7 Ideas From the Most Popular Home Office Photos So Far in 2021
Get inspiration for shared office setups, multifunctional rooms and turning wasted areas into hardworking spaces
Becky Harris
March 31, 2021
Houzz Contributor. Hi there! I live in a 1940s cottage in Atlanta that I'll describe as "collected."
I got into design via Landscape Architecture, which I studied at the University of Virginia.
Houzz Contributor. Hi there! I live in a 1940s cottage in Atlanta that I'll describe... More
This Trending Now story features the most-saved home office photos uploaded to Houzz since Jan. 1, 2021.
An office area has long been essential to any home. It’s a command center for managing schedules, checking email (and regular mail) and catching up on work. And for many people, working from home has become the rule rather than the exception, making these spaces more important than ever. If you’re looking for inspiration for your own setup, consider the following ideas collected from the most-saved home office photos on Houzz so far in 2021.
An office area has long been essential to any home. It’s a command center for managing schedules, checking email (and regular mail) and catching up on work. And for many people, working from home has become the rule rather than the exception, making these spaces more important than ever. If you’re looking for inspiration for your own setup, consider the following ideas collected from the most-saved home office photos on Houzz so far in 2021.
1. Double or Triple Up
Home office space is precious, so doubling up with another member of the household is often a necessity. And as a plus, it makes it easy to share office equipment and supplies. In this office by Noble Built, a glass door, a window, open shelves and a light color palette make the compact shared office feel more expansive.
Home office space is precious, so doubling up with another member of the household is often a necessity. And as a plus, it makes it easy to share office equipment and supplies. In this office by Noble Built, a glass door, a window, open shelves and a light color palette make the compact shared office feel more expansive.
At this Vermont lake house, the designers at Cultivation Design Build dubbed this special space “The Study Hut.” A long built-in desktop wraps the corner, leaving room for three people to work in a quiet cozy cabin-like space. Casement windows let in natural light and fresh air.
Tip: If you like an uncluttered desktop or don’t have space for a task lamp, consider sconces.
Find a local interior designer
Tip: If you like an uncluttered desktop or don’t have space for a task lamp, consider sconces.
Find a local interior designer
2. Invest in a Good Chair
The right chair is well worth an investment. It will help prevent discomfort and back issues, which in turn will help keep you focused while you work. Office chairs have come a long way in recent years, so if you cringe at the idea of having an institutional-looking chair in your stylish home office, don’t fret. There are plenty of good-looking options out there that provide comfort and style.
The burnt auburn chair in this home office by Sharp and Grey Interiors is a good example.
Tip: Consider reupholstering an ergonomic chair in a new fabric to better fit with your office decor.
Shop for an office chair
The right chair is well worth an investment. It will help prevent discomfort and back issues, which in turn will help keep you focused while you work. Office chairs have come a long way in recent years, so if you cringe at the idea of having an institutional-looking chair in your stylish home office, don’t fret. There are plenty of good-looking options out there that provide comfort and style.
The burnt auburn chair in this home office by Sharp and Grey Interiors is a good example.
Tip: Consider reupholstering an ergonomic chair in a new fabric to better fit with your office decor.
Shop for an office chair
3. Take Advantage of Wasted Space
The architects at Plot Architecture took advantage of a hallway to create this attractive workspace. The cabinets have space for office equipment and supplies, as well as linens for the home. Oak veneers on the desktop and pegboard complement the expansive tree canopy views.
Tip: Most often used above a workbench, and most famously used by Julia Child in her kitchen, pegboard provides versatile ways to hang shelves, utensil bins and other office tools in a workspace.
The architects at Plot Architecture took advantage of a hallway to create this attractive workspace. The cabinets have space for office equipment and supplies, as well as linens for the home. Oak veneers on the desktop and pegboard complement the expansive tree canopy views.
Tip: Most often used above a workbench, and most famously used by Julia Child in her kitchen, pegboard provides versatile ways to hang shelves, utensil bins and other office tools in a workspace.
A slim worktop and shelves takes advantage of this tight corner in a London home by Studio Fabbri. The built-in shelving and desktop in this office corner are composed of light natural wood, and plants add life to the space. The design team also renovated sustainably by reusing the old flooring as the wall cladding and choosing a renewable cork for the flooring.
4. Make It Multifunctional
The pros at Eleven Interiors created a beautiful home office that serves a few purposes. The room feels like an inviting library and the desk doubles as a game table. They also added a daybed to accommodate an overnight guest.
