56 home office ideas sure to inspire productivity
Now that working from home in some form is here to stay, whether full-time or flexible, it's time to perfect your set-up, Need home office ideas? To start with, investing in a proper desk and office chair is well worth your time. Our surroundings have a profound effect on our state of mind, which makes planning a home office or workspace especially important. From the desk lamps to the desk accessories, wallpaper to paint, there are so many elements that can influence the space. The decor of a study is of utmost importance - a carefully designed space could even improve creativity and work productivity.
These design ideas may inspire a reworking of your own office space, whether it's merely a table in the corner of your living area or a study of its own. The only problem? Once you have your home office set up, you may never want to go back to into work.
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Home office ideas from the House & Garden archive
Milo Brown1/56In the small home study of this 19th-century Chelsea house, the desk is built-in and made by RC Joinery. The tongue and groove panelling is painted in ‘Green Verditer’ by Little Greene ("like arsenic but more intense"). The Roman blind fabric is Stroheim, ‘Chanderi’, with a red braid from Samuel & Sons. The room can also fit a fold out single bed, for “occasional sleepovers!”
Chris Horwood2/56A guest bedroom in this rambling former vicarage in south London brought to life by Tamsin Saunders doubles as a study, with the wall colour chosen to ‘absorb’ a large mahogany armoire. Tamsin found the collection of studio pottery; the desk was designed to sit under the window. The green in the vintage rug echoes the colour of the exterior paintwork on the church next door.
Chris Horwood3/56In Rosie’s ground floor study, Tamsin Saunders painted the architrave a dark mouse colour ‘to frame the room’ and rehung Rosie’s collection of artwork ‘to cover the walls from floor to ceiling.’ The portrait of the man on right is by Julia Hawkins. The cushion on the chair is vintage. The other paintings are by Rosie, Arthur Neal, Luke Hannam and Fred Cumming.
Owen Gale4/56Classical architect George Saumarez Smith's study, overlooking the garden, is painted in Farrow & Ball's 'Inchyra Blue', with a handsome flame stitch cushion on the chair. George’s own architectural drawings decorate the study, along with piles of the sketchbooks he has been working on since his student years, highlights of which, including many painstaking measured drawings of buildings, are now published as a book
Paul Whitbread5/56The office in this classic Victorian house in Oxford revitalised by Charlotte Boundy is papered in Morris & Co's ‘Willow Bough’ pattern in yellow. The curtains are in Claremont's ‘Plain Ottoman’ in petrol. A lamp from Cabana's collection for OKA stands on the desk, and a Rose Uniacke leaded lantern hangs above.
Simon Brown6/56The original plan for this room was as a dining room, but the design duo Salvesen Graham convinced the clients to repurpose the chapel instead. This gave them the luxury of a larger study space. Here the panelling is painted in Farrow and Ball's ‘Oval Room Blue’. The Roman blinds are Teyssier ‘Hawkeswood Moss’, balanced by Besselink and Jones wall lights. The fenders, a Salvesen Graham signature, are ‘Norfolk Fenders’ with John Boyd textiles horse hair. The furniture ranges from vintage Eames pieces (chair, footstool) to bespoke Salvesen Graham pieces (side chair, armchair).
Chris Horwood7/56Farrow & Ball's colour specialist Patrick's study is painted in the archive colour ‘Minster Green’, with accents of red and white in the upholstery and in the Alice Palmer lampshade hanging above. Patrick sits at his father's old desk to work, with a late 19th-century portrait “that looks like Paul” looking down on him. The plates on the wall are by Gavin Houghton.
Christopher Horwood8/56Tom's office is a lovely brick red that works brilliantly in the small space, which is flooded with light from the landing and a large window. The way in which Sophie Warburton has played with colour in the house gives it a wonderful personality and reflects the style that she has made Host Home known for.
Mark Fox9/56The walls and shelves of the study in Katie Glaister's London house are painted in Edward Bulmer's archive shade ‘Brunswick Green.' The design of the joinery incorporates different sizes and heights of shelf without appearing chaotic. The hand-carved writing table with its leather top is a K&H Design by No Straight Lines piece, as is the rug, which was inspired by the design of the stair runner.
