Design ideas for a transitional home office in Boston with brown walls, medium hardwood floors, a ribbon fireplace, a stone fireplace surround, a freestanding desk, brown floor, exposed beam and wood walls.

home office

Yama Architecture

custom office, bruce damonte® photography
Design ideas for a mid-sized modern home office in San Francisco with a built-in desk, white walls, a ribbon fireplace and medium hardwood floors.

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.

Classic Executive Office

Dwell Design Co

This is an example of a mid-sized traditional home office in Philadelphia with brown walls, medium hardwood floors, a ribbon fireplace, a freestanding desk and brown floor.

Brook Bay

Sundberg Kennedy Ly-Au Young Architects

Photo Credit: Benjamin Benschneider
Photo of a mid-sized contemporary home office in Seattle with brown walls, medium hardwood floors, a ribbon fireplace and a built-in desk.

Custom Home in Birmingham, MI

Petrucci Johnson Homes

Design ideas for a mid-sized contemporary study room in Detroit with brown walls, medium hardwood floors, a ribbon fireplace and a built-in desk.

Contemporary Vail Home

RA Nelson LLC

A home office with mountains views.
Photo of an expansive contemporary home office in Denver with beige walls, medium hardwood floors, a ribbon fireplace, a stone fireplace surround and a freestanding desk.

Royal

L. Lumpkins Architect, Inc.

Home Office/Study
Inspiration for a mid-sized contemporary study room in Dallas with white walls, medium hardwood floors, a ribbon fireplace, a stone fireplace surround, a freestanding desk and brown floor.

Aspen Lundy House

Robyn Scott Interiors, Ltd.

Mid Century Modern, Aspen, Landmark property Renovation, Chad Oppenheim, 1Friday architects, Vesel Brand, Kaegebein Fine Homebuilding
Inspiration for a contemporary home office in Denver with brown walls, medium hardwood floors, a ribbon fireplace, a freestanding desk and brown floor.

2015 Custom

TR Design Group "The" Residential Design Group

This is an example of a mid-sized contemporary home studio in Detroit with beige walls, medium hardwood floors, a freestanding desk and a ribbon fireplace.

Clean-Lined, Soft and Contemporary Condo in Sterling, VA

Olamar Interiors

This condo in Sterling, VA belongs to a couple about to enter into retirement. They own this home in Sterling, along with a weekend home in West Virginia, a vacation home on Emerald Isle in North Carolina and a vacation home in St. John. They want to use this home as their "home-base" during their retirement, when they need to be in the metro area for business or to see family. The condo is small and they felt it was too "choppy," it didn't have good flow and the rooms were too separated and confined. They wondered if it could have more of an open concept feel but were doubtful due to the size and layout of the home. The furnishings they owned from their previous home were very traditional and heavy. They wanted a much lighter, more open and more contemporary feel to this home. They wanted it to feel clean, light, airy and much bigger then it is. The first thing we tackled was an unsightly, and very heavy stone veneered fireplace wall that separated the family room from the office space. It made both rooms look heavy and dark. We took down the stone and opened up parts of the wall so that the two spaces would flow into each other. We added a view thru fireplace and gave the fireplace wall a faux marble finish to lighten it and make it much more contemporary. Glass shelves bounce light and keep the wall feeling light and streamlined. Custom built ins add hidden storage and make great use of space in these small rooms. Our strategy was to open as much as possible and to lighten the space through the use of color, fabric and glass. New furnishings in lighter colors and soft textures help keep the feeling light and modernize the space. Sheer linen draperies soften the hard lines and add to the light, airy feel. Tinius Photography

Linden Avenue

Duet Design Group

A contemporary mountain home: Home Office, Photo by Eric Lucero Photography
Large contemporary study room in Denver with brown walls, medium hardwood floors, a tile fireplace surround, a freestanding desk, brown floor and a ribbon fireplace.

Professional divorced father creates home for himself and his children- Montagu

The Room Company

Study area with curved walnut bookcases and cabinets with steel banding. The steel banding and walnut continued across the wall which is clad in padded leather and contains the fireplace. The step ladder was made for access to the top shelves. The desk was designed to reflect the curves of the room in a sprayed lacquer with an adjustable glass end. The red leather chair is a recliner. The wool rug was designed to reflect the curves throughout the property

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.

87 Belle Lane

Instant Interiors LLC

Photo of a large transitional study room in Boston with grey walls, medium hardwood floors, a ribbon fireplace, a freestanding desk and brown floor.

Luxury Cottage

Bezooyen Contracting Inc

Walls: cc-240 maple syrup. Trim: oc-120 sea shell. Lights: mup1180obz pendant, mup1181obz 4-light pendant. Bookshelves and desk: solid cherry, mahogany stain, california crown moulding. Fireplace: montigo h38-st.

Contemporary Elegance | Atherton, CA

Sullivan Design Studio

Transitional home office in San Francisco with black walls, medium hardwood floors, a ribbon fireplace, a freestanding desk, brown floor and panelled walls.

Clean-Lined, Soft and Contemporary Condo in Sterling, VA

Olamar Interiors

Colony Project

Thermally Broken Steel USA

Even this cozy office den gets a view with access to the balcony for breaks between work or reading. Custom windows, doors, and hardware designed and furnished by Thermally Broken Steel USA. Other sources: Custom wall panels: Newell Design Studios. Chandelier: Bourgeois Boheme Atelier. Chairs: Charles Kalpakian. Lamp: Christopher Kreiling via Blackman Cruz.

Ratio House

Gelotte Hommas Drivdahl Architecture

Design ideas for a mid-sized midcentury study room in Seattle with beige walls, medium hardwood floors, a ribbon fireplace, a stone fireplace surround, a freestanding desk and brown floor.

Home Office Design Ideas with Medium Hardwood Floors and a Ribbon Fireplace

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.