41 hardworking home offices that don’t scrimp on style

Inspiring ideas for productive home offices

A home office needs to keep you motivated. With the number of freelancers and remote workers sharply on the rise, many of us are swapping the daily commute for 'home sweet home', transforming spare bedrooms, vacant corners and attics into makeshift offices. For an efficient workstation, it's important to balance your preferred style, with practical storage and comfort, where you'll be able to knuckle down during the working week.

Read on and get ready to whip your workspace into shape with these inspiring home office ideas for a productive setup...

Put up panels

Lavish a home office wall with colour and texture by mounting wood panels. No longer reserved for period properties shiplap, strip wood or wainscotting walls can add a cosy and natural character to a box room or plain space.

This gorgeous green feature wall with vertical panels transforms this home office into a timeless garden-inspired room. A single shelf painted the same shade of jade adds to the horticultural ambience and the rich mahogany-toned dining table adds to the earthy elegance.

Warm with neutral shades

Give a small office space an inviting and homely feel by choosing warm neutral decorating tones. Cream and caramel-coloured walls create a cocooning ambience that will encourage calm even under work pressure.

Striped almond-toned blinds soften the black-framed windows in this tiny but well-turned-out study nook.

Inject colour and pattern with blinds

Who says a home office can't be striking and fun? To create an uplifting space you'll want to work in, choose some invigorating, translucent blinds: not only will they block out the sun on bright days but they'll also add colour and character to your workstation.

If choosing a striking and colourful pattern ensure the backdrop is a calming one otherwise you risk overloading the senses.

Utilise an alcove

Just because you don't have a spare room available doesn't mean you can't have a home office.

This clever open and closed storage shelf doubles as a home office desk. When the chair is removed, it looks like any other storage shelf nestled within the alcove – genius! You can also assemble this unit to step to either the left or right, meaning you don't have to worry about the design only being suitable for one area or alcove.

Use warm shades for a holiday-inspired office

If saving up for your next holiday is your motivation to get the job done, spruce up your home office with exotic vacation vibes.

Choose a warm sunny wall colour and set your desk on a colourful rug enhanced with global-style patterns that elevate the look.

Rock a mid-century vibe

Pair function with sophistication by choosing a desk that could be featured on the Manhattan set of Mad Men.

A deep blue backdrop allows the warm tones of this sleek double-drawer desk and leather office chair to become the refined focal point of the room.

Make the most of a low budget

Achieve a 'Pinterest-pretty' home office even on a low budget. Pick a corner and give it a smart paint effect with low-cost paint. Mount a simple floating shelf, slot in a basic table and folding chair.

Then bring in a little character with a wall-mounted lamp, plants and framed pictures. Look around the house for existing accessories; a plain white mug is ideal for storing pens and pencils. Space savvy tip: why not mount two hooks on the wall to store the fold-up chair on when not in use?

Paint an arch

Make a feature of your home office with an inspiring paint effect. Curves and arches look super chic, and so this is an ideal budget-friendly statement to make your study stylish and contemporary with just a weekend project.

Fake the architectural interest by measuring either side of your chosen desk. Measure the midpoint and draw a pencil line arch using a pencil tied to a string attached to a drawing pin or nail. Fill in inside the pencil frame with a bold paint colour of your choice. A luxury Eames-style office chair will complete the grand gesture and anchor the zoned space.

Experiment with angles

Get creative and reposition your desk to make it the focal point of your room. Positioned at a jaunty angle, this warm wood desk is placed perfectly to make the most of the light and views from the window in front.

A matching tall chest of drawers pulls the room together.

Fill it with maximal pattern

Home offices needn't be dull, neutral rooms. Instead, inject plenty of personality into your scheme by saturating the space with clashing patterns, interesting art and fixed finishes.

Busy wallpaper, well-dressed windows and statement furniture will keep energy in the room flowing – the more the merrier!

Install bespoke furniture

Make use of every inch of space in your home office by installing beautiful fitted cabinetry that's tailored to your needs. These sophisticated stone grey units are calming yet professional.

Wraparound cupboards create plenty of worktop space and glass-fronted shelving keeps the room feeling spacious and airy.

Declutter regularly

Don’t get distracted by too much stuff on your desk: declutter your home office by shredding out-of-date papers and tidying items away into boxes. Put everything from pens and sticky notes to plugs and papers in neat storage containers and files that are easy to access but tucked out of sight. Keep wires in handy charging stations rather than letting them stray across your valuable desk space.

A clutter-free desk not only looks smart and organised but allows soothing sage-toned mural wallpaper embellished with gold to truly shine.