Read McKendree10/56For this study in a Philadelphia home, designer Chauncey Boothby endeavoured to honour her client's roots and childhood in Sub-Saharan Africa, whilst still keeping the room “fresh and contemporary.” The green side table, which contrasts well with the vintage armchairs upholstered in fabric from Holland & Sherry, comes from Hickory Chair Furniture Co.; both the lamp and its lampshade which rest on the table come from Vaughan Designs. To the right of the chair duo – a cosy corner which makes for a delightful reading nook perfect for any study – stands a floor lamp from Ralph Lauren for Visual Comfort.
11/56Sézane’ founder Morgane Sézalory made the most of the cubbyhole-sized office space, which she painted the greenish-blue shade Laque from Farrow and Ball. It was just roomy enough to fit a vintage wood desk—atop of which she keeps a balloon-like Les Composantes table lamp.
Martin Morrell12/56In the living and workspace area in this calm Wiltshire farmhouse, treasured pieces, including a Jacques Adnet lamp and a Carl Aubock brass ashtray, are displayed on the 18th-century French desk, which is paired with an Eighties ‘Quinta’ chair by Mario Botta James and Scarlett bought the kimono on honeymoon in Japan
TARAN WILKHU13/56In her country home in Wiltshire, Ochre co-founder Joanna likes to draw new designs using a pencil and paper in this tech-free space, devoted to art books, sewing and painting. She refers to it as her playroom – ‘It’s where I switch off ’.
Mark Anthony Fox14/56In artist Haidee Becker's study in her London house, a large blue canvas of hers, featuring spring blossom, hangs behind her desk. Haidee found the rush-seated chair to the right of her desk on a street local to her a couple of weeks ago.
Miguel Flores Vianna15/56Legendary writer Patrick Leigh Fermor's beautiful, book-filled house in the Peloponnese is the work-from-home ideal. Pictured here is the dreamy desktop setup Joan Leigh Fermor’s bedroom. She first came to Greece to photograph it for the British Council, and her images show a country still relatively unchanged after the upheavals of the Second World War and the Greek Civil War.
Sam Frost16/56In the studio of this warm and layered San Francisco house, a vintage Göran Malmvall desk is partnered by a Henning Kjaernulf ‘Razor Blade’ chair, making for a comfortable workspace. A sofa upholstered in Guy Goodfellow Collection’s ‘Olive Sacking’ and a 19th-century Hoshiarpur octagonal side table contribute to the relaxed feel.
Michael Sinclair17/56With her innate sense of proportion and symmetry, interior designer Pallas Kalamotusis has capitalised on the lofty dimensions of a hotchpotch mansion flat in west London to create a harmonious home. One corner of the living room has been made into a dedicated workspace, the desk sparingly decorated yet not empty, with one drawer to hide errant papers and pens – the perfect set-up for someone working from home part time.
Read McKendree18/56“I always put banquettes in New York apartments,” says Lilse, the designer of this flat, “so that clients have a spot for their laptop that's not in the kitchen.” This is especially helpful for smaller apartments such as this jewel-box flat on the Upper East Side in New York. The banquette is upholstered in Siam in Baltic Blue by Carolina Irving; the table was custom-made by RT Facts. The lamps that flank the banquette are from Vaughan.
Michael Sinclair19/56In this home office in London, a fifties Scandinavian desk from Designers Guild has been positioned facing into the room for good feng shui; the ‘Clam’ armchair is by Philip Arctander.
Rachael Smith20/56The study in Natalie Tredgett's house is packed full of colour, the perfect place to get one's creativity abuzz.
21/56A home office is necessary for novelists. Here, in writer Andrew O'Hagan's study, a Vaughan light is positioned over Andrew’s antique desk from Ian Anderson.
Paul Massey22/56The study at Kerry Franses's London house. An Arts and Crafts desk attributed to Peter Hansen is paired with an oak chair by Frank Lloyd Wright.
Dean Hearne23/56At Nicola Mardas' seafront home in Deal, the office looks into a quiet, internal courtyard. A lampshade by Alvaro Picardo sits atop a lamp from Country & Eastern in Norwich. The chik blinds, which feature throughout the house, are from Joss Graham. The rattan chair is by Sika Design.
Dean Hearne24/56Another further, small study area in the same house in Deal has been fitted into the top landing. A blind in 'Willow' by Kit Kemp for Christopher Farr Cloth softens the space, while artworks by Ian Hamilton Finlay add colour to the walls.
Owen Gale25/56A study in the writer Olivia Laing's Suffolk home. Chair by Habitat and lamp from John Lewis.
Chris Horwood26/56At Laura Stephen's London house, the son's bedroom includes a smart desk area that would be appropriate for all ages.
