Inspiration for a mid-sized contemporary study room in Melbourne with grey walls, concrete floors and a built-in desk.

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

Custom Cabinetry

User

This is an example of a large traditional study room in Atlanta with grey walls, medium hardwood floors, no fireplace, a freestanding desk and brown floor.

Transitional Home Office

This is an example of a large transitional study room in San Francisco with grey walls, light hardwood floors, no fireplace, a built-in desk and beige floor.

Homearama 2016

Debbie Sykes

Dawn Smith Photography
This is an example of a large transitional home office in Cincinnati with grey walls, dark hardwood floors, a freestanding desk, no fireplace and brown floor.

Bluff Road Statham GA

Cassy Young Decorating Den Interiors Athens GA

Scott Johnson
Inspiration for a mid-sized traditional home office in Atlanta with medium hardwood floors, a two-sided fireplace, a built-in desk, a library and grey walls.

Family Home with Outside Oasis

Havlicek Builders Inc.

Photo of a traditional home office in Chicago with grey walls, dark hardwood floors, no fireplace, a built-in desk and brown floor.

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.

Lake Minnetonka Chateau

John Kraemer & Sons

Builder: John Kraemer & Sons | Architecture: Sharratt Design | Landscaping: Yardscapes | Photography: Landmark Photography
This is an example of a large traditional study room in Minneapolis with carpet, a freestanding desk, multi-coloured floor, grey walls and no fireplace.

Study

Haver & Skolnick LLC Architects

The leather lounge chairs provide a comfortable reading spot next to the fire. Robert Benson Photography
Inspiration for a large country study room in New York with grey walls, medium hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a stone fireplace surround and a freestanding 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.

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

Modern Farmhouse

Brad Ramsey Interiors

Large country study room in Nashville with grey walls, medium hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a stone fireplace surround, a built-in desk and brown floor.

Ashton Woods Home Offices

Ashton Woods

A nook with a comfortable, sophisticated daybed in your study gives you a place to get inspiration and also doubles as a guest room. See in Bluffview, a Dallas community.

Belterra Project- Furnishings, Light Fixtures & Interior Design

Haven Design and Construction

The sophisticated study adds a touch of moodiness to the home. Our team custom designed the 12' tall built in bookcases and wainscoting to add some much needed architectural detailing to the plain white space and 22' tall walls. A hidden pullout drawer for the printer and additional file storage drawers add function to the home office. The windows are dressed in contrasting velvet drapery panels and simple sophisticated woven window shades. The woven textural element is picked up again in the area rug, the chandelier and the caned guest chairs. The ceiling boasts patterned wallpaper with gold accents. A natural stone and iron desk and a comfortable desk chair complete the space.

Eclectic Transitional Perfection

Veranda Designer Homes

Design ideas for a large transitional study room in Dallas with grey walls, dark hardwood floors, a freestanding desk, no fireplace and brown floor.

Wall Bed/Home Office

California Closets

This well-appointed office not only provides necessary storage, it can also transform into a lovely guest room.
Inspiration for a large transitional study room in Miami with grey walls, medium hardwood floors, a built-in desk, no fireplace and brown floor.

City studio apartment

Black and Milk | Interior Design | London

Working station is an important but normally not such a vibrant part of the interior. In this 25sqm studio it was hidden within the mirrored wardrobe to keep interior clean and uncluttered. 180 degree hinges allow doors open completely giving plenty of space for comfortable and productive work.

Shifting Gears

Esslinger Design Company

Photography by Picture Perfect House
Mid-sized industrial home office in Chicago with grey walls, medium hardwood floors, a freestanding desk and grey floor.

Fossil Creek Study

Haven Design and Construction

This beautiful study was part of a whole house design and renovation by Haven Design and Construction. For this room, our objective was to create a feminine and sophisticated study for our client. She requested a design that was unique and fresh, but still warm and inviting. We wallpapered the back of the bookcases in an eye catching metallic vine pattern to add a feminine touch. Then, we selected a deep gray tone from the wallpaper and painted the bookcases and wainscoting in this striking color. We replaced the carpet with a light wood flooring that compliments the gray woodwork. Our client preferred a petite desk, just large enough for paying bills or working on her laptop, so our first furniture selection was a lovely black desk with feminine curved detailing and delicate star hardware. The room still needed a focal point, so we selected a striking lucite and gold chandelier to set the tone. The design was completed by a pair of gray velvet guest chairs. The gold twig pattern on the back of the chairs compliments the metallic wallpaper pattern perfectly. Finally the room was carefully detailed with unique accessories and custom bound books to fill the bookcases.

Home Office Design Ideas with Grey Walls

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.