Fabienne Delafraye
Small contemporary study room in Paris with blue walls, terra-cotta floors, a built-in desk and brown floor.

Eclectic Home Office

Photo of an eclectic home office in Dallas with blue walls, terra-cotta floors and a freestanding desk.

Garden Oasis High-Tech Home Office

Trillium Enterprises, INC.

Custom-built desk offers all of the storage and space needed for this wired home. © Holly Lepere
Design ideas for an eclectic study room in Santa Barbara with blue walls, terra-cotta floors and a built-in desk.

Small Home Office Update

Tunde Decor, LLC

This room used to be a small playroom that the client wanted to use as a home office. We managed to make it beautiful and functional with a small sofa for relaxing or receiving guests.

Desk Tucked Under the Stairs

Robmar Design Associates, Inc

Design ideas for a small traditional home office in Boston with blue walls, a freestanding desk, terra-cotta floors, no fireplace and brown floor.

Teaneck Tudor

Soft Furnishings by Stephanie

Ivory linen traditional roman shades with Lee Jofa band detail. Flat panels in matching fabric and banding cover french doors
Inspiration for a mid-sized arts and crafts study room in New York with blue walls, terra-cotta floors, a built-in desk and red floor.

1st Office

That Design Place - Mary T Maurey

This is an example of a mid-sized modern study room in Baltimore with blue walls, terra-cotta floors, a freestanding desk and orange floor.

Home staging pour une maison Normande

Clémence Jeanjan Décoratrice d'intérieur

Clémence Jeanjan
Photo of a country home office in Paris with blue walls, terra-cotta floors, a freestanding desk and red floor.

Rénovation de Bureau à Rueil-Malmaison

User

Rénovation de 130 m² en espace de co-working dans la ville de Rueil-Malmaison. Tous les matériaux ainsi que le mobilier ont minutieusement été pensé puis choisi par notre équipe. Nous devions optimiser au mieux l’espace de travail tout en gardant une certaine cohésion et harmonie.

Compact Home Office Design

Tunde Decor, LLC

This room used to be a small playroom that the client wanted to use as a home office. We managed to make it beautiful and functional with a small sofa for relaxing or receiving guests.

1st Office

That Design Place - Mary T Maurey

Inspiration for a mid-sized modern study room in Baltimore with blue walls, terra-cotta floors, a freestanding desk and orange floor.

Home staging pour une maison Normande

Clémence Jeanjan Décoratrice d'intérieur

Clémence Jeanjan
Photo of a country study room in Paris with blue walls, terra-cotta floors, a freestanding desk and red floor.

Rénovation de Bureau à Rueil-Malmaison

User

Home Office Design Ideas with Blue Walls and Terra-cotta Floors

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.