Photo of an expansive midcentury home studio in Brisbane with white walls, dark hardwood floors, a freestanding desk, brown floor, vaulted and wood walls.

New Farm Light House

Shane Marsh Architects

Photo of a large contemporary study room in Brisbane with white walls, light hardwood floors, a built-in desk, brown floor, vaulted and decorative wall panelling.

Baylies Way

Martha's Vineyard Interior Design

Interior Design: Liz Stiving-Nichols Photography: Michael J. Lee
This is an example of a beach style home office in Boston with white walls, light hardwood floors, a freestanding desk, beige floor, exposed beam, timber and vaulted.

Executive Home Office

BSA Construction

Photo of a transitional home office in Boston with grey walls, medium hardwood floors, a freestanding desk, recessed and wallpaper.

Lake of the Isles

Regarding Design

Sumptuous spaces are created throughout the house with the use of dark, moody colors, elegant upholstery with bespoke trim details, unique wall coverings, and natural stone with lots of movement. The mix of print, pattern, and artwork creates a modern twist on traditional design.

Architecture intérieure sur mesure d'un appartement

Studio Catoir

Architecture intérieure d'un appartement situé au dernier étage d'un bâtiment neuf dans un quartier résidentiel. Le Studio Catoir a créé un espace élégant et représentatif avec un soin tout particulier porté aux choix des différents matériaux naturels, marbre, bois, onyx et à leur mise en oeuvre par des artisans chevronnés italiens. La cuisine ouverte avec son étagère monumentale en marbre et son ilôt en miroir sont les pièces centrales autour desquelles s'articulent l'espace de vie. La lumière, la fluidité des espaces, les grandes ouvertures vers la terrasse, les jeux de reflets et les couleurs délicates donnent vie à un intérieur sensoriel, aérien et serein.

Sth Coogee Beachhouse

Victoria Waters Design Pty Ltd

Interior Designed office at @sthcoogeebeachhouse
Photo of a large transitional study room in Sydney with white walls, medium hardwood floors, no fireplace, a built-in desk, brown floor, recessed and decorative wall panelling.

Keller Sophisticated Office

BRNS Design

Design ideas for a mid-sized transitional study room in Dallas with green walls, medium hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a stone fireplace surround, a freestanding desk, brown floor, vaulted and panelled walls.

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.

Industrial Ranch House

Sarah Carr Design

Inspiration for a large industrial home studio in Denver with white walls, light hardwood floors, a built-in desk, brown floor, vaulted and wood walls.

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.

Wynnewood House

Saturday Interiors

Traditional home office with white walls, light hardwood floors, a freestanding desk, beige floor and vaulted.

Chevy Chase - Mid Century

$Teass \ Warren Architects$ Teass \ Warren Architects

This is an example of a small midcentury study room in DC Metro with white walls, slate floors, a built-in desk and vaulted.

North Refugio

Salt Architecture

Inspiration for a transitional home office in San Luis Obispo with white walls, concrete floors, no fireplace, a freestanding desk, grey floor, exposed beam, vaulted and planked wall panelling.

Casa Dei Sogni - Grande

SW Florida Dream Homes

As you walk through the front doors, your eyes will be drawn to the glass-walled office space which is one of the more unique features of this magnificent home. The custom glass office with glass slide door and brushed nickel hardware is an optional element that we were compelled to include in this iteration.

Scandinavian Modern Home Office

10K Architecture

Scandinavian minimalist home office with vaulted ceilings, skylights, and floor to ceiling windows.
Photo of a large scandinavian home studio in Minneapolis with white walls, light hardwood floors, a freestanding desk, beige floor and vaulted.

Private Residence

gabrielle designs ARCHITECTURE

Design ideas for a country home office in Denver with beige walls, a freestanding desk, grey floor, vaulted, wood and wood walls.

Shuffling The Decks

Jaffe Architecture + Interiors

This is an example of a large transitional study room in Chicago with beige walls, light hardwood floors, a freestanding desk, brown floor, recessed and wallpaper.

SW Bouchaine

Williamson James Homes LLC

Photo of a large arts and crafts study room in Portland with grey walls, light hardwood floors, a two-sided fireplace, a tile fireplace surround, a built-in desk, brown floor and recessed.

Professorville Residence

KYLE CHAN ARCHITECT

Mid-sized mediterranean home office in San Francisco with a library, green walls, dark hardwood floors, brown floor and recessed.

Home Office Design Ideas with Recessed and Vaulted

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.