Decorating & Design
80+ Home Offices That Maximize Creativity & Productivity
Updated on November 28, 2023
A well-designed home office helps you do your best work, whether it’s answering emails, completing assignments or brainstorming your next big project. We’ve rounded up some of our favorite home offices and workspaces, each one full of character and impeccable design. From double-duty makeshift spaces to dedicated offices, these rooms will give you the inspiration to build the home office of your dreams.
Scroll down for 80+ home offices and work spaces. It’s time to get to work!
This space is pulling a double shift, as Jackie Kai Ellis’s dining room when the doors open, and her home office when the sliding glass partition is closed.
A view to the outside world, including a pond, trees and mountains, makes this small space at the back of the house a room to be inspired in.
Combining several of his own products, such as his Tuning Fork bench and Shaker desk, Jeff Martin turned this sun-filled space into an office.
Stacks of Chinese dictionaries and encyclopedias on custom built-in shelves give this desk area a modern library feel. Even the biggest procrastinator has no choice but to buckle down and get to work!
Without a dedicated office space, this glass desk between the kitchen and backyard gets the job done using minimalist furniture and a few well-chosen accessories.
This home office displays art and books on open shelving, while files and a printer are cleverly tucked away in deep cabinets.
Rather than a computer as the focal point, art takes center stage in this workspace, along with a wooden work table and bench and ample storage space for supplies.
These homeowners embraced an old-school dark and moody palette of wood and leather with a few twists, including the snake-framed mirror.
A small basement was transformed into a multi-desk office space, including this built-in desk facing an exposed brick wall.
One of the other desks in this renovated basement features a gallery wall and marble desktop to add a bit of eye candy to the workspace.
And finally, this off-white desk with a glass tabletop is complemented by vibrant green chairs.
There is no shortage of drama in this high-contrast home office, thanks to a patchwork rug and black built-ins. The gilt light fixture is the perfect finishing touch.
A tall, angled shelf doubles as a desk in Wendy Lau’s plant-filled sunroom. Having the space right next to the backyard window offers cheery views all day.
Designer Sarah Keenlyside set up a client’s workspace in the backyard behind the pool to create the ultimate work-from-home hideaway.
Scandi-style chairs and a neutral palette create a calming atmosphere in celebrity hairstylist Jen Atkin’s Cali-cool home.
You can still separate your work and personal life — just set up your workspace in a closet and close it off when the day’s done! There’s a reason #cloffice has been trending on Pinterest.
Design blogger Elena Lohse of This House 5000 repurposed an extra dining chair for her office. Blonde wood, plants and white walls make for a sunny, serene space.
This family-friendly workspace has lush views to keep motivation up. A Corian slab sits on the desk to prevent the kids from making a mess!
In this curated Toronto apartment, global treasures abound. The homeowners converted the dining room into an office using a Tommaso table they brought back from Denmark and an Akari 95EN light pendant by Isamu Noguchi.
Who says you need an entire room for a home office? A nook in the hallway works perfectly in Drake General Store co-founder Carlo Colacci’s eclectic home.
This cozy room is the perfect place for food entrepreneur Trish Magwood to write her latest cookbook. The space feels airy and light-filled, thanks to high ceilings and plenty of windows.
This breezy home office displays chic built-in shelves and cool pops of black, like the French doors, handsome desk and modern fixture.
An angled wedge in this luxe kitchen can serve as both a desk and a place to grab a quick bite while preparing dinner.
This artful home office is a lesson in layering. Designer Luke Havekes paired curvaceous ottomans with leggy chairs and abstract splashes of pattern for an eclectic look that makes you feel right at home.
Houston, Texas-based designer Ruqiya Imtiaz-Uddin of Studio RIU turned an extra guest bedroom into the home office of her dreams. Three bookshelves — layered with family heirlooms, art from her kids and beautiful prints from books and magazines — pop against a deep navy wall.
From the 1920s Josef Frank secretaire to the late-1800s Scottish Orkney chair, this work space highlights the beauty of antiques.
This crisp and clean home office is a love letter to mid-century modern design: a vintage teak Poul Cadovius wall unit, Charles and Ray Eames for Herman Miller table and Muuto light fixture steal the show. “There’s something nice about white furniture in an office; it provides a clean slate,” says homeowner and designer Todd McMillan.
In the 2019 Princess Margaret Showhome, designer Brian Gluckstein created a multipurpose space that works for the whole family. “The kids can do homework at the table while parents sit and work on the daybed with a laptop,” says Brian.
This handsome studio’s gold and green wallpaper, antique picture frame and storied desk oozes heritage charm.
No extra room for a home office? Maximize space in the bedroom with custom flat-cut white oak cabinets surrounding a built-in desk. This idea is perfect for teenagers and young adults who might be pulling all-nighters finishing up homework.
“This cozy WFH space started with large-scale, cement-like, heated tile flooring and has multiple zones for quiet time at home,” says designer Andrea Hylton of this handsome home office. There’s room to work, read and sip on a glass of wine, while watching flames dance in the large cozy fireplace (not pictured). Illuminated bookshelves create a soft ambiance.
