Whole House Remodel - Historic Renovation

Craftsman style home office with oatmeal carpet.
Design ideas for a small arts and crafts home office in San Francisco with yellow walls, carpet, no fireplace and a freestanding desk.

Large Home Office and Study Combination with French Doors

Powell Homes & Renovations

Copious natural light makes this home office easy to work in.
Photo of a mid-sized traditional study room in Seattle with yellow walls, dark hardwood floors, no fireplace and a freestanding desk.

New White Casement Windows in Delightful Home Office - Renewal by Andersen San F

Renewal By Andersen Bay Area

Stylish little home office and den with new casement windows we installed. This comfortable space with mid-century styling and bright colored walls looks amazing with these new windows with grilles we installed. Find out more about getting new windows for your home from Renewal by Andersen San Francisco, serving the entire California Bay Area.

Venice Office

Alexandra Angle Interior Design

Beach style home office in Los Angeles with yellow walls, a freestanding desk and white floor.

Transitional Home Office

Inspiration for a transitional study room in Boston with yellow walls, dark hardwood floors and a freestanding desk.

The Kingfisher at Peninsula Lakes

Schell Brothers

Mid-sized beach style study room in Other with yellow walls, medium hardwood floors, no fireplace, a freestanding desk and brown floor.

Mountain Retreat

Eberlein Design Consultants Ltd.

Photo of a traditional home office in Philadelphia with yellow walls, medium hardwood floors and a freestanding desk.

Complete Home Remodel

Outside In Construction, Inc.

Photo of a mid-sized traditional craft room in Boston with yellow walls, dark hardwood floors, no fireplace and a freestanding desk.

West Seattle Craftsman

Sheila Mayden Interiors

Front living room - turned Den in Bohemian-style Craftsman
Mid-sized eclectic study room in Seattle with yellow walls, medium hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a freestanding desk and brown floor.

Panza

Graf Custom Construction LLC

Design ideas for a large arts and crafts home office in Other with a library, yellow walls, medium hardwood floors, no fireplace, a freestanding desk and brown floor.

Le printemps de Nina

Elodie Dugué Photographe

Small modern study room in Nantes with yellow walls, dark hardwood floors, a freestanding desk and brown floor.

Appartement 90 M2 à St Cloud

Alexandra Gorla Architecture d'Intérieur

meero
Design ideas for a small industrial home studio in Other with yellow walls, a freestanding desk and dark hardwood floors.

Transitional Style Home by Designer Teri Wayer

Ethan Allen - Las Vegas

Photo of a mid-sized transitional study room in Las Vegas with yellow walls, carpet, no fireplace, a freestanding desk and beige floor.

Chadwick

JPStyles

This is an example of a mid-sized traditional craft room in Baltimore with yellow walls, light hardwood floors, no fireplace, a freestanding desk and brown floor.

Indigo Counseling Office

Berkeley Design Studio, LLC

Refinished navy blue bookcase next to writing desk.
Inspiration for a mid-sized transitional home office in Oklahoma City with yellow walls, medium hardwood floors, a freestanding desk and brown floor.

Queens Quay Condo Renovation - Toronto

Eurodale Developments Inc

Photo of a mid-sized modern study room in Toronto with yellow walls, concrete floors and a freestanding desk.

Office

M Home Style

Constance Schiano photography
This is an example of a small eclectic home office in New York with yellow walls and a freestanding desk.

Loft Office, Dallas

Karen Kitowski & Co., Inc.

This photo shows the desk in the open position. There is a work counter, computer space, file drawer and shelves for collectibles and office supplies. The cocktail table was existing.

Home Office

Kathleen Townsend Interior Design, LLC

De Emery of St. Joseph, Michigan
Inspiration for a large transitional study room in Chicago with yellow walls, carpet, a freestanding desk and no fireplace.

Sunny Home Office & Craft Space

Kathleen Casey Design

A kitchen cart converted into an ironing station rolls out of the way to reveal a fold-down sewing table.
Photo of a mid-sized transitional craft room in Toronto with yellow walls, medium hardwood floors, no fireplace, a freestanding desk and brown floor.

Home Office Design Ideas with Yellow Walls and a Freestanding Desk

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.