Photo of a mid-sized traditional home office in Brisbane with white walls, light hardwood floors and a freestanding desk.

Valia

Daniela Fulford Photography

Photo of a contemporary home office in Melbourne with white walls, light hardwood floors, a built-in desk and beige floor.

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.

Whole House - Forest Hills

User

The view from the top of the stairs
Design ideas for a large transitional home studio in Dallas with white walls, light hardwood floors, no fireplace, a freestanding desk and beige floor.

Maggs Art Studio

Agate Architecture, LLC

Small modern home studio in Other with white walls, light hardwood floors and no fireplace.

Cambridge French Living Room Basement Renovation

Kathy Marshall Design

Once apon a time I was a scary basement located in a congested section of Cambridge MA. My clients and I set out to create a new space inspired by France that could also double as a guest room when needed. Painting the existing wood joists and adding bead board in between the joists and painting any exposed pipes white celebrates the ceiling rather than trying to hide it keeps the much needed ceiling height. Italian furniture, books and antique rug gives this once basement a very European well travelled feel.

Modern Custom Home Full of Style and Function

Erica Peale Design

This modern custom home is a beautiful blend of thoughtful design and comfortable living. No detail was left untouched during the design and build process. Taking inspiration from the Pacific Northwest, this home in the Washington D.C suburbs features a black exterior with warm natural woods. The home combines natural elements with modern architecture and features clean lines, open floor plans with a focus on functional living.

Poco Calle

K and Q Interiors

Home office for two people with quartz countertops, black cabinets, custom cabinetry, gold hardware, gold lighting, big windows with black mullions, and custom stool in striped fabric with x base on natural oak floors

North Dallas Luxe Modern

Urbanology Designs

Modern Luxe Home in North Dallas with Parisian Elements. Luxury Modern Design. Heavily black and white with earthy touches. White walls, black cabinets, open shelving, resort-like master bedroom, modern yet feminine office. Light and bright. Fiddle leaf fig. Olive tree. Performance Fabric.

Deighan Home

Sarah Carr Design

Design ideas for a country home office in Denver with white walls, light hardwood floors, a built-in desk and beige floor.

Whitewing

AFT Construction

High Res Media
This is an example of a large transitional study room in Phoenix with white walls, light hardwood floors, a built-in desk and beige floor.

Cozy Industrial Office Space

Jas D. Decor

We wanted to create a cozy and productive atmosphere for this fun couple. To maximize the limited space, we opted to mount the larger pieces on the wall. The design we chose was a blend of simplistic style and neutral tones, with a touch of color added in throughout.

Tiburon Modern

Florence Livingston Interiors, LLC

Inspiration for a beach style home office in San Francisco with white walls and light hardwood floors.

Modern Loft Bungalow Guest Bedroom/Office

John McClain Design

The idea for this space came from two key elements: functionality and design. Being a multi-purpose space, this room presents a beautiful workstation with black and rattan desk atop a hair on hide zebra print rug. The credenza behind the desk allows for ample storage for office supplies and linens for the stylish and comfortable white sleeper sofa. Stunning geometric wall covering, custom drapes and a black and gold light fixture add to the collected mid-century modern and contemporary feel. Photo: Zeke Ruelas

Holly Hill House

Robert M. Cain, Architect

Photo of a small modern home studio in Atlanta with white walls, light hardwood floors and a built-in desk.

Best in American Living Winner: Caruthers

Frankel Design Build

This is an example of an expansive transitional study room in Houston with white walls, light hardwood floors and a built-in desk.

Morningside Terrace New Build

Modern Design Cabinetry

Design ideas for a modern study room in Minneapolis with white walls, light hardwood floors and a freestanding desk.

Mut zur Farbe! Apartment in Berlin Schöneberg

Conscious Design

Contemporary study room in Berlin with light hardwood floors, a built-in desk, white walls and beige floor.

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.

Home Office Design Ideas with White Walls and Light Hardwood 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.