a Brick Fireplace Surround

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.