STEPHAN JULLIARD27/56At Marianne Evennou's tiny Parisian apartment, space has been used to maximum efficiency. A built-in desk in the bedroom is exemplary of her canny use of interior architecture.
Michael Sinclair28/56In-between spaces can risk being cold or echoey places to work. In this project by Emily Todhunter of Todhunter Earle, a wall covered in red suede creates a distinctive workspace that feels warm and cosy. Matching lacquered woodwork adds subtle glamour, while an English walnut desk by David J Haddock (t: 01747 860016), a cabinetmaker based in Dorset, makes a chic feature of the wood’s natural burrs.
29/56There are certain key elements that make a home office function well and this garden room has all the requisite worktop space, storage and lighting. Once the essentials are covered, you can introduce creative details. This room, by interior designer Peter Dunham, is papered top to bottom in the tumbling ‘Nasturtium’ wallpaper by Lake August. The pattern on the walls is echoed by the chandelier decorated with painted metal nasturtium leaves.
30/56This alcove desk area, in a project by New York-based interior-design duo Brockschmidt & Coleman, functions in the same way as a traditional sécretaire. The table can be folded away when not in use, and cupboards and shelves are neatly incorporated. Made to measure and fully built-in, a folding desk can be made to work to suit larger, more modern proportions and this one fits the aesthetic of the sitting room perfectly.
Elsa Young31/56Henrietta Courtauld of The Land Gardeners has this delightful studio at the bottom of the garden of her London house, with simple, fuss-free storage under the desk - all designed by Retrouvius. A curtain is a joinery-free way to hide everything out of sight and can be the basis for a colour scheme, while a built-in desktop creates a generous workspace, down the back of which no papers will slither.
32/56Joinery can be as decorative as a piece of antique furniture, as seen in this office by Retrouvius. A built-in desktop is elevated by the simple addition of a panel of reeded wood, inset from the top, and tapered legs. Sliding doors can conceal a good amount of storage, even if the space behind is not particularly deep; these ones have been covered in red vintage bookcloth.
Alexander James33/56Surround yourself with things that inspire you - like books in this study in a Spitalfields house - and try to give yourself some sort of view if you can. A blank wall to stare at all day won't inspire you all that much.
34/56A wall-mounted, made-to-measure box shelf, like this one by Jali, is inexpensive and compact – and, if painted in a strong colour, it can become a smart graphic feature. You can design your shelf to accommodate the maximum height of your magazines, box files or books. Task wall lights are a good way to save space and avoid cluttering the work area: the ‘Hector’ by Original BTC, seen here, is adjustable and comes in a plug-and-switch format, so it does not need to be wired in.
Benjamin Edwards35/56Stylish furniture is a must, it'll make you feel more productive and less like you're playing pretend office. In Bryan O'Sullivan's house, a Sixties armchair by Kipp Stewart for Directional is covered in John Boyd Textiles’ ‘Selle II Stripe’, while Silvio Cavatorta designed the Fifties lacquered desk.
36/56Bookshelves can make a beautiful backdrop for a workspace, as seen in this room in Guy Tobin’s house in London. The layered look is enhanced by mounting a painting on the front of the shelves and curating a desktop display of treasured objects. The steel and leather ‘Y-Chair’ is from Rose Uniacke.
37/56With a dark colour scheme, an understated mosaic floor and a few well-chosen pieces, Jane Gowers has created a chic office in an awkward space. The two-armed wall light by Serge Mouille is a statement design that pairs well with the antique mahogany desk.
Lucas Allen38/56In a slightly unconventional setting on this houseboat, home to a furniture designer and writer couple, the wheelhouse now serves as a design studio. The wraparound windows provide the workspace with natural light, which should be a priority, if possible, for a home office.
Rachel Whiting39/56When Pandora Sykes, a freelance journalist, and her husband moved into and renovated a new house in London, her office space was of utmost importance. Pandora's study features the Scalamandré ‘Zebras’ wallpaper she had coveted for so long and a bookshelf where she regularly finds inspiration. It is connected to the sitting room via double doors, which she can close off to be in privacy when needed.
40/56In this room-between-rooms, Ben Pentreath has placed a colourful mix of Scandinavian pieces to create a playful and light-filled workspace that does not take itself too seriously. A Svenskt Tenn fabric by Josef Frank on the lampshade, an Ikea rug, a Hans J Wegner ‘Wishbone’ chair from Carl Hansen & Søn and an Artek light are combined to jaunty effect.
