These floor to ceiling bookshelves were built in the entry corridor to this apartment - an area previously filled with clutter. Custom designed joinery provides a workspace and storage for and extensive collection of books, bikes, helmets, bags, scarves, printers and stationery items. A rolling library ladder allows for a home library to extend right to the ceiling and emphasise the spaciousness of the high ceilings.

Noosa Heads Beach House

Gull Design - Bespoke Joinery & Interiors

Design ideas for a beach style home office in Sunshine Coast with white walls, medium hardwood floors, no fireplace, a built-in desk, brown floor and panelled walls.

Burrawang, Southern Highlands

Lime Building Group

Inspiration for a contemporary home office in Wollongong with white walls, medium hardwood floors, a built-in desk and brown floor.

Hill House, Wheelers Hill

Inbetween Architecture

Scandinavian study room in Melbourne with medium hardwood floors and a built-in desk.

Grand Haven Custom Home

Chirigos Designs / Design Bar

The home office is used daily for this executive who works remotely. Everything was thoughtfully designed for the needs - a drink refrigerator and file drawers are built into the wall cabinetry; various lighting options, grass cloth wallpaper, swivel chairs and a wall-mounted tv

Boston Magazine Design Home 2016

Angela Ballard

Photo of a contemporary study room in Boston with grey walls, medium hardwood floors, a freestanding desk and brown floor.

Misc. Spaces

Superior Home Improvement

This is an example of a transitional home office in Omaha with white walls, medium hardwood floors, a built-in desk, brown floor and vaulted.

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.

Hidden Storage

Lisa & Leroy

Hidden in the murphy bed built in are printer and laundry hamper. Can you guess where?
Photo of a small transitional home office in DC Metro with white walls, medium hardwood floors and brown floor.

Bernal Heights Residence

Gast Architects

Ed Ritger Photography
Photo of a transitional study room in San Francisco with a built-in desk, grey walls, medium hardwood floors and brown floor.

Foyer to Study

Great Rooms Building Group

Inspiration for a large transitional study room in Chicago with brown walls, medium hardwood floors, a built-in desk and brown floor.

Arbogast Homes Spanish Oaks Santa Barbara

Arbogast Custom Homes

This is an example of a large mediterranean study room in Austin with white walls, medium hardwood floors, a freestanding desk and brown floor.

0 Avenue

Novari Collective Property Styling

Design ideas for a transitional home office in Vancouver with grey walls, medium hardwood floors, a built-in desk and brown floor.

Atherton - New Home

JPM Construction

Transitional home office in San Francisco with white walls, medium hardwood floors, a built-in desk and brown floor.

Collier Gate Office

Bailey Ward Interiors LLC

This is an example of a large transitional study room in Atlanta with white walls, medium hardwood floors, a built-in desk and brown floor.

Classic With a New Angle

Studio Dearborn

This expansive Victorian had tremendous historic charm but hadn’t seen a kitchen renovation since the 1950s. The homeowners wanted to take advantage of their views of the backyard and raised the roof and pushed the kitchen into the back of the house, where expansive windows could allow southern light into the kitchen all day. A warm historic gray/beige was chosen for the cabinetry, which was contrasted with character oak cabinetry on the appliance wall and bar in a modern chevron detail. Kitchen Design: Sarah Robertson, Studio Dearborn Architect: Ned Stoll, Interior finishes Tami Wassong Interiors

MODERN FARMHOUSE

Avril Interiors

Transitional study room in Phoenix with white walls, medium hardwood floors, no fireplace, a built-in desk and brown floor.

Kitchen Remodel and Design

ME Design Group

This is an example of a transitional study room in Los Angeles with medium hardwood floors, no fireplace, a built-in desk, brown floor and grey walls.

Urban Country

Alford Homes

Costa Christ Media
Transitional study room in Dallas with white walls, medium hardwood floors and a built-in desk.

Villa Parco San Bartolo Pesaro

Gianluca Colagrossi

Design ideas for a mediterranean home office in Bologna with a library, medium hardwood floors, no fireplace and a freestanding desk.

Home Office Design Ideas with Medium Hardwood Floors and Tatami Floors

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.