Mount a gallery wall

Family photographs on office desks can add a personal touch to your home office, but they can clutter up valuable surfaces. Instead, create a gorgeous gallery wall to free up space and impart plenty of character.

Paired with matching frames and typographic art, this design is the perfect fusion of style and inspiration. A handy calendar displayed in the same style adds a harmonious and administrative bonus.

Have fun with a feature wall

If you can’t work facing a window, transform the wall into a view worth staring at.

A few rolls of decorative wallpaper or an interesting 3D wall mural will pep up a lacklustre space and help zone your working area from the rest of the room. This beautiful floral wallpaper is described as "comforting but clean. Bold in both colour and composition, the design is a great way to liven up a space", and we agree.

Illuminate with extra lighting

Most offices have a desk lamp, but additional lighting to brighten your home is also important to prevent a workspace from feeling dark and dingy.

A pendant shade, wall-mounted light or floor lamp will add the extra illumination you need, plus it will help you avoid straining your eyes during darker days and late nights.

Bring in a bureau

If you don’t have an entire room that can be dedicated to your home office, don’t despair: a bureau placed in a corridor, in the corner of a bedroom or against a vacant wall in the kitchen can be a great compromise.

Functioning as a cupboard on non-working days or as a small desk when you need it, a handy fold-down bureau is a home office solution that appears and disappears just when you want it to.

Keep glare at bay

Get the perfect balance between light and glare in your home office with the help of a practical window dressing.

An opaque roller or pleated blind will allow you to filter natural light in your work zone perfectly, so you won't be left sitting in a dingy space when you need to deflect glare from your computer screen. This honeycomb structured blind helps keep a comfortable room temperature and can be operated with electric and smart options so there is no need to get up from your desk when you need to reduce glare but are in full work mode.

Squeeze in a sofa

If you have enough space in your home office, create a relaxation area complete with a cosy sofa or armchair where you can kick back and relax when you have a spare moment. Add throws, cushions, lamps and a stack of magazines to complete the look.

Alternatively, this also works if your desk space is located in the living room. Incorporate the desk into the room scheme by choosing seating in matching tones.

Create a light and bright scene

A pale backdrop will make a small work space feel lighter and brighter. Here, an exposed brick wall has been whitewashed to give the white canvas an extra dimension of texture.

Place the desk by a large window to optimise light. Pair with earthy-toned furniture and lamps that will add a warming touch against the background creating a balance between work and comfort.

Opt for bright and breezy colours

Give your open-plan home office a sense of purpose by placing a desk, chair and shelves within an alcove. Choose happy-go-lucky, dopamine-inducing colours such as yellow and pink for an upbeat and harmonious vibe.

This arched alcove has been zoned using a vibrant yellow tone. Matching shelves create an integrated effect that's colour-drenched in sunshine.

Embrace industrial style

Instead of hiding your paperwork away, keep it on display with industrial-style wall-mounted shelves that will add a touch of factory-floor charm to any room.

Pair with a rustic-look desk metal and comfortable leather (or faux) chair to complete the nostalgic and gritty look.

Boost creativity with blue

If you're not afraid of bold colours, experiment with a vibrant and bold hue. Vivid inky walls will invigorate your workstation and add a touch of drama.

A black desk will blend into the smart scheme while primary-coloured stationery and storage boxes will jump out of the backdrop and offset the rich tone.

Carve out a corner office

Even if you only have a small space to work with, a triangle-shaped desk will help utilise an empty corner perfectly. Add tabletop cupboards or shelving to extend your workspace and storage upwards and opt for multitasking units packed with cupboards and drawers to maximise storage.

For a sophisticated look that means business opt for tonal shades of grey and warm the look with natural wood.

Surround yourself with greenery

Plenty of foliage and greenery can create a relaxing, tranquil environment to help reduce stress while you work.

Bring the outside in with an array of low-maintenance hardy houseplants, from small desk succulents to hanging foliage in macrame planters and larger plants at floor level.

Take it two-tone

Shake up your scheme by decorating your office walls in two contrasting colours for a quirky, yet coordinated feel.

This classic wooden desk stands out against the rich forest-green hue that warms the workspace – we especially love how the chalky white country-style cladding of the upper walls sits beautifully with the traditional-style panels below.

Keep it current

Elevate your desk space with a modern and fresh look that doesn't feel all work, work, work.

A green, pink and warming neutral colour scheme, iconic-style desk lamp and contemporary artwork is all that is needed to add a creative touch to keep productivity flowing.

