30 Modern Home Office Ideas You Should Put to Work
Your home office exists somewhere between your work life and your home life. Despite being part of your home, your office space should be secluded and soundproofed, so as to avoid constant distractions that extend your workday (check out these strategies to keep distractions to a minimum). And of course, your at-home workstation should be comfortable and practical. After all, having a well-lit, well-organized space that meets your needs is key to producing your best work.
The best home office designs encourage creative thinking and spark a sense of wellbeing while engaging with your specific needs, whether you need a home office setup for small spaces, for two to work together—or are on a budget. To provide you with some inspiration, we’ve curated some home office designs and decorating ideas that you can incorporate into your work-from-home sanctuary.
1. A Sunny Home Office in a Backyard Studio
Well-placed skylights in a Minneapolis couple’s DIY backyard studio flood the built-in desk and workstation with natural light. The elegant desk lamp, which architect Michael Hara calls the Sunset Lamp, has a maple base and bowl-like shade, the latter finished with gold leaf for a warm glow.
When it comes to home office design, IKEA is a great place to look for functional pieces like desks and lamps. Find items similar to this simple yet modern, handmade desk that rests in an alcove the homeowners have made into a small home office.
Located off of the kitchen, Vivi’s office disappears behind sliding walls covered in black chalkboard paint from Behr. This is one of the best home office setup ideas if you’re short on space or if you’re going for a minimalist look.
A cozy office space boasts a corner fireplace. This dramatic look is great inspiration if you’re looking for home office ideas for him in the more traditional sense, featuring dark leather and warm tones.
The second-floor mezzanine of this renovated home by Mowery Marsh Architects now hosts a spacious home office that looks out onto the roof terrace. A design departure from the photo above, this bright, airy space is full of home office ideas for her. It’s feminine-chic with just-right touches of gold and natural materials.
If you’re looking for home office setup ideas, why not add a bit of whimsy to your workday? Giotto shelves, a Treetops floor lamp, and an Olivetti chair—all by Sottsass—furnish this fun home office. The painting is by Nathalie Du Pasquier, one of the original Memphis designers.
A Paul McCobb-designed, reeded glass panel provides a contemplative backdrop for a walnut Knoll writing desk and Bertoia Side Chair in this home office layout that uses a divider to make clever use of space.
We love this sleek home office design layout, where steel details contrast mesquite flooring throughout the home, including at the pathway to the "crow’s nest" office. It’s also a great option if you’re looking for home office ideas for small spaces.
In the study of this stunning, modern cabin by Murdough Design, corner windows give the home office a tree house feel with views of the lush surrounding canopy and lake.
At just 80 square feet, The Kugelschiff is a renovated Airstream Bambi II that now serves as a tech entrepreneur’s tiny home and office. Edmonds + Lee Architects designed a desk set on pistons that converts to a bed, creating a smart home office idea for small spaces.
The best home office ideas for two allow ample space for both workers. At the home of Nicholas Blechman, the creative director of The New Yorker, and Luise Stauss, a photo editor and art director, the home office boasts a Vitsœ wall unit that allows each to display their favorite curios—while still providing plenty of shared space for supplies and books.
This contemplative home office design and layout by Morgan Studio Architecture & Interiors incorporates modern home office ideas featuring a classic Eames chair, warm wood paneling, and brass details. The ample skylight makes for a natural task light.
Additional square footage provided by an on-site shipping container in Austin, Texas, holds an home office design layout. This beautifully designed shipping container home office features track lighting, wall sconces, a full-height cabinet to hang clothes, and a mini split air conditioner. The floors are a mix of engineered wood and hand-painted tile from Clay Imports. From inside the container, you can see through to the front of the house.
Whether you’re short on space or funds, a home office is still possible. Here, a corner of a spacious eat-in kitchen serves as the perfect space for a desk, chair, and minimal storage. Re-thinking your home’s layout and making the most of unused spaces is one of the best ways to incorporate home office ideas on a budget.
Another of our favorite home office ideas on a budget? Incorporate a basic office space in the upper level or attic of the house, like this small workstation on the upper level of this magnificent, midcentury, A-frame prefab home off the coast of Rhode Island. Here, an airy push-open window provides a refreshing ocean breeze for this sparse workspace.
