This rare 1950’s glass-fronted townhouse on Manhattan’s Upper East Side underwent a modern renovation to create plentiful space for a family. An additional floor was added to the two-story building, extending the façade vertically while respecting the vocabulary of the original structure. A large, open living area on the first floor leads through to a kitchen overlooking the rear garden. Cantilevered stairs lead to the master bedroom and two children’s rooms on the second floor and continue to a media room and offices above. A large skylight floods the atrium with daylight, illuminating the main level through translucent glass-block floors.

Wedderburn Cottage

User

Will Scott Photography
This is an example of a mid-sized midcentury home office in London with brown walls, concrete floors and a ribbon fireplace.

Home Office Niche

Benvenuti and Stein

Multifunctional space combines a sitting area, dining space and office niche. The vaulted ceiling adds to the spaciousness and the wall of windows streams in natural light. The natural wood materials adds warmth to the room and cozy atmosphere. Photography by Norman Sizemore

Silvertop

Jamie Bush & Co.

This is an example of a midcentury study room with brown walls, carpet, a built-in desk, grey floor, no fireplace, wood and wood walls.

Oak Lane

Dillon Kyle Architects (DKA)

Scott Frances
Inspiration for a midcentury study room in Houston with brown walls, medium hardwood floors and a freestanding desk.

Jonah and Lila

AHG Interiors

Design ideas for a mid-sized midcentury home office in New York with a library, brown walls, medium hardwood floors, a freestanding desk and panelled walls.

Leucadia Mid Century

DZN Partners

PixelProFoto
Photo of a small midcentury home studio in San Diego with plywood floors, yellow floor, no fireplace and brown walls.

Eichler renovation

Scandinavian Home Designs

This is an example of a midcentury home office in San Francisco with brown walls, concrete floors, a freestanding desk and grey floor.

Tuxedo Park

Virtual Studio Innovations

Inspiration for a large midcentury study room in Atlanta with brown walls, dark hardwood floors, a freestanding desk, brown floor and wood.

Mid-Centruy Style Library

Susan Tully Interiors

With a large collection of books and an avid interest in American history, this client contacted TULLY&KLAS to design a library to house his book collection and space to read and research. As we do with many of our projects, we love to incorporate imagery and influences from our travels around the world. We had just returned from a trip to Ireland where we visited the library at Trinity College in Dublin which became the inspiration for the multi-tiered bookshelves in this 20 foot ceiling space. We like to think of the design aesthetic as mid-century modern meets Irish library. The double height ceilings are finished in teak and ebonized mahogany, the marble floors have radiant heat to keep things warm in the winter, and there is an elevator to access the basement which has a large table for looking at old maps and building plans. To make this space private yet accessible to the main house, the entrance is just off the terrace from the main house. A perfect place to get away but still stay connected.

Sheers

Dave Coleman's Windows To The World, INC

Design ideas for a mid-sized midcentury study room in Philadelphia with brown walls, medium hardwood floors, no fireplace and a freestanding desk.

Wraparound Library & French Doors, Hampstead

Tendeter - Workshop

Inspiration for an expansive midcentury study room in London with medium hardwood floors, a freestanding desk and brown walls.

Upper East Side Brownstone

Cloud9 Smart

Midcentury home office in New York with brown walls and dark hardwood floors.

Updated Eichler with Modern Flare

Chic Home Interiors

Inspiration for a mid-sized midcentury study room in Other with brown walls, concrete floors, no fireplace, a freestanding desk and grey floor.

やはぎの家

星設計室一級建築士事務所

やはぎの家　２階ワークスペース　Photo by 永石秀彦
Design ideas for a midcentury home office in Other with brown walls, dark hardwood floors, a freestanding desk and brown floor.

Morse Sacramento

Stage Right Design, Inc.

Inspiration for a mid-sized midcentury study room in Sacramento with brown walls, carpet, no fireplace, a freestanding desk and beige floor.

Streamline Modern' Hollywood Hills Home

Sandy Davidson Design

Desk, closet doors, floor, lighting designed and built by Sandy Davidson Design
Photo of a midcentury study room in Los Angeles with brown walls, medium hardwood floors, a built-in desk and brown floor.

luminette blinds

A & M Window Treatments

Inspiration for a large midcentury study room in New York with brown walls, dark hardwood floors, no fireplace, a freestanding desk and brown floor.

Interesting Interior Design Features of Model Homes

User

Go old school with an actual library. The wood and accents offer luxury yet suggest the timelessness that a real library offers. http://www.arthurrutenberghomes.com/

Limestone Fireplace

Capital Stoneworks

Custom carved Indiana limestone create this unique fireplace surround as the focal point of the room
Photo of a midcentury home office in Detroit with a library, brown walls, dark hardwood floors, a standard fireplace and a stone fireplace surround.

Midcentury Home Office Design Ideas with Brown Walls

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.