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

Brunswick Californian Bungalow

Jacqui Koska

This is an example of a contemporary home office in Other with grey walls, dark hardwood floors, a built-in desk and brown floor.

Transitional Home Office

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

Marsh View Residence

ML Design, Allied ASID

Design ideas for a mid-sized traditional home office in Charleston with white walls, dark hardwood floors, a built-in desk and brown floor.

Irvine Residence

d'Arcy & Associates Architecture, Inc.

Photo of a traditional home office in Orange County with a library, white walls, dark hardwood floors, a freestanding desk and brown floor.

The House In Arnold

Katie Carlin Interiors

Inspiration for a traditional home office in Baltimore with beige walls, dark hardwood floors, a built-in desk, brown floor and wallpaper.

Doheny Penthouse Renovation

Tim Barber Architects

Photography by Laura Hull.
Photo of a small transitional home office in Los Angeles with blue walls, dark hardwood floors and a freestanding desk.

Stone Waterfront in Greenwich, CT

JBMP Architecture and Interior Design

Design ideas for a traditional study room in New York with green walls, dark hardwood floors and a freestanding desk.

Ashton Woods Home Offices

Ashton Woods

Contrast your white built in desk with dark wooden floors while connecting the two with beige walls. Seen in Bluffview, a Dallas community.
Mid-sized contemporary study room in Dallas with beige walls, dark hardwood floors and a built-in desk.

Project Barton Creek

Terravista Interior Design Group

The client wanted to create a traditional rustic design with clean lines and a feminine edge. She works from her home office, so she needed it to be functional and organized with elegant and timeless lines. In the kitchen, we removed the peninsula that separated it for the breakfast room and kitchen, to create better flow and unity throughout the space.

Ardsley Custom

M. Lahr Homes

Inspiration for a mid-sized transitional study room in Orlando with a freestanding desk, brown floor, grey walls and dark hardwood floors.

Transitional Kitchen and First Floor Leesburg Remodel - Naperville

Redstart Construction, Inc.

Picture Perfect House
Inspiration for a small transitional study room in Chicago with grey walls, dark hardwood floors, no fireplace, a built-in desk and brown floor.

Il Nostro Sogno

Andrea Swan - Swan Architecture

Landmark Photography
Mediterranean study room in Minneapolis with dark hardwood floors, a freestanding desk and brown floor.

Palma Plaza

Hugh Jefferson Randolph Architects

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

Unlock Your Mind

House of L

Mid-sized transitional home office in Cleveland with a library, blue walls, dark hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a tile fireplace surround, a freestanding desk, brown floor, wallpaper and wood walls.

Shady Lane

The Sitting Room

Inspiration for a beach style home office in Minneapolis with a library, beige walls, dark hardwood floors, coffered, decorative wall panelling and wallpaper.

Verano Home Office

Jamie Naugle Interiors

This is an example of a mid-sized country study room in Austin with grey walls, dark hardwood floors, a freestanding desk, exposed beam and panelled walls.

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.

Refined and Classic Entire House Remodel

Bartelt. The Remodeling Resource

The remodeled space features a custom Murphy bed that blends with the built-in cabinetry and window seats when not in use. Brass lighting and hardware add warmth and "pop" against the gray. Photo Credit - David Bader

Chattahoochee River Home

Leah Atkins Design, LLC

Traditional home office in Atlanta with blue walls, no fireplace, a freestanding desk and dark hardwood floors.

Home Office Design Ideas with Dark Hardwood Floors and Laminate 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.