Contrasting light and dark elements abound in this gorgeous home office in West Vancouver designed by Mcleod Bovell Modern Houses. The space incorporates modern home office ideas like sleek black countertops that contrast with the natural wood used throughout the home. Overhead, the dramatic Flos Aim Pendant provides a flexible lighting option.
Upstairs attics and dormers are great home office ideas for small spaces. This unique home office design layout serves as both a small office and workout room for San Francisco–based knot artist Windy Chien. It also features clever storage space for the couple’s voluminous collection of books.
A sparse wooden desk and ample black cabinetry are elements that can be used as modern home office ideas. Vibrant natural light floods the room with light despite the dark background in this expansive modern home office in a heritage apartment in Kiev.
When searching for home office ideas for small spaces, even the smallest space can be utilized. In this East Austin cottage by Studio 512, a second-floor landing makes a perfect home office with plenty of storage thanks to built-in shelves. The office backs up to the laundry unit concealed behind a door.
We can’t dream up more perfect home office ideas for him. Handsome paint colors combine with dark wood cabinetry and hardwood floors to create this masculine-leaning office in a renovated midcentury home in Southern California. The homeowner scoured high and low for this 1956 Quadreflex mono speaker designed by Charles and Ray Eames for Stephens Tru-Sonic—the ultimate grown-up toy.
Tiny homes and shipping containers have inspired many homeowners to seek out home office ideas for small spaces, like the one pictured here. A clever loft makes the perfect home office space without overcrowding this diminutive abode by New Zealand–based company, Build Tiny.
Featured here is one of this shipping container home’s two private office spaces, which incorporates office furniture clad in bright colors. These make great modern home office ideas if you’re going for an industrial look.
This gorgeous kitchen/office nook in a revamped Edwardian by Paul Raff Studio incorporates some of the best home office ideas for her. Rather than having a dedicated office space, manage the household in this small but tastefully feminine space featuring flowers and pastel-hued artwork.
Two people can work back-to-back in this unique space that incorporates home office ideas for two. Two long, thin desks provide ample dual work surfaces, each with its own built-in storage shelves. The floors are Douglas Fir with OSMO finish. The angled walls and ceiling are Douglas Fir Marine Grade Plywood with a whitewash finish.
Standing room only! If you’re in need of home office ideas for small spaces, consider a fold-down desk that allows you to stand while working. This one, a New Table Concept by Resource Furniture, is a great option. Comfortable seating, ample storage, and a modern light fixture round out the space.
Bright hues and visually intriguing wallpaper add energy to a workspace, making it an excellent office for creatives. This particular wall covering is the Heavens Dondi Colorscape from Flat Vernacular. Pair the eye-catching pigments with neutral built-in modular shelving—like this Vitsoe unit—to keep clutter to a minimum and change the arrangement as needed.
Ross and Shannon’s underutilized three-car garage became a modern home and workspace once Ramiro Losada-Amor of Modern Granny Flat, transformed it. Losada-Amor created this flexible workspace with an efficient and beautiful design—integrating the desk and other features into the millwork. At the end of the workday, the desk folds away, keeping the space layout clean and orderly.
Positioning a desk by large windows enables you to gain the energizing benefits of natural light. This modern office space by Lindal Cedar Homes incorporates contemporary design into a home with a more traditional profile, creating an appealing home office without blocking the windows.
Neutral tones in an office enable you to add design elements that make a room anything but boring. Ome Dezin restored this 1927 Tudor in Los Angeles, California, pairing the European style with California design for a charming transformation that thoughtfully incorporates historical details. Lining the office ceiling with patterned wallpaper offers a chic result that offers personality while staying true to the home’s style.
Should your business require you to have clients come to your home office, creating a bespoke area ensures a clear space even with last-minute bookings. This 50-year-old apartment in São Paulo, Brazil, was redesigned by Ana Sawaia Arquitetura and Estudio Paulo Alves. It has a dedicated desk for computer work and a charming wood table set in front of floor-to-ceiling arch windows for meetings, reading, and creative tasks.
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