BRENDA JACOBSON PHOTOGRAPHY
Photo of a large arts and crafts home office in Phoenix with a library, multi-coloured walls, travertine floors, no fireplace and a freestanding desk.

Grand Ridge: Home Office

Michelle Yorke Interior Design LLC

A gorgeous home office adorned in elegant woods and unique patterns and textiles. Red leathers look extremely posh while the blue and white patterned carpet nod to our client's British style. Other details that make this look complete are the patterned window treatments, carefully decorated built-in shelves, and of course, the compass mural on the ceiling. Designed by Michelle Yorke Interiors who also serves Seattle as well as Seattle's Eastside suburbs from Mercer Island all the way through Cle Elum. For more about Michelle Yorke, click here: https://michelleyorkedesign.com/

Modern Craftsman Residence

VFLA Architecture + Interiors

Inspiration for a mid-sized arts and crafts home office in Denver with a library, multi-coloured walls, medium hardwood floors and brown floor.

Virginia

Threshold Design Lab

This is an example of a small midcentury home office in Chicago with a built-in desk, multi-coloured walls, light hardwood floors, a library, no fireplace and white floor.

Tono Vilar & Joan Miquel Segui Arquitecto

Laura Molina Photography

Laura Molina Photography
Design ideas for a mid-sized eclectic home office in Palma de Mallorca with a library, multi-coloured walls and a freestanding desk.

The Medicine Man

Rosewood Custom Builders

Mediterranean home office in Dallas with a library, multi-coloured walls, light hardwood floors, no fireplace, a freestanding desk and beige floor.

Dovetail Ln, Bradbury, CA

Chateau Group USA

Photo of an expansive mediterranean home office in Los Angeles with a library, multi-coloured walls, dark hardwood floors, a freestanding desk and brown floor.

Wilmette Home Office

Change Design

From boring plain basement space to masculine spacious home office.
Inspiration for an expansive traditional home office in Chicago with a library, multi-coloured walls, carpet, a built-in desk and beige floor.

Antico e moderno nel cuore della città - Progetto in corso

Liadesign

Liadesign
Inspiration for a mid-sized contemporary home office in Milan with a library, multi-coloured walls, medium hardwood floors, a built-in desk and brown floor.

Hancock Park Project

Architexture Interior Design

The dramatic citron yellow cabinetry in the owner's home office is custom made by Architexture. It plays off the turquoise walls and fucshia sofa to create it's own space. By leaving the cabinets backless it allows the turquoise to act as an accent.

An Extension with Traditional Interior Design

Nic Antony Architects

Design ideas for a mid-sized traditional home office in Essex with light hardwood floors, a freestanding desk, beige floor, multi-coloured walls, a standard fireplace and a library.

Elegant Library

Jane Antonacci Interior Design

Black painted shelves created a dramatic library for rare books. Rose gold sconces and chandelier add elegance. Wallpaper in a Moorish design accents the ceiling. Black shelves and white furniture make the room striking and luxurious.

Parkwood - Minneapolis

Randolph Interior Design

Interior Designer: Randolph Interior Design Builder: Housedressing Company⁠ Photo: Spacecrafting Photography
Transitional home office in Minneapolis with multi-coloured walls, light hardwood floors, no fireplace, a freestanding desk and a library.

Mid-Century Modern's Bestseller

ARTium Design Build

Second Floor Mid-Century Modern Inspired Home Office & Library
This is an example of a mid-sized midcentury home office in Ottawa with a library, multi-coloured walls, carpet, a built-in desk, no fireplace, grey floor and wood walls.

Lafayette Bungalow

Ericka Catanzaro

Photo of a transitional home office in San Francisco with a library and multi-coloured walls.

UN ATTICO IN STILE LOFT IN MILANO

Annalisa Carli Architetto

Foto di Simone Marulli
Design ideas for a large contemporary home office in Milan with a library, multi-coloured walls, light hardwood floors and a freestanding desk.

Home for an Artist

Locus Architecture

Inspiration for a contemporary home office in Minneapolis with a library, multi-coloured walls, light hardwood floors, a built-in desk and brown floor.

Boerum Hill

Tina Ramchandani Creative

Statement wallpaper gives this glass enclosed home office a bold point of view
Design ideas for a mid-sized contemporary home office in New York with a library, multi-coloured walls, a built-in desk and wallpaper.

Elegant Library

Jane Antonacci Interior Design

Urban Atelier

Nystrom Design

David Duncan Livingston
Photo of a transitional home office in San Francisco with a library and multi-coloured walls.

Home Office Design Ideas with a Library and Multi-coloured 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.