Home office with custom built bookcase, desk and window bench. Shaker style cabinets in warm taupe grey accented with a quartz desk top and copper coloured drawer pulls. The graphic diamond seat cushion adds contrast and energy. A workspace needs to be functional and comfortable but also a place from which to draw inspiration.

Fresh Vintage Farmhouse

Trove Warehouse

This cozy home office features a built-in desk with white cabinetry and a classic leather chair.

Modern Farmhouse Bellaire Showcase

Vivian Johnson

Richard Hughes Architect

West 11th Street

Avenue B Development

Phillip Jeffries wallpaper defines this entry nook

Office cabinetry

Simpson Cabinetry

Custom cabinetry combines bookshelves, computer desk, TV, and closed storage for maximum use of space.

Historic House

Cuppett Kilpatrick Architecture + Interior Design

Antique furniture from Old Hickory, family memories on the wall. photo by Alec Hemer.

Our Barn Office

J.P. Hoffman Design Build

This project hits very close to home for us. Not your typical office space, we re-purposed a 19th century carriage barn into our office and workshop. With no heat, minimum electricity and few windows (most of which were broken), a priority for CEO and Designer Jason Hoffman was to create a space that honors its historic architecture, era and purpose but still offers elements of understated sophistication. The building is nearly 140 years old, built before many of the trees towering around it had begun growing. It was originally built as a simple, Victorian carriage barn, used to store the family’s horse and buggy. Later, it housed 2,000 chickens when the Owners worked the property as their farm. Then, for many years, it was storage space. Today, it couples as a workshop for our carpentry team, building custom projects and storing equipment, as well as an office loft space ready to welcome clients, visitors and trade partners. We added a small addition onto the existing barn to offer a separate entry way for the office. New stairs and an entrance to the workshop provides for a small, yet inviting foyer space. From the beginning, even is it’s dark state, Jason loved the ambiance of the old hay loft with its unfinished, darker toned timbers. He knew he wanted to find a way to refinish the space with a focus on those timbers, evident in the statement they make when walking up the stairs. On the exterior, the building received new siding, a new roof and even a new foundation which is a story for another post. Inside, we added skylights, larger windows and a French door, with a small balcony. Along with heat, electricity, WiFi and office furniture, we’re ready for visitors!

Houston Heights- 12th Street

BuildTech

Stunning home office with 25' ceiling & amazing Elegant lighting Cavoli 11 light abstract chandelier & huge custom Milgard black aluminum windows.

Kitchen and living room

GPI Builders, Inc.

Cottonwood - Traditional Farmhouse

Visbeen Architects

Function meets fashion in this relaxing retreat inspired by turn-of-the-century cottages. Perfect for a lot with limited space or a water view, this delightful design packs ample living into an open floor plan spread out on three levels. Elements of classic farmhouses and Craftsman-style bungalows can be seen in the updated exterior, which boasts shingles, porch columns, and decorative venting and windows. Inside, a covered front porch leads into an entry with a charming window seat and to the centrally located 17 by 12-foot kitchen. Nearby is an 11 by 15-foot dining and a picturesque outdoor patio. On the right side of the more than 1,500-square-foot main level is the 14 by 18-foot living room with a gas fireplace and access to the adjacent covered patio where you can enjoy the changing seasons. Also featured is a convenient mud room and laundry near the 700-square-foot garage, a large master suite and a handy home management center off the dining and living room. Upstairs, another approximately 1,400 square feet include two family bedrooms and baths, a 15 by 14-foot loft dedicated to music, and another area designed for crafts and sewing. Other hobbies and entertaining aren’t excluded in the lower level, where you can enjoy the billiards or games area, a large family room for relaxing, a guest bedroom, exercise area and bath. Photographers: Ashley Avila Photography Pat Chambers Builder: Bouwkamp Builders, Inc.

Washington Park Farmhouse

Austin Signature Homes

Barn Renovation

PURITY Designs Inc.

Lake Tahoe Vacation Home

LMB Interiors

The upstairs rooms open onto a second floor landing, envisioned as a gathering space – part office, part reading room, part hangout area, providing a communal location for family and visitors to plan the day’s activities. Custom, built-in book shelves house games, vintage first edition classics (also found at the Alameda antique fair), family mementoes and objet d’art.

A Gentleman's Coop

Christopher Burns Interiors

The floors and walls are all reclamed lumber. The beames were saved from the original structure. The club chairs are French "Moustache chairs" from the 1920's

Cabin In the Mountains

Appalachian Antique Hardwoods

"VintageCraft" Reclaimed Timbers and Veneers. "Legacy Hickory" hardwood floors. "Heritage Oak" reclaimed oak walls. "Legacy Pine" ceilings. Reclaimed Wood and Natural Materials provided by Appalachian Antique Hardwoods. Home Design by MossCreek. Photo by Erwin Loveland.

Yonson Residence - Winner of 2016 Residential Design Award, AIA Atlanta

Brightwater Homes

Sliding barn doors reveal an inviting home office study with modern industrial style.

Sage Creek

Crest Builders, Inc.

Oak Hill Farmhouse

Country Home Office Design Ideas with Light 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 country 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 country 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 country 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 country 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.