Photo of a traditional study room in Other with white walls, medium hardwood floors, a freestanding desk, brown floor, coffered, wood and decorative wall panelling.

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.

Russian Hill - Top-to-bottom redesign on a San Francisco downtown view home

EAG Studio

Inspiration for a contemporary home office in San Francisco with medium hardwood floors, a freestanding desk, brown floor, wallpaper and coffered.

Copper Bay

Glas Associates

A multifunctional space serves as a den and home office with library shelving and dark wood throughout Photo by Ashley Avila Photography
Large traditional home office in Grand Rapids with a library, brown walls, dark hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a wood fireplace surround, brown floor, coffered and panelled walls.

Reservoir Hill Renovation

Sam Kachmar Architects

Photo of a traditional study room in Boston with multi-coloured walls, dark hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a freestanding desk, brown floor, coffered and wallpaper.

Stonebrook

Jessica Koltun Home

Interior design by Jessica Koltun Home. This stunning home with an open floor plan features a formal dining, dedicated study, Chef's kitchen and hidden pantry. Designer amenities include white oak millwork, marble tile, and a high end lighting, plumbing, & hardware.

интерьер квартиры 130 квм г. Новосибирск

Студия 3D дизайн-бюро

Mid-sized traditional study room in Novosibirsk with green walls, medium hardwood floors, a freestanding desk, brown floor, coffered, wood and decorative wall panelling.

Rectory Grove - Extension

Eerospace Ltd

Perfectly renovated blight entrance with a clean and classic look.
Photo of an expansive traditional home office in London with white walls, marble floors, no fireplace, multi-coloured floor, coffered and decorative wall panelling.

Stonebrook

Jessica Koltun Home

Turquoise Home Office Design Ideas with Coffered

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.