Sometimes, more is more. Damask wallpaper provides an intricate backdrop for layers of curated finds, from sculptures to masks and eclectic artwork.
This quiet corner of a cottage library is ideal for taking business calls, even if you’re miles away from the city. Since cell service can be spotty in the area, the homeowners added an old telephone for function and old-fashioned style. Plus, a framed, 1920s-era men’s bathing suit brings home the vintage theme.
In this colorful condo‘s den, wood panelling on the walls and luxurious purple drapery create a cocooning effect for catching up on some reading. To keep the space from skewing too traditional, old armchairs were updated with graphic fabric.
Two office spaces are better than one! “Even though it’s north-facing, the light is incredible,” says designer Christine Johnson of the seating area. “It’s bright and cheery every day.”
Need to hop on a few Zoom calls while keeping an eye on the kids? Do double duty with a home office and homework room. A giant chalkboard keeps the family on track for their daily activities.
This heritage home office has everything you could need to spark inspiration: stacks of books, stylish stationary, a woven basket to store extra supplies and when the work day is done, some cocktail supplies within easy reach.
“Our old condo dining table is now my desk (far left),” says designer Francesca Albertazzi. “Many people have elements that can be used again.” Built-in cabinets and an inspiring gallery wall make the office space she shares with her husband, Sandy Blair, compact and stylish.
In this charming 550-square-foot Calgary apartment, a handsome desk and budget-friendly Kijiji chair make a comfortable home office in the principal bedroom.
A vintage secretary doubles as a hardworking office space and an artful place to display treasured objets. Plus, pops of kelly green in the chair upholstery and old-fashioned lamps add personality.
Designer Valérie Morisset knows how to create a covetable nook in her compact quarters — all you need is a Tulip chair, a mid-century modern desk and a color-blocked painting (this is one of Valérie’s own pieces).
The abundant natural light in this sunny home office makes it ideal when plugging away at tough tasks in this penthouse. An eclectic gallery wall and black-and-white striped rug for a hit of pattern.
You won’t believe this nook under the stairs used to be a petite powder room, so think outside the box when it comes to situating work spaces. “You couldn’t even stand up in there with the awkward ceiling height,” says designer Kris Hageland, who maximized storage and style with built-ins and a Scandi-style chair.
A hit of cobalt blue velvet on the swivel chair keeps this formal office from skewing too serious.
Green energizes office spaces. In this vibrant Montreal home, a verdant banana leaf-printed wallpaper is transportive, while mid-century modern furniture keeps the space grounded in reality. Plus, sculptural ceramic sconces create symmetry.
In this dreamy Palm Springs home, a guest bedroom is reimagined as a rustic workspace with touches of unfinished wood and wovens.
To free up space for bookshelves and a sink-in seating area, the homeowner’s desk was placed in the center of the room, which allows all eyes to be on the impactful rug and blue Saarinen Executive chair.
This luxurious guest bedroom does double duty as an office thanks to a Murphy bed hidden by custom millwork and gilded accents.
In designer Kelly Anderson’s eco-friendly home, rustic open shelving beautifully displays kitchen essentials and cookbooks, while a vintage-looking chair creates an ideal perch for catching up on emails.
Screenwriter and producer Tassie Cameron turned her shed into a cozy home office. “My shed is fairly rustic; it’s furnished with an old desk from my parents’ farmhouse, and there are some hand-me-downs and sentimental pieces, including candles, books and tchotchkes,” she says.
This innovative office nook used to be a second-floor bedroom, but simple built-ins, an understated filing cabinet and sleek desk chair make this space all business (not leisure).
Yes, you can have a workspace in your living room with a few simple updates. Opt for gilded accents, like this wire chair and vintage-inspired lamp, and invest in an artful desk that is both pretty and practical (we’re looking at you gorgeous, curved legs).
This third-floor alcove — tucked under an angular ceiling — is a cozy space for designer Tatiana Velasevic’s daughter, Gala, to get open her laptop and crack some books. Plus, a textured stool and loveseat amp up the comfort factor.
Personalizing an office space can jump start creativity and inspire problem solving. Floating open shelving creates the perfect place to display homeowner Ken Dobell’s vast collection of literature and knick knacks.
This grand home office beautifully blends old and new with traditional mouldings and an impressive desk, juxtaposed by a pair of modern, Lucite-framed chairs.
“This painted-wood library corner creates a separate, smaller space within a larger room,” says designer James Davie (pictured) of this opulent townhouse. The pale desk pops against the dark, high-gloss walnut flooring, and reading materials are within easy reach on the bookshelves.
Limed oak built-ins and contemporary furniture create a serene sanctuary to make calls, hold meetings (thanks to the extra seating) and finish up on some reading. The shelves are carefully curated so the effect is orderly and soothing.
Designer James M. Davie’s home office is full of whimsical patterns and storybook colors to help cultivate his creativity.
