Photo of a large transitional study room in Chicago with grey walls, carpet, a built-in desk and grey floor.

Advisement + Design - Construction advisement, custom millwork & custom furniture design, interior design & art curation by Chango & Co.
Design ideas for a mid-sized transitional study room in New York with grey walls, carpet, no fireplace, a built-in desk, grey floor, timber and planked wall panelling.

Glenview Home Office Renovation

Dual Concept Design

Large transitional study room in Chicago with grey walls, dark hardwood floors, a ribbon fireplace, a stone fireplace surround, a freestanding desk, brown floor, vaulted and panelled walls.

A Water's Edge Retreat

Amazing Spaces

Design ideas for a large beach style study room in New York with grey walls, light hardwood floors, a freestanding desk, brown floor, coffered and panelled walls.

Seventh Green

Sage Designs

Comfortable Study with built-in shelving, decorative dentil crown molding and volume ceiling with truss beams.
Inspiration for a large traditional home office in Other with a library, grey walls, medium hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a stone fireplace surround, a freestanding desk, brown floor and vaulted.

Bogart 3

Studio Design Elements

Inspiration for a large modern home office in Atlanta with a library, grey walls, medium hardwood floors, brown floor, exposed beam and planked wall panelling.

Modern Masterpiece

Celtic Custom Homes

Study has tile "wood" look floors, double barn doors, paneled back wall with hidden door.
Mid-sized modern study room in Other with grey walls, porcelain floors, a freestanding desk, brown floor, recessed and panelled walls.

Field Scandinavian

42 North - Architecture + Design

Design ideas for a small scandinavian study room in Grand Rapids with grey walls, concrete floors, a built-in desk and grey floor.

Custom Contemporary 2

Rivers Edge Builders, LLC.

Transitional home office in DC Metro with grey walls, dark hardwood floors, a freestanding desk and brown floor.

Kentfield Traditional Elegance

PatriARCH Architecture

Inspiration for a mid-sized traditional home office in San Francisco with a library, grey walls, dark hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a stone fireplace surround, a freestanding desk and brown floor.

Transitional Home Office

Design ideas for a mid-sized transitional study room in Richmond with grey walls, a freestanding desk, brown floor, dark hardwood floors and decorative wall panelling.

New Rochelle Westchester Modern

D. Wang Photo

Inspiration for a transitional home office in New York with a library, grey walls, dark hardwood floors, no fireplace and a freestanding desk.

Colonial Revival - modern farmhouse + contemporary

Melinamade - Residential Design + Interiors

Home office off kitchen with 3 work stations, built-in outlets on top of counters, printer pull-outs, and file drawers.
Photo of a mid-sized transitional study room in San Francisco with grey walls, porcelain floors, a built-in desk and grey floor.

North Dallas Luxe Modern

Urbanology Designs

Modern Luxe Home in North Dallas with Parisian Elements. Luxury Modern Design. Heavily black and white with earthy touches. White walls, black cabinets, open shelving, resort-like master bedroom, modern yet feminine office. Light and bright. Fiddle leaf fig. Olive tree. Performance Fabric.

Heart of Hoboken Family Residence

Breeze Giannasio Interiors

Inspiration for a large transitional study room in Los Angeles with grey walls, a freestanding desk, brown floor and medium hardwood floors.

Upscale Farmhouse

Owen Homes LLC

Photo of a large country study room in Kansas City with grey walls, dark hardwood floors, a freestanding desk and brown floor.

181 Seaforth Landing Drive

Poythress Construction Company Inc.

Mid-sized country study room in Raleigh with grey walls, medium hardwood floors, a freestanding desk and brown floor.

Belgravia Townhouse

User

Mid-sized eclectic study room in London with grey walls, medium hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a stone fireplace surround, a freestanding desk and brown floor.

Queen Anne II

Dyna Builders

Photo of a transitional home office in Seattle with grey walls, dark hardwood floors, a built-in desk and brown floor.

Modern Glam Custom Home

Charleston Building and Development

Photo by Stoffer Photography
Design ideas for a mid-sized modern home office in Chicago with grey walls, medium hardwood floors, no fireplace, a freestanding desk and brown floor.

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.