Design ideas for a large scandinavian study room in Paris with white walls, a freestanding desk and light hardwood floors.

The East London Penthouse Apartment

Bailey London Interior Design & Build

Christina Bull Photography
Photo of a contemporary study room in London with white walls, a built-in desk and light hardwood floors.

Contemporain Bureau

Christophe Vendel

This is an example of a small contemporary home office in Paris with white walls, light hardwood floors, a library and a built-in desk.

Art at Home

Woodmeister Master Builders

Home office with built-in desk and book shelves.
Small contemporary study room in Boston with white walls, light hardwood floors and a built-in desk.

Beach Style Home Office

Design ideas for a beach style home office in San Diego with white walls, light hardwood floors, no fireplace and a built-in desk.

Vanillawood

Josh Partee | Architectural Photographer

Bellevue Hill

Zugai Strudwick Architects

Organized home office, storage combination of concealed and open shelving, louvre windows with view out to rear yard
Design ideas for a mid-sized contemporary home office in Sydney with white walls, a built-in desk, light hardwood floors and beige floor.

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.

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.

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.

Comfortable and Collected

Ann Lowengart Interiors

The family living in this shingled roofed home on the Peninsula loves color and pattern. At the heart of the two-story house, we created a library with high gloss lapis blue walls. The tête-à-tête provides an inviting place for the couple to read while their children play games at the antique card table. As a counterpoint, the open planned family, dining room, and kitchen have white walls. We selected a deep aubergine for the kitchen cabinetry. In the tranquil master suite, we layered celadon and sky blue while the daughters' room features pink, purple, and citrine.

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.