Inspiration for a transitional home office in Sydney with white walls, dark hardwood floors, a built-in desk and brown floor.

Forest House.

Bayside Architecture

Photo of an expansive midcentury home studio in Brisbane with white walls, dark hardwood floors, a freestanding desk, brown floor, vaulted and wood walls.

Seaport High Rise

DANE AUSTIN INTERIOR DESIGN Boston & Cambridge

This chic couple from Manhattan requested for a fashion-forward focus for their new Boston condominium. Textiles by Christian Lacroix, Faberge eggs, and locally designed stilettos once owned by Lady Gaga are just a few of the inspirations they offered. Project designed by Boston interior design studio Dane Austin Design. They serve Boston, Cambridge, Hingham, Cohasset, Newton, Weston, Lexington, Concord, Dover, Andover, Gloucester, as well as surrounding areas. For more about Dane Austin Design, click here: https://daneaustindesign.com/ To learn more about this project, click here: https://daneaustindesign.com/seaport-high-rise

Palma Plaza

Hugh Jefferson Randolph Architects

Small contemporary home office in Austin with white walls, dark hardwood floors and a built-in desk.

Haute Home Office

Laurie DiGiacomo Interiors

A luxe home office that is beautiful enough to be the first room you see when walking in this home, but functional enough to be a true working office.

Now and Zen - Home Office

Drewett Works

Designed for two, the home office with its partner desk and expansive oak shelving unit earned Drewett Works a Gold Nugget Award for Best Home Work Space in 2021. Flooring is European oak. Project Details // Now and Zen Renovation, Paradise Valley, Arizona Architecture: Drewett Works Builder: Brimley Development Interior Designer: Ownby Design Photographer: Dino Tonn Millwork: Rysso Peters Limestone (Demitasse) walls: Solstice Stone Windows (Arcadia): Elevation Window & Door https://www.drewettworks.com/now-and-zen/

Urban-Modern Centerville Farmhouse

Everything Home

Our Indiana design studio gave this Centerville Farmhouse an urban-modern design language with a clean, streamlined look that exudes timeless, casual sophistication with industrial elements and a monochromatic palette. Photographer: Sarah Shields http://www.sarahshieldsphotography.com/ Project completed by Wendy Langston's Everything Home interior design firm, which serves Carmel, Zionsville, Fishers, Westfield, Noblesville, and Indianapolis. For more about Everything Home, click here: https://everythinghomedesigns.com/ To learn more about this project, click here: https://everythinghomedesigns.com/portfolio/urban-modern-farmhouse/

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.

Cascadia Model

Ultimate Builder Services

This is an example of a mid-sized industrial home office in Richmond with dark hardwood floors, no fireplace, a freestanding desk, brown floor and grey walls.

Classic Traditional Exterior

Timber Trails Development Company

Design ideas for a transitional home office in Chicago with black walls, dark hardwood floors, a built-in desk and brown floor.

Lake View House

JLF & Associates, Inc.

Country study room in Other with white walls, dark hardwood floors, a built-in desk and brown floor.

Southern Living

Hendel Homes

Photo of a beach style study room in Minneapolis with green walls, dark hardwood floors, a built-in desk and brown floor.

Chic Library

User

This chic and refined home office allows for maximum productivity. The dark walls are enhanced by the bright pops of color, crisp whites, and brass accents. The custom storage unit provides space for all of the practical office needs, including file storage, office supplies and a roll out printer. Photo Credit: Angie Seckinger

North Andover Renovation

Apple Wood Construction, Inc.

Kath & Keith Photography
This is an example of a mid-sized traditional study room in Boston with dark hardwood floors, a built-in desk, grey walls and no fireplace.

Elegant White Wallbed Room

Pacific Coast Custom Design

With the wallbed closed the space for Home Office is visually increased. The Glass tops not only add to the clean look but creates a very smooth and durable writing surface. Guest room to functional office in an instant.

Union Square Loft

Michael Scaduto Architect

The study has a floating butcherblock desk and shelves stained to match the floors.
Inspiration for a mid-sized contemporary study room in New York with white walls, dark hardwood floors, a built-in desk and no fireplace.

Williamsburg Colonial

3north

Kip Dawkins Photography
This is an example of a traditional home office in Other with white walls, dark hardwood floors and a built-in desk.

A Hillside Estate

Jane Antonacci Interior Design

Specialty paint on the walls of this round room create the appearance of paneling. A French table desk started the design and gave the feeling of a French room.The Michael Taylor chair was custom painted to coordinate with the colors of the room. Silk upholstery was applied to it. A collection of drawings from Italy and France complete the exquisite look. Photo: David Duncan Livingston

Butcher Block In Kitchen Desk

Perimeter Architects

Design ideas for a small contemporary study room in Chicago with a built-in desk, white walls, ceramic floors, no fireplace and grey floor.

Whimsical Chicago Traditional

W Design Interiors

Inspiration for a traditional home office in Chicago with dark hardwood floors and a built-in desk.

Home Office Design Ideas with Dark Hardwood Floors and Ceramic 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.