Photo of a mediterranean home office in Los Angeles with white walls, dark hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a freestanding desk and black floor.

Garrison Road Remodel

Roomscapes Cabinetry and Design Center

Design ideas for a small traditional study room in Boston with white walls, dark hardwood floors, a built-in desk and brown floor.

Cashiers, NC

Accentrics Interiors

Native House Photography
This is an example of a transitional study room in Tampa with white walls, dark hardwood floors, a built-in desk and brown floor.

View Lane

Studio M Interiors

Inspiration for a mid-sized traditional home studio in Minneapolis with beige walls, dark hardwood floors, brown floor, no fireplace and a freestanding desk.

Briarwood/Devonshire - Hanover

Gardner Custom Homes

This is an example of a small transitional study room in Dallas with white walls, dark hardwood floors and a built-in desk.

jay apartment

stephane chamard

lisa petrole
Inspiration for an eclectic home office in Toronto with white walls, dark hardwood floors and a freestanding desk.

Toluca Lake

InHance

This home was fully remodeled with a cape cod feel including the interior, exterior, driveway, backyard and pool. We added beautiful moulding and wainscoting throughout and finished the home with chrome and black finishes. Our floor plan design opened up a ton of space in the master en suite for a stunning bath/shower combo, entryway, kitchen, and laundry room. We also converted the pool shed to a billiard room and wet bar.

Miami Charm in Highland Park

Robert Elliott Custom Homes

Nathan Schroder Photography BK Design Studio Robert Elliott Custom Homes
Contemporary study room in Dallas with blue walls, dark hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a stone fireplace surround and a freestanding desk.

City Summer House

AJ Margulis Interiors

The client wanted a room that was comfortable and feminine but fitting to the other public rooms.
Photo of a small traditional study room in Philadelphia with pink walls, dark hardwood floors, no fireplace, a freestanding desk, brown floor and wallpaper.

Inviting Edgebrook Home

Wendy Nobriga, ASID

Office/Guest Bedroom - A multi-functional room that can transform from a lounge to an office to a guest bedroom. It even includes a balcony for taking in the neighborhood views.

Oakville Classic - Relaxing Spaces

Parkyn Design

A transitional lounge setting,
Design ideas for a mid-sized contemporary study room in Toronto with a built-in desk, white walls, dark hardwood floors, no fireplace and brick walls.

Bluebell Office Renovation

Glenbrook Cabinetry

To create a clean updated look in our client's home office we used white, low sheen, painted cabinetry and shelves. To coordinate the existing chandelier, our client selected crystal hardware and satin nickel bar pulls. The final touch in this coordinated space was custom painting our client's existing desk. All of the elements come together in this clean, transitional space!

Washington Crossing, PA

AJ Margulis Interiors

A custom home design from the plans to the accessories. This home office is located at the front of the house and the client works hard on her computer but wanted the space to still feel feminine. Using soft greiges and blues, with the addition of wallpaper and gorgeous drapery panels we achieved a clean but lush space.

Sophisticated Sundays

Barker and Stonehouse

This is an example of a country study room in Other with white walls, dark hardwood floors, a freestanding desk and brown floor.

My House

Design Soda

Photo of a mid-sized transitional study room in London with grey walls, dark hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a metal fireplace surround, a freestanding desk and brown floor.

Westwood Tudor House

Julia Chasman Design

Photo by Bret Gum Everything vintage! -- oak desk, Eastlake chair recovered in leopard print, 46-star American flag, brass and crystal chandelier, Antler lamp from Ralph Lauren Home

The Brady at Magnolia Green

Schell Brothers

Design ideas for a traditional home office in Other with blue walls, dark hardwood floors, no fireplace and a freestanding desk.

Wilmette home remodel

Widler Architecture

Mike Kaskel
Design ideas for a small transitional home office in Chicago with dark hardwood floors, a built-in desk, brown floor and white walls.

Peary Place - Palm Desert

JAC Interiors

This is an example of a mid-sized modern study room in Los Angeles with multi-coloured walls, dark hardwood floors, a freestanding desk and brown floor.

Cambridge Model Home: Study

Tartan Homes

Marc Fowler
Inspiration for a mid-sized study room in Ottawa with white walls, dark hardwood floors and a freestanding desk.

White Home Office Design Ideas with Dark Hardwood Floors

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.