Designed to maximize function with minimal impact, the studio serves up adaptable square footage in a wrapping almost healthy enough to eat. The open interior space organically transitions from personal to communal with the guidance of an angled roof plane. Beneath the tallest elevation, a sunny workspace awaits creative endeavors. The high ceiling provides room for big ideas in a small space, while a cluster of windows offers a glimpse of the structure’s soaring eave. Solid walls hugging the workspace add both privacy and anchors for wall-mounted storage. Towards the studio’s southern end, the ceiling plane slopes downward into a more intimate gathering space with playfully angled lines. The building is as sustainable as it is versatile. Its all-wood construction includes interior paneling sourced locally from the Wood Mill of Maine. Lengths of eastern white pine span up to 16 feet to reach from floor to ceiling, creating visual warmth from a material that doubles as a natural insulator. Non-toxic wood fiber insulation, made from sawdust and wax, partners with triple-glazed windows to further insulate against extreme weather. During the winter, the interior temperature is able to reach 70 degrees without any heat on. As it neared completion, the studio became a family project with Jesse, Betsy, and their kids working together to add the finishing touches. “Our whole life is a bit of an architectural experiment”, says Jesse, “but this has become an incredibly useful space.”

Highgate House - study

A New Day - Interior Design Studio

An elegant, mid-century inspired study combining a palette of pinks with black accents.

Our clients wanted a built in office space connected to their living room. We loved how this turned out and how well it fit in with the floor plan.

1004 Cooks

Tag & Associates, LLC

Home offices are set up by people who work from home, whether self-employed or telecommuting for an employer. Essentials within a home office often include a desk, chair, computer or laptop, internet capability, and adequate software like Zoom to connect with co-workers who are also working remotely.

Ocean Township Blues

Evenflow Interiors

High Style in San Antonio

BRADSHAW DESIGNS LLC

Warm and inviting this new construction home, by New Orleans Architect Al Jones, and interior design by Bradshaw Designs, lives as if it's been there for decades. Charming details provide a rich patina. The old Chicago brick walls, the white slurried brick walls, old ceiling beams, and deep green paint colors, all add up to a house filled with comfort and charm for this dear family. Lead Designer: Crystal Romero; Designer: Morgan McCabe; Photographer: Stephen Karlisch; Photo Stylist: Melanie McKinley.

Memorial Transitional

Frankel Design Build

Kingscrest

Khachi Design + Build

Reservoir Hill Renovation

Sam Kachmar Architects

Pottery Studio | Upper Black Eddy, PA

Fascella Construction

An old outdated barn transformed into a Pottery Barn-inspired space, blending vintage charm with modern elegance.

Private Residence

gabrielle designs ARCHITECTURE

Barn Office

PhiBa Architecture

Mstari Safari Task Lounge

Nar Design Group

Meaning “line” in Swahili, the Mstari Safari Task Lounge itself is accented with clean wooden lines, as well as dramatic contrasts of hammered gold and reflective obsidian desk-drawers. A custom-made industrial, mid-century desk—the room’s focal point—is perfect for centering focus while going over the day’s workload. Behind, a tiger painting ties the African motif together. Contrasting pendant lights illuminate the workspace, permeating the sharp, angular design with more organic forms. Outside the task lounge, a custom barn door conceals the client’s entry coat closet. A patchwork of Mexican retablos—turn of the century religious relics—celebrate the client’s eclectic style and love of antique cultural art, while a large wrought-iron turned handle and barn door track unify the composition. A home as tactfully curated as the Mstari deserved a proper entryway. We knew that right as guests entered the home, they needed to be wowed. So rather than opting for a traditional drywall header, we engineered an undulating I-beam that spanned the opening. The I-beam’s spine incorporated steel ribbing, leaving a striking impression of a Gaudiesque spine.

Updated Traditional Home

Twilly and Fig

A transitional study serving its duality of business and personal activities. The use of wallpaper on both the walls and ceiling gives the room a visual interest through pattern and color. The use of the indigo blue and copper jewel tones throughout the area rug and accessories create a fabulous, yet functional space. Michael Hunter Photography

Pinecrest Home Remodel Japandi Style

Janet Patterson Interior Design (JPID)

Modern neutral home office with a vaulted ceiling.

home office ultra modern

Ritzy Design Studio

Copper Ridge Home

Celtic Custom Homes

This study also boasts a secret door :)

English style paneled study

Tina Dann-Fenwick Interiors

A Cozy study is given a makeover with new furnishings and window treatments in keeping with a relaxed English country house

Brown Home Office 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.