Tip: Use a calming blue in an office to help with relaxation, promote trust and communication and boost productivity.
The pros at Eleven Interiors created a beautiful home office that serves a few purposes. The room feels like an inviting library and the desk doubles as a game table. They also added a daybed to accommodate an overnight guest.
Tip: Use a calming blue in an office to help with relaxation, promote trust and communication and boost productivity.
This home office in Charlotte, North Carolina, serves as a workspace, comfy den and library. In addition to the ergonomic office desk chair, there are comfortable armchairs and a sofa to provide alternative spaces for working.
This handsome home office by Laura Kehoe Design also doubles as a cozy library. Dark blue bookshelves with glass doors and brass light fixtures elevate the look. And a gallery wall of golf-related art provides an attractive background for Zoom meetings.
Tip: Obviously, you should hang artwork and photos that make you happy, but don’t forget the framing, mounting or lighting. An elegant frame set at just the right height and with dedicated accent lighting will take your pieces to a higher design level.
Browse desks in the Houzz Shop
Tip: Obviously, you should hang artwork and photos that make you happy, but don’t forget the framing, mounting or lighting. An elegant frame set at just the right height and with dedicated accent lighting will take your pieces to a higher design level.
Browse desks in the Houzz Shop
5. Take In a View
Microbreaks are short breaks that help maintain energy levels throughout the workday and ward off fatigue. And to avoid strain on your eyes, doctors recommend following the 20-20-20 rule. Look away from your computer screen every 20 minutes, at something at least 20 feet away for 20 seconds.
That’s why it can be a good idea to position your workstation in front of or near a window. In this beautiful office space by yamamar design, windows frame views of San Francisco.
Microbreaks are short breaks that help maintain energy levels throughout the workday and ward off fatigue. And to avoid strain on your eyes, doctors recommend following the 20-20-20 rule. Look away from your computer screen every 20 minutes, at something at least 20 feet away for 20 seconds.
That’s why it can be a good idea to position your workstation in front of or near a window. In this beautiful office space by yamamar design, windows frame views of San Francisco.
This compact office space feels more expansive due to the desk placement under the double windows. The designers at Humphrey Munson outfitted the rest of the room with cabinets that make the most of the space.
6. Create Good Air Quality and Flow
This Austin, Texas, home office by Haven Design and Construction has a desk in front of an operable window that lets in the breeze and a ceiling fan that improves air circulation. You might also want to consider an air purifier and plenty of plants to help create good air quality.
This Austin, Texas, home office by Haven Design and Construction has a desk in front of an operable window that lets in the breeze and a ceiling fan that improves air circulation. You might also want to consider an air purifier and plenty of plants to help create good air quality.
7. Separate Work and Home Life
One of the challenges of working from home is being able to put work away and unwind at the end of the day.
Located in the back corner of a London kitchen, this workspace from Sola Kitchens enjoys natural light and garden views. And when the work is done, it can be closed off to put work out of sight and out of mind.
Tip: Adding lighting underneath a shelf is a good space-saving way to light a shallow workspace like this one.
One of the challenges of working from home is being able to put work away and unwind at the end of the day.
Located in the back corner of a London kitchen, this workspace from Sola Kitchens enjoys natural light and garden views. And when the work is done, it can be closed off to put work out of sight and out of mind.
Tip: Adding lighting underneath a shelf is a good space-saving way to light a shallow workspace like this one.
This stealth office space in a Paris apartment, designed by Demont Reynaud / PPil Agency, opens and closes like a Swiss army knife.
The pros at Dwelling Designs integrated a desk and office storage into a beautifully composed wall of built-ins. The result is a camouflaged workspace free of office clutter.
Tip: When working with a windowless space, consider using sliding glass doors or translucent panel doors so you can share light with an adjacent room.
More on Houzz
Browse home office photos
Hire a local design pro
Shop for home office furniture
Tip: When working with a windowless space, consider using sliding glass doors or translucent panel doors so you can share light with an adjacent room.
More on Houzz
Browse home office photos
Hire a local design pro
Shop for home office furniture
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Thanks Becky Harris for responding to my comment. I hope future articles will show the ways designers are 'hiding' cords, etc. for realism.
These are beautiful, but non-functional home offices. I’d love to see designs with true working-from-home spaces with multiple monitors.
It’s my main floor flex room turn into little fun space / office