In a family home, having a desk in the main living space means it has to suit the space but also serve the needs of the entire family. This Marcel Breuer desk complements the Le Corbusier leather chairs, tying the whole room together.
Sometimes a home office just needs to be a quiet place to think and write. Here a slim no-frills desk is all that’s needed, while the spectacular floor-to-ceiling window gives an incredible view.
For designer Allison Willson of Sarah Richardson design, her home office is tucked into a corner in the den. A bank of wall units from Ikea provides much-needed storage while keeping things neat and tidy.
In this west coast family home, smart use of space was essential. Tucking the family computer, books and momentos into a corner in the kitchen kept things contained, and when company is over, the distressed sliding door can be moved over to hide it all.
The unusual layout of this house (the kitchen was in the middle of the house and without window) meant that the adjacent home office had to let in some natural light. The solution was this black frame window, which is oh-so-chic right now. To keep things light, a wall of subway tile and light blonde woods were used to complement the dark accents.
Condo living can be a pain when you’ve got support pillars to work around. The homeowner here decided to use the architectural details to her advantage and set up her desk behind the pillar, using it to define the space. The richly hued desk and chairs are a fun contrast to the white walls and floors.
When news of baby number three broke, plans for a self-contained office were scrapped and the office was moved to this ground-floor nook. The bamboo chair works with the warm wood of the family heirloom desk.
In a bedroom alcove, a purpose-built floating desk and offset shelves creates a vignette that is equally practical and attractive.
In this Montreal loft, the office is located right off the main entrance along a wall of the wide hallway — an ingenious use of space. The dark oak stain brings out the warmth and gives it a 1960s vibe.
For busy creatives with a lot of home-office materials — fabrics, electronics or art supplies — a large piece of furniture, like this family-heirloom French Empire armoire, can hide all the clutter and is a smart alternative to built-ins.
The ultimate in smart design, these flip-up desks are perfect for a pair of work-at-home creatives. The tops flip up to reveal a workspace underneath, allowing for post-it notes and inspiration to stay place even when the lid is down at night.
A dark hue on the walls and drapery creates a cocooning effect in this home office, which opens onto the main staircase. The dark colors define the space, making it feel separate from the rest of the house — a must when working from home.
Basement offices don’t have to be drab! A crisp white palette, brightly patterned drapes and pale green trellis patterned carpet liven it up.
With a green sea-foamy color on the walls and white French Country furniture, this home office is dreamy and romantic. A kitchen table can be a stylish alternative to a desk — especially when the design of the room calls for something with character.
This basement office makes use of the naturally darker interior with a black floor and a dramatic red-painted brick wall. The gallery-style hanging of black and white photos combines with the striped rug for a graphic one-two punch.
The desk in this lively family home does double duty on the weekends as both a work desk and a bar for parties. The clean lines of the white desk lends itself easily to both.
Designer Jean Stéphane Beauchamp wanted his office to not only be a haven for industrious behavior but also serve as inspiration for clients when he meets them. The painted brick walls provide the perfect backdrop for his collection of original art and the reupholstered antique chair.
When redesigning her basement home office, designer Sarah Hartill opted to install built-ins for best use of space. She decked it out with wireless speakers and a vintage hand-crank pencil sharpener for a fun vibe.
For the minimalists out there, a deconstructed trestle table and glass top is the ultimate in clean design. A mix of open and closed storage keeps things visually interesting.
In a large open family kitchen, a colorful rug delineates the office space, which is used by one of the homeowners during the day. The natural light from the bay window creates a dreamy spot to work.
A smart trick when faced with tight quarters is using a time-specific room for multiple purposes. In this breakfast area, only in use during meals, a grey-lavender desk fits in nicely and can be used at all other times of the day.
The recessed area around a fireplace surround can be the ideal spot for a small desk. This one was custom built for the space by the homeowners, and is a creative use of dead space. The cupboard and drawers conceal the printer, camera and other gadgets, keeping the main family room clutter-free.
In the home of jewelry designer Maryam Keyhani, a small workspace was created on the third floor (seen here beyond the staircase). The airy glass table and white tuxedo chair keep sightlines open and ensure there’s continuity to the white-on-white scheme.
Fresh flowers and pops of color go a long way in creating a workspace that inspires. A magenta desk lamp and pink glass vase with a bushel of hydrangeas tie in the playful window covering and abstract rug.
In the art studio/home office of artist and textile designer Virginia Johnson, having the ability to let her creative juices flow was essential. A large desk area and plenty of clear storage boxes help keep things open and airy. A simple white wall color lets her designs shine.
A silver 1920s army travel desk adds some polish to the simple white walls in this graphic home office.
These days, thanks to technological advancements, a big desk isn’t always necessary. This kitchen nook is all the space needed for when working on a laptop or tablet. A fun chalkboard wall keeps things family-orientated.
A tucked-away mahogany table with brass legs is just 24″ deep, but pulls out to be 48″ to serve as the home office when needed — the ideal small space solution!
Deep file drawers behind one cabinet door increases the functionality of the space without disrupting the visual flow.