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

Transitional Home Office

Inspiration for a transitional home office in Sydney with white walls, dark hardwood floors, a built-in desk and brown floor.

Stretchy Space

Ande Bunbury Architects

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.

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.

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.

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.

California Scandi-Modern

Libby Raab Architecture

Home Office with built-in laminate desk, and white oak floating shelves
Design ideas for a mid-sized scandinavian study room in San Francisco with white walls, light hardwood floors, a built-in desk and brown floor.

Irvine Residence

d'Arcy & Associates Architecture, Inc.

Photo of a traditional home office in Orange County with a library, white walls, dark hardwood floors, a freestanding desk and brown floor.

Concord House

kelly mcguill home

Photo of a traditional home office in Boston with white walls, medium hardwood floors, a freestanding desk and brown floor.

Modern Farmhouse Study

Julie Coppa Designs, Inc.

photography by Jennifer Hughes
Design ideas for a mid-sized country home office in DC Metro with a library, dark hardwood floors, a freestanding desk, brown floor and white walls.

Marsh View Residence

ML Design, Allied ASID

Design ideas for a mid-sized traditional home office in Charleston with white walls, dark hardwood floors, a built-in 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.

Kansa Ave Residence

AAHA Studio

Custom Home office
This is an example of a mid-sized contemporary study room in Los Angeles with white walls, medium hardwood floors, no fireplace, a built-in desk and brown floor.

Modern Oasis

ONYX + ALABASTER

Transitional home office in Nashville with white walls, medium hardwood floors, a built-in desk, brown floor and decorative wall panelling.

Ambleside Interior

Drawing Dept

RVP Photography
Inspiration for a mid-sized modern home office in Cincinnati with a library, white walls, medium hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a stone fireplace surround, a built-in desk and brown floor.

Coastal Cottage

ADŌR Homes

Shaker style cabinets with ovolo sticking, revere pewter (BM), custom stain on oak top), hardware is satin brass from Metek Image by @Spacecrafting
This is an example of a mid-sized beach style study room in Minneapolis with white walls, medium hardwood floors, a built-in desk and brown floor.

Telluride Cabin

Artisan Builders LLC

Photo of a mid-sized country study room in Denver with white walls, dark hardwood floors and brown floor.

Port Margate

Blackband Design

This is an example of a mid-sized transitional home office in Orange County with white walls, medium hardwood floors, no fireplace, a built-in desk and brown floor.

Wellington

Milieu

This is an example of a mid-sized transitional study room with white walls, medium hardwood floors, a freestanding desk and brown floor.

Colebrook Row

Appleton Weiner Architects

A built-in desk space for a writer within a Georgian terrace.
Design ideas for a mid-sized contemporary study room in London with white walls, medium hardwood floors, a built-in desk and brown floor.

Home Office Design Ideas with White Walls and Brown Floor

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.