Photo of a mid-sized modern study room in Toronto with white walls, dark hardwood floors, a freestanding desk, no fireplace and brown floor.

The Carriage House

Hagstrom Builder

Corey Gaffer Photography
Large traditional study room in Minneapolis with white walls, dark hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a built-in desk, a stone fireplace surround and brown floor.

Larchmont House

Victoria Kirk Interiors

Photography by Matthew Williams
This is an example of a small transitional home office in New York with white walls, medium hardwood floors, no fireplace, a built-in desk and brown floor.

Sears Road

Oak Hill Architects

Inspiration for a large traditional home office in Boston with a built-in desk, white walls, medium hardwood floors, no fireplace and brown floor.

Built-in Cabinet

Dickinson Cabinetry

Dark-stained, library custom cabinets.
Design ideas for a mid-sized traditional study room in San Francisco with white walls, dark hardwood floors, no fireplace, a freestanding desk and brown floor.

South Tampa New Build

Hendrickson Interiors

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

Warm White Scandinavian Farmhouse

Kelsey Leigh Design Co.

Inspiration for a small home office in Oklahoma City with white walls, light hardwood floors, no fireplace, 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.

Home Office

Christie Architecture LLC

Mid-sized modern study room in Portland with white walls, dark hardwood floors, no fireplace, a built-in desk and brown floor.

Timeless design and simple sophistication

Maxim Maximov

Кабинет с китайским буфетом, рабочим столом и библиотекой. В нем, как и во всей квартире, присутствует искусство.
Inspiration for a large transitional home office in Saint Petersburg with a library, white walls, medium hardwood floors, a freestanding desk and brown floor.

Masse Y

User

Inspiration for a home office in Marseille with white walls, carpet, a built-in desk and brown floor.

Columbia, TN Custom Home

Noble Johnson Architects

Architecture: Noble Johnson Architects Interior Design: Rachel Hughes - Ye Peddler Photography: Garett + Carrie Buell of Studiobuell/ studiobuell.com
Photo of a mid-sized transitional home office in Nashville with white walls, medium hardwood floors, a freestanding desk and brown floor.

Beautiful Bright Broadway

John Sutton Photography

bright, modern lighting, open shelving
Inspiration for a small contemporary home office in San Francisco with white walls, medium hardwood floors, brown floor and a freestanding desk.

style2

瀧建設一級建築士事務所

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

Hilltop Prairie Style

Scott Wilson Architect, LLC

Transitional home office in Nashville with white walls, dark hardwood floors, a built-in desk and brown floor.

Contemporary Home Office

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

Franklin, TN Remodel

Peach and Pine Home

Photo of a large country home office in Nashville with a library, white walls, medium hardwood floors, a freestanding desk and brown floor.

Home Office / Study

ING Construction

Accessory Dwelling Unit / Home Office w/Bike Rack
This is an example of a mid-sized scandinavian study room in Los Angeles with white walls, brown floor, a freestanding desk and laminate floors.

Upstate Farmhouse

Chango

Architectural advisement, Interior Design, Custom Furniture Design & Art Curation by Chango & Co. Architecture by Crisp Architects Construction by Structure Works Inc. Photography by Sarah Elliott See the feature in Domino Magazine

Skyview - Luxury Staging

BA Staging & Interiors

Inspiration for a large contemporary home office in New York with white walls, light hardwood floors, no fireplace, a freestanding 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.