Large midcentury home office in Munich with a built-in desk.

Mid-Century update to a home located in NW Portland. The project included a new kitchen with skylights, multi-slide wall doors on both sides of the home, kitchen gathering desk, children's playroom, and opening up living room and dining room ceiling to dramatic vaulted ceilings. The project team included Risa Boyer Architecture. Photos: Josh Partee

Sandy Remodel

Village West Design

Small midcentury home studio in San Francisco with white walls, light hardwood floors, a built-in desk, no fireplace and beige floor.

Office and guest room

Jula Cole Design

Home office with custom builtins, murphy bed, and desk. Custom walnut headboard, oak shelves
Design ideas for a mid-sized midcentury study room in San Diego with white walls, carpet, a built-in desk and beige floor.

Office Niche in Family Room

Benvenuti and Stein

Beautiful open floor plan with vaulted ceilings and an office niche. Norman Sizemore photographer
Midcentury home office in Chicago with dark hardwood floors, a corner fireplace, a brick fireplace surround, a built-in desk, brown floor and vaulted.

Mid Century Modern Kitchen Remodel

Petra Custom Builders

Inspiration for a mid-sized midcentury home office in Denver with a library, carpet and a built-in desk.

Woods Cove

User

Inspiration for a midcentury home office in Orange County with a library, white walls, dark hardwood floors, no fireplace and a built-in desk.

Garden in Hackney

Natalia Urbon

Natalia Kuptsova
Design ideas for a midcentury home office in London with white walls, a built-in desk and grey floor.

Livable Mid-Century Home

Beth Dotolo, ASID, RID, NCIDQ

Highly edited and livable, this Dallas mid-century residence is both bright and airy. The layered neutrals are brightened with carefully placed pops of color, creating a simultaneously welcoming and relaxing space. The home is a perfect spot for both entertaining large groups and enjoying family time -- exactly what the clients were looking for.

Diamond Kitchen

ARTO

Photo of a mid-sized midcentury study room in Los Angeles with grey walls and a built-in desk.

Colorful Mid Century Modern Residence

Kristy Kropat Design GmbH

Mark Lohman
This is an example of a midcentury home office in Other with orange walls, medium hardwood floors and a built-in desk.

Mid-Century Remodel

Lucy Johnson Interior Design

Kathryn Barnard
Mid-sized midcentury home office in Seattle with beige walls, medium hardwood floors, no fireplace and a built-in desk.

Mar Vista Mid-Century Remodel

Sato Architects, Inc.

Design ideas for a mid-sized midcentury study room in Los Angeles with white walls, porcelain floors, a built-in desk, white floor and vaulted.

Colin

Carriage Lane Design-Build Inc.

Small midcentury study room in Toronto with white walls, light hardwood floors, no fireplace, a built-in desk and beige floor.

VIVIENDA CALVET

The Room Studio

Proyecto realizado por Meritxell Ribé - The Room Studio Construcción: The Room Work Fotografías: Mauricio Fuertes
Inspiration for a mid-sized midcentury study room in Barcelona with white walls, light hardwood floors, no fireplace and a built-in desk.

Locust Valley

Claudia Giselle Design LLC

This is an example of a mid-sized midcentury home office in New York with a library, white walls, carpet, no fireplace, a built-in desk and grey floor.

Green Lake Remodel

SHED Architecture & Design

This is an example of a mid-sized midcentury study room in Seattle with cork floors, white walls, no fireplace and a built-in desk.

Atomic Ranch MCM Main House

Breathe Design Studio

Our Austin studio decided to go bold with this project by ensuring that each space had a unique identity in the Mid-Century Modern style bathroom, butler's pantry, and mudroom. We covered the bathroom walls and flooring with stylish beige and yellow tile that was cleverly installed to look like two different patterns. The mint cabinet and pink vanity reflect the mid-century color palette. The stylish knobs and fittings add an extra splash of fun to the bathroom. The butler's pantry is located right behind the kitchen and serves multiple functions like storage, a study area, and a bar. We went with a moody blue color for the cabinets and included a raw wood open shelf to give depth and warmth to the space. We went with some gorgeous artistic tiles that create a bold, intriguing look in the space. In the mudroom, we used siding materials to create a shiplap effect to create warmth and texture – a homage to the classic Mid-Century Modern design. We used the same blue from the butler's pantry to create a cohesive effect. The large mint cabinets add a lighter touch to the space. --- Project designed by the Atomic Ranch featured modern designers at Breathe Design Studio. From their Austin design studio, they serve an eclectic and accomplished nationwide clientele including in Palm Springs, LA, and the San Francisco Bay Area. For more about Breathe Design Studio, see here: https://www.breathedesignstudio.com/ To learn more about this project, see here: https://www.breathedesignstudio.com/atomic-ranch

Virginia Village Mid-Mod

Jess Blackwell Photography

Photo by Jess Blackwell Photography
Midcentury study room in Denver with multi-coloured walls and a built-in desk.

Ridgemont Residence

Hsu McCullough

Study overlooking ascending hillside at side yard. Photo by Clark Dugger
Design ideas for a mid-sized midcentury study room in Los Angeles with white walls, light hardwood floors, no fireplace, a built-in desk and yellow floor.

Midcentury Home Office Design Ideas with a Built-in 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 midcentury 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 midcentury 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 midcentury 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 midcentury 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.