Photo of a large home studio in Toronto with black walls, marble floors, no fireplace, a freestanding desk and white floor.

HGTV Showhouse Showdown TV show

Charles Neal Interiors

Design ideas for a small contemporary study room in Miami with orange walls, no fireplace, a freestanding desk and dark hardwood floors.

Library NJ

WL Kitchen & Home

This is an example of a mid-sized traditional study room in Philadelphia with medium hardwood floors, no fireplace and a freestanding desk.

Doors, Windows, Millwork and Cabinetry in Custom home

Neff Mill & Cabinet Inc.

Design ideas for a large mediterranean study room in San Francisco with beige walls, medium hardwood floors, no fireplace and a built-in desk.

Family Room Designs

Curtain Call

Adrienne Micci-Smith My client wanted window treatments that would provide privacy and light control while maintaining the serenity of her family room. The shade fabric is a textured aqua and beige. The shades are cordless for ease of operation and safety at the window. They have ribs to maintain their shape and are interlined.

Surrey Studies

The Wood Works

This is an example of a large traditional study room in Hertfordshire with beige walls, light hardwood floors, no fireplace and a freestanding desk.

Flex Model

SHED Architecture & Design

Mid-sized contemporary home office in Seattle with concrete floors, no fireplace, a built-in desk, grey floor and beige walls.

Provincial Library

Strohmaier Construction

Design ideas for a mid-sized traditional home office in Other with a library, beige walls, carpet, no fireplace, a built-in desk and black floor.

A Hillside Estate

Jane Antonacci Interior Design

A Library in this house doubles as a home office for him. The cherry paneling is a rich background for luxury furnishings, comfortable seating and a good reading chair. Photo: David Duncan Livingston

Villas at Montecito, Atascadero, CA

Joe Barbano Architect

Loft space
Inspiration for a small mediterranean study room in San Luis Obispo with carpet, no fireplace, a freestanding desk and blue walls.

Oak Library & Office

Green Home Design + Build

Mid-sized arts and crafts study room in Portland with beige walls, light hardwood floors, no fireplace, a built-in desk and beige floor.

Pottery Studio | Upper Black Eddy, PA

Fascella Construction

An old outdated barn transformed into a Pottery Barn-inspired space, blending vintage charm with modern elegance.
Mid-sized country home studio in Philadelphia with white walls, concrete floors, no fireplace, a freestanding desk, exposed beam and planked wall panelling.

Scenic View Kitchen desk area with hutch

Scenic View Woodworking

Kitchen desk area with built in hutch
Design ideas for a mid-sized traditional study room in Other with white walls, ceramic floors, no fireplace, a freestanding desk and beige floor.

Walnut Stain with Custom Reveal

Azure Cabinets

This is an example of a mid-sized contemporary home office in Nashville with a library, white walls, medium hardwood floors and no fireplace.

Formal library II

Indecor Professional Inc.

Inspiration for a large traditional home office in New York with a library, brown walls, medium hardwood floors, no fireplace, a freestanding desk and brown floor.

Portfolio

Halm & Perkins, LLC

This is an example of a mid-sized traditional home office in Detroit with a library, brown walls, light hardwood floors, no fireplace and a built-in desk.

Contemporary Two Story Office

User

This is an example of a large contemporary study room in Miami with carpet, no fireplace and a freestanding desk.

Lindenwood

Eileen Gordon Design

The owners of this traditional home have engaged in multiple stages of rebuilding, refinement and remodeling, beginning in the mid-1990s and finishing in 2009 with a new kitchen, breakfast room, family room, and paneled study. All stages have been seamlessly integrated with each detail carefully reviewed to preserve the home’s original character.

Prairie Style Makeover

Appeal Architects

clerestory windows above the cabinets bring is more natural light.
Design ideas for a mid-sized traditional study room in Minneapolis with beige walls, medium hardwood floors, no fireplace and a built-in desk.

Cotuit Bayside Shingle

Canzani Associates Architects

Inspiration for a large traditional study room in Boston with medium hardwood floors, a freestanding desk, white walls, no fireplace and brown floor.

Home Office Design Ideas with No Fireplace

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.