Michael Sinclair41/56In the study of a striking, sculptural new build in London, the ‘Eames Soft Pad’ chair is from Vitra, while the desk, cabinets and leather-covered bench were all custom made. On the desk is a bronze sculpture intended as a maquette for a large-scale piece in the garden – its form is inspired by the curves of the building.
Jason Ingram42/56In this workspace belonging to Adam Sykes, the owner of Claremont, a painting by Andrew Johnstone has a strong visual impact set against the oiled birch-ply walls. The Fifties desk offers plenty of storage space.
43/56A tiny space is neatly given over to a thoughtfully designed desk area in this house by De Rosee Sa. The built-in cupboards on either side can be used to hide away papers, while a high window creates a small lightwell. This kind of workstation is especially handy for homework – completed under a watchful eye from both the kitchen and the sitting room.
Lucas Allen44/56A bright corner of the living room has been converted into a workspace at this townhouse in Bray decorated by Christopher Howe. A taxidermy penguin, by Darwin, Sinke & van Tongeren, is an irreverent nod to the owner’s collection of Penguin Classics.
Lucas Allen45/56A Twenties silver desk lamp by Édouard-Wilfred Buquet sits on a desk designed by Hugh Leslie in this warm wooden study in a Manhattan townhouse designed by Hugh Leslie.
Simon Brown46/56If you don't have room for a dedicated study, take note. Having commissioned an award-winning newbuild in Suffolk, the owners entrusted its decoration to interior designer Virginia White. The gallery leading to the spare bedrooms has been turned into a self-contained study, where Virgina chose a corner desk attatched the mezzanine wall to minimise the amount of floor space used.
Paul Massey47/56In a small study area in one corner of Caroline O'Donnell's living room in her London flat, designer Harriet Anstruther has partnered a 'Bertoia Side Chair' from Skandium with an antique desk. This creates the desired modern effect while retaining a treasured piece.
Alicia Taylor48/56Formerly the home of Howard Hodgkin, this west London Victorian town house has a rather bohemian history. Its owners Linda and David Heathcot-Amory wanted to transform it into a carefully maintained family home with all the comforts.
In the office space, a dark Victorian desk stands out against light walls, while a painting of a sailing boat by Spanish artist Ramiro Fernandez Saus hangs above it. The double handed vessels on the desk are from Ardgowan Antiques. The desk stands on a modern rug designed by Linda - inspired by Paul Klee and Navajo tribal rugs - and made by Robert Stephenson.
49/56In one of the bedrooms of Carskiey Estate, a slim and elegant navigator's desk stands between two windows framed by long curtains in Fermoie's green 'N-098' wicker linen. This area makes for a thoroughly pleasant, relaxed workspace with pretty views.
Rachel Whiting50/56In this study of a flat near the Barbican Centre, designer Maria Speake of Retrouvius spread the owner's sizeable collection of books from the wall of architectural shelving to the wonderful Danish Rosewood desk from Paere Dansk.
Alex James51/56There's something so charming about an abundance of books. Eschewing the trend for a perfectly harmonious, colour-coded display, the study in this family home designed by architect Chris Dyson makes the most of unusual shelving, from the vintage Danish desk from The Conran Shop to the stackable shelf on the right.
Simon Upton52/56Oak and ebony bookshelves inspired by the work of George Bullock, a Regency designer, give a masculine feel to this study designed by antique dealer and decorator Max Rollitt.
Paul Massey53/56The library in the Tudor wing of Bradwell Lodge has bookcases from Langford Grove, a demolished house also designed by John Johnson; the bust of Darcy John is by Sheila Arbuthnot.
Alicia Taylor54/56The challenge for interior designer Penny Morrison at this Victorian terrace was to create a home for a bachelor - without the stereotypical furnishings. A hand-painted Irving & Morrison lamp brightens a corner of the drawing room; the herringbone wool carpet is from Roger Oates.
Michael Sinclair55/56The designer Jane Gowers discovered her London house by chance, but its restoration and decoration have been the result of good judgement and a sympathetic approach. The study has a Serge Mouille light and a mid-century Danish desk by Ole Wanscher.
Paul Massey56/56A mezzanine office with a workspace for two makes the most of high ceilings in the sitting room of artist Jonathan Delafield Cook and illustrator Laura Stoddart's converted disused chapel in Somerset. Paintings hanging on the wall, a sky light and the skeletons of two young beech saplings rising up to the ceiling from downstairs add character to the small, white space.
