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.

Bayview - Batemans Bay

Masterton

Study / Home office
Inspiration for a mid-sized transitional study room in Other with white walls, a built-in desk and grey floor.

Muriel Court - Terrace WA

Crib Creative

Mid-sized scandinavian study room in Perth with white walls, light hardwood floors, a freestanding desk and beige floor.

Modern Living

Design 360

Inspiration for a mid-sized contemporary study room in Brisbane with grey walls, medium hardwood floors, a built-in desk and brown floor.

Custom Home Joinery

Vicello Kitchens

Design ideas for a small contemporary study room in Sydney with white walls, carpet and a built-in desk.

Barton House

Phillips and Associates Architects

Photo of a transitional study room in Canberra - Queanbeyan with white walls, carpet, no fireplace, a built-in desk and beige floor.

Full stage of Architect designed Renovation, St Lucia

Home Staging Brisbane

Inspiration for a large contemporary study room in Brisbane with white walls, a freestanding desk and brown floor.

Study nook

Ardent Architects Pty Ltd

Mid-sized contemporary study room in Melbourne with white walls, a built-in desk, medium hardwood floors and beige floor.

Bonavista

CarpetandTiles.com.au

This is an example of a contemporary study room in Sunshine Coast with white walls, medium hardwood floors, no fireplace, a freestanding desk and brown floor.

The Courtyard Warehouse

Josephine Hurley Architecture

Photo of an industrial study room in Sydney with white walls, dark hardwood floors, a built-in desk, brown floor and panelled walls.

The Kooyong (Display) 273 Belmore Road, Balwyn North

Englehart Homes

This is an example of a large contemporary study room in Melbourne with white walls, a built-in desk and grey floor.

Laurel Grove

Kirsten Johnstone Architecture

Mid-sized contemporary study room in Melbourne with white walls, carpet, a built-in desk and grey floor.

A & E Residence

The Dept of Design

This is an example of a contemporary study room in Canberra - Queanbeyan with white walls, no fireplace, a built-in desk and grey floor.

Glen Iris Californian Bungalow Renovation and Extension

Everlong Constructions

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

Snead Boulevard

Oak Living

Design ideas for a mid-sized contemporary study room in Melbourne with blue walls and a built-in desk.

Diggers Residence

Dylan Barber Building Design

Inspiration for a large contemporary study room in Geelong with white walls, medium hardwood floors, a built-in desk and brown floor.

Samsara

Bose Construction

Design ideas for a large contemporary study room in Melbourne with white walls, carpet, a built-in desk and grey floor.

Open Shut House

WALA

A mezzanine Study has views to the old house and the blue sky above, and is bathed in natural light from the overhead skylights. Photo by Dave Kulesza.

Glebe Townhouse

IOANNA LENNOX INTERIORS

This is an example of a mid-sized contemporary study room in Sydney with grey walls, carpet, a freestanding desk and grey floor.

Kent Road North Ryde

Homes On Trend - Property Styling

Photo of a mid-sized transitional study room in Sydney with white walls, light hardwood floors, a freestanding desk and beige floor.

Study Room Design Ideas

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.