greg abbate
Photo of a mid-sized traditional home office in Milan with a library, light hardwood floors, a freestanding desk, beige walls, no fireplace and beige floor.

Modern Spanish Courtyard on the Lake

Wyrick Residential Design

Large modern study room in Houston with grey walls, light hardwood floors, a freestanding desk and beige floor.

Solana Beach

CM Natural Designs

Photo courtesy of Chipper Hatter
This is an example of a mid-sized beach style study room in San Francisco with beige walls, light hardwood floors, a freestanding desk and beige floor.

Paris Invalides

KERMAREC - Menuiserie & Rénovation

Midcentury study room in Paris with blue walls, light hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a stone fireplace surround, a freestanding desk and beige floor.

Craftsman Remodel, Quinto Way, Willow Glen

Gwyn Weisberg

Home office. Desk converts to queen size murphy bed.
Photo of a mid-sized arts and crafts craft room in San Francisco with beige walls, light hardwood floors, no fireplace, a freestanding desk and brown floor.

Meubles en bois sur mesure

BATY'R

Recyclage de pieds de machine à coudre Singer pour une réalisation simple d'un petit bureau.
Inspiration for a small industrial study room in Paris with white walls, light hardwood floors, a freestanding desk and brown floor.

Parkland Wood Blinds & Cornices

Blackwood Blinds

Photo of a mid-sized industrial home office in Other with grey walls, light hardwood floors, no fireplace, a freestanding desk and beige floor.

Murphy Bed

Lehigh Valley Interior Construction

A Murphy Bed is a clever way to get the most out of the space that you have.
Design ideas for a mid-sized traditional study room in Philadelphia with beige walls, light hardwood floors, no fireplace, a freestanding desk and brown floor.

MODERN NEW CONSTRUCTION

User

A masterpiece of light and design, this gorgeous Beverly Hills contemporary is filled with incredible moments, offering the perfect balance of intimate corners and open spaces. A large driveway with space for ten cars is complete with a contemporary fountain wall that beckons guests inside. An amazing pivot door opens to an airy foyer and light-filled corridor with sliding walls of glass and high ceilings enhancing the space and scale of every room. An elegant study features a tranquil outdoor garden and faces an open living area with fireplace. A formal dining room spills into the incredible gourmet Italian kitchen with butler’s pantry—complete with Miele appliances, eat-in island and Carrara marble countertops—and an additional open living area is roomy and bright. Two well-appointed powder rooms on either end of the main floor offer luxury and convenience. Surrounded by large windows and skylights, the stairway to the second floor overlooks incredible views of the home and its natural surroundings. A gallery space awaits an owner’s art collection at the top of the landing and an elevator, accessible from every floor in the home, opens just outside the master suite. Three en-suite guest rooms are spacious and bright, all featuring walk-in closets, gorgeous bathrooms and balconies that open to exquisite canyon views. A striking master suite features a sitting area, fireplace, stunning walk-in closet with cedar wood shelving, and marble bathroom with stand-alone tub. A spacious balcony extends the entire length of the room and floor-to-ceiling windows create a feeling of openness and connection to nature. A large grassy area accessible from the second level is ideal for relaxing and entertaining with family and friends, and features a fire pit with ample lounge seating and tall hedges for privacy and seclusion. Downstairs, an infinity pool with deck and canyon views feels like a natural extension of the home, seamlessly integrated with the indoor living areas through sliding pocket doors. Amenities and features including a glassed-in wine room and tasting area, additional en-suite bedroom ideal for staff quarters, designer fixtures and appliances and ample parking complete this superb hillside retreat.

Oak Library & Office

Green Home Design + Build

Steven Todorov
Photo of a mid-sized arts and crafts home office in Portland with a library, brown walls, light hardwood floors, a freestanding desk and brown floor.

Highgrove Basement

Greg Love Homes

This client chose to finish the basement of their home to create a home office. The glass doors offer privacy while still allowing the small basement to have an open feeling.

Ocean House Office

Flagg Coastal Homes

Inspiration for a beach style study room in San Diego with beige walls, light hardwood floors, a freestanding desk and beige floor.

Urban Elegance

Laura Manchee Designs

The client desired a fun black and white office that highlighted her various photography projects. A reading nook was designed at the bench seat to offer a special retreat for reading and relaxation.

Recent Work

blurrdMEDIA

Stacy Thomas
Design ideas for a contemporary home office in Vancouver with white walls, a freestanding desk and light hardwood floors.

Dumbo Loft

Benjamin Andres Architekt

Design ideas for a mid-sized midcentury study room in New York with multi-coloured walls, light hardwood floors, a freestanding desk and beige floor.

Travis Heights Bungalow

MB Sullivan Design LLC

This is an example of a transitional home office in Austin with white walls, light hardwood floors, a freestanding desk, beige floor and vaulted.

Boudoir contemporain

RénoDéco etc.

designer Lyne Brunet
Design ideas for a large modern home office in Montreal with a library, white walls, light hardwood floors and a freestanding desk.

Library Retreat

Hermitage Kitchen Gallery LLC

Photo of a traditional home office in Nashville with beige walls, light hardwood floors, a freestanding desk, beige floor, exposed beam and vaulted.

Arbeitszimmer aus Beton

REFUGIUM - Interior Design

This is an example of a small contemporary study room in Dusseldorf with white walls, light hardwood floors, a freestanding desk and brown floor.

East Glenview Home

Toms Price Home

Home office
Design ideas for a transitional home office in Chicago with blue walls, light hardwood floors, a freestanding desk, coffered and wallpaper.

Home Office Design Ideas with Light Hardwood Floors and a Freestanding Desk

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.