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
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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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