Admire the view

Make the most of the natural light in your space and position your desk close to the window.

If your view is over a street or thoroughfare, place your desk perpendicular to the window to benefit from the light without giving yourself a reason to get sidetracked.

Choose a cottage look

Pretty wallpaper and a granny-chic-style cushion will add a touch of country nostalgia to your workspace, while a sturdy wooden desk and chair is timeless and classic.

Enhance the cottagecore vibe with the scent of fresh flowers. You could opt for strong-scented blooms to stimulate the senses such as freesias and peonies, or more subtle foliage such as forget-me-nots or foxgloves to add a burst of colour.

Take storage to new heights

If you haven’t got lots of desk space, don’t forget to make use of the walls. Look for versatile open storage that can fit above your desk to extend your work area.

This storage system is super stylish and minimalistic with white wire racks that blend beautifully into the background.

Accessorise with artwork

Frame a couple of your favourite pictures and either hang them on the wall or prop them on your desk for a lovely decorative touch that inspires.

Too many pictures could clutter the space, but a few carefully selected prints or photos will add character to your desk without being overbearing or distracting.

Head to the garden

If you work from home full time and space is sparse, it may be worth considering converting the garage or building a garden room to use as an office.

The options are endless: you could convert an existing shed for a budget-friendly quick solution, build a summer house with light-drenching French doors for a wow factor or take an out-of-the-ordinary approach with a glamping pod studio. Whichever design you choose, an outdoor office will add extra footage, increase the value of your home and create plenty of peace and quiet.

Convert the attic

An attic or loft conversion can create the perfect private home office for you to work in peace.

Make use of space in the eaves with fitted shelving to fit the slope of the roof and install skylights to bring in plenty of natural light. Finish the seamless style with warming authentic wood-style flooring using extra-long planks.

Bring in storage baskets

If you don’t have very much space for shelving, storage drawers or filing cabinets, it doesn’t mean you have to pile up all your files on the desk.

Whatever your line of work, whether you need to hoard magazines, store folders or keep sheets of paper in order, bring in stylish storage baskets for a pretty, portable method of storage that can tuck neatly under your desk.

Style it Scandi

Embrace cool, calming hues with a Scandi-style scheme. This home office provides a peaceful place to get down to work thanks to the neutral backdrop, light wood furniture and natural accessories.

To amplify the feeling of spaciousness, ensure the scheme is kept ultra-organised and clutter-free.

Paint a noticeboard

Hanging a large noticeboard is a great way to keep organised during the working week. You can use it to pin up all manner of memos, reminders, pictures and postcards to inspire and uplift your workspace. Pantone cards from paint shops make attractive alternatives to sticky notes too.

Or, give your whole wall intention by painting a striking triangle or square shape as a paint decorating effect that works as an oversized noticeboard.

Co-work in style

If a number of people in your household work from home, transform a little-used space such as the dining room into a productive co-working space during the week.

This smart neutral and blue scheme looks ultra stylish set against one panelled wall leaving plenty of central space when a dining table needs to be moved into place.

Zone a vacant wall

If space is at a premium, look to a vacant wall to anchor your workstation – it could be in an existing living space or part of a wide corridor or landing.

For a streamlined setup, go for a sleek desk and narrow storage shelves. Invest in colourful storage boxes to tuck stationery and paperwork out of sight. This tall desk is highlighted with a painted wooden panel backdrop.

Mount a desk shelf

Desks take up plenty of room, so if you're tight on square footage try a wall-mounted desk shelf instead.

With no table legs to worry about, this nifty design frees up valuable floor space while still offering plenty of surface space above thanks to the handy 'L' shaped design – the perfect tiny living hack for homeworkers.

Invest in top-notch seating

Add a luxurious feel to your office space by pairing your desk with a plush iconic-style chair.

While comfort and the correct seating position should always be your top priority, a cosy, luxe seat, like an Eames chair, can do your body good while looking beautiful too, so it's worth the investment.

Upcycle flatpack furniture

Looking for a budget-friendly and unique home office idea? This beautiful bespoke desk started life as two METOD cabinets bridged with a piece of melamine wood cut to size.

Esther of @prettylittleterrace created this genius IKEA hack using the whole length of the wall and painted it a lovely green shade to increase the sense of space.

Use peg rails and racks

Make the humble peg rail your home-working best friend. The low-key and versatile storage option is inexpensive, and unfussy yet keeps you really tidy and organised.

We love how Sarah of @swallows_in_the_window has created her own version of a peg AKA hook rail using The IKEA BEKVÄM spice rack mounted upside down.