Glorious sunny work place with view to garden
Inspiration for a large scandinavian study room in Sussex with white walls, dark hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a metal fireplace surround, a freestanding desk and brown floor.

Hummingbird Haus

K2 Signature Homes

Study
Photo of a mid-sized modern study room in Phoenix with light hardwood floors, a two-sided fireplace, a concrete fireplace surround and a freestanding desk.

High-end design Highbury and Islington

Juliet Murphy Photography

Juliet Murphy
Design ideas for a small eclectic home office in London with black walls, dark hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a metal fireplace surround, brown floor and a library.

Penthouse with a View

Wiedemann Architects LLC

A modern oak-paneled library accommodates their extensive book collection. Anice Hoachlander, Hoachlander Davis Photography, LLC
Large contemporary study room in DC Metro with dark hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a freestanding desk, brown walls, a metal fireplace surround and brown floor.

Contemporary Gables Westport, CT

Vicente Burin Architects

Photographer: Barry A. Hyman
Design ideas for a mid-sized contemporary study room in New York with a concrete fireplace surround, white walls, light hardwood floors, a standard fireplace and a freestanding desk.

Hendricks Park Design + Build

Jordan Iverson Signature Homes

KuDa Photography
Mid-sized modern study room in Other with black walls, light hardwood floors, a ribbon fireplace, a metal fireplace surround, a freestanding desk and beige floor.

Westlake Project

Associated Designs

A custom designed walnut library with coffered ceiling done in a traditional style. The room is softened by the pattern of the wool carpet and complemented by the wing chairs flanking the fireplace.

Townhouse London

Olivier Gay Architecture & Design

Frenchie Cristogatin
Mid-sized eclectic home office in London with a library, black walls, a standard fireplace, a metal fireplace surround and grey floor.

My House

Design Soda

Photo of a mid-sized transitional study room in London with grey walls, dark hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a metal fireplace surround, a freestanding desk and brown floor.

Spring Meadow Residence

Cornerstone Design

Photo of a mid-sized contemporary home office in Boise with a library, white walls, ceramic floors, a two-sided fireplace, a metal fireplace surround, a freestanding desk and grey floor.

Portola Valley

Fannie Allen Design

Client's home office/study. Madeline Weinrib rug. Photos by David Duncan Livingston
This is an example of a large eclectic study room in San Francisco with a standard fireplace, a concrete fireplace surround, a freestanding desk, beige walls, medium hardwood floors and brown floor.

Traditional Home Office

Design ideas for a mid-sized traditional study room in New York with blue walls, carpet, a standard fireplace, a metal fireplace surround, a freestanding desk and beige floor.

Contemporary Home Office

Shepel Homes - Kitchen and Bath

This contemporary home office with a view of the lush green outdoors makes working from home more relaxing and bearable.
Design ideas for a mid-sized contemporary home office in Seattle with a library, grey walls, light hardwood floors, a wood stove, a metal fireplace surround, a freestanding desk and brown floor.

Comfortable and Collected

Ann Lowengart Interiors

The family living in this shingled roofed home on the Peninsula loves color and pattern. At the heart of the two-story house, we created a library with high gloss lapis blue walls. The tête-à-tête provides an inviting place for the couple to read while their children play games at the antique card table. As a counterpoint, the open planned family, dining room, and kitchen have white walls. We selected a deep aubergine for the kitchen cabinetry. In the tranquil master suite, we layered celadon and sky blue while the daughters' room features pink, purple, and citrine.

Artist Studio

OPRCH

Photo Credit: Warren Patterson
This is an example of a mid-sized contemporary home studio in Boston with white walls, a wood stove, a metal fireplace surround, a freestanding desk, grey floor and concrete floors.

Modern Farmhouse Custom Home | Williams Creek

Steven Sears Building Company

The Home Aesthetic
Design ideas for a country study room in Indianapolis with grey walls, dark hardwood floors, a ribbon fireplace, a metal fireplace surround and a freestanding desk.

Epic Modern Guesthouse (ADU)

Texture Living Inc

Mid-sized contemporary home studio in Los Angeles with multi-coloured walls, medium hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a metal fireplace surround, a freestanding desk and brown floor.

Barton Creek French Country Estate

Wilde Custom Homes

Photo of a traditional study room in Austin with brown walls, dark hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a metal fireplace surround, a freestanding desk and brown floor.

Library

D'apostrophe Design, Inc.

Inspiration for a midcentury home office in New York with a concrete fireplace surround and a standard fireplace.

Transitional Interiors in Purchase, NY

Georgio Home

Inspiration for a mid-sized traditional study room in New York with brown walls, dark hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a concrete fireplace surround, a freestanding desk and brown floor.

Home Office Design Ideas with a Concrete Fireplace Surround and a Metal 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.