27 Fun Home Offices That'll Boost Your Productivity

There's n0 shortage of vintage eye candy in the Jackson, Wyoming, study of Christian Burch and John Frechette, the duo behind local decor and menswear shop Mountain Dandy. The roll-top desk was a hand-me-down from Burch's parents, while the pegboard walls were original to the '50s house.

For our 2019 Whole Home in Nashville, Dani Arps—a go-to office designer for New York startups—created an airy, clutter-free space that lacked one notable feature: a desk. "Most files are stored digitally, so bulky office furniture with tons of storage isn’t necessary," said Arps, who instead opted for a large, streamlined work table from Industry West.

How about a vibrant fuchsia wall instead of that extra cup of coffee? Designer Krsnaa Mehta gave his lackluster home office a surge of energy with jewel tone statement walls, plenty of artwork, and prints throughout.

Tasked with turning a tiny, white-walled bedroom in Bobby Berk's Los Angeles home into a proper home office, creative director Brady Tolbert headed to Craigslist to find the perfect mid-century credenza. It's not just all looks—the cabinet keeps messy papers out of sight.

One way to ensure your office isn't a total snooze? Paint on a few coats of high-gloss paint in a bright shade. "The raspberry shade is exciting but not overwhelming—it’s the perfect hue for a creative space," says Katie Ridder of this study she designed for a Manhattan client.

Photographer Victoria Pearson combined a wooden top from Ikea and a wheeled CB2 base to create her own rolling desk, which allows for an easy change of scenery or workspace rearranging at a moment's notice.

Feeling stressed about work? Try painting your office blue—research shows that the color has a calming effect. In this Connecticut study, designer Brooke Crew used Farrow & Ball's Parma Gray (which, despite its name, is in fact blue).

Warm up an open and airy home office with a fireplace that features an earth-toned facade, like this one in a large space designed by Breegan Jane. The marble introduces sophisticated, formal style to the more casual elements but it also helps to bring the scale of the ceilings down to a more intimate, human scale.

While there may not be room for a whole lot of extras in this tiny NYC abode designed by Shapeless Studio, each nook and cranny is brought to its fullest potential. The architectural quirk becomes a desk, providing a work space or a little vanity station to get ready. The lesson? Convert any free corner or wall available into a home office by installing extra task lighting (preferably attached to the ceiling or wall to keep surface clutter to a minimum) and a low profile floating desk.

If your work space is cool, you may be more inclined to actually use it. A vintage aluminum desk and stool create an industrial vibe in this Colorado cabin's study. Chicken-wire bookcases add a rustic touch to the room.

To really get the most out of every square inch, turn the actual wall into a bulletin board with tackable panels. Tamsin Johnson customized them to fit in the awkward space under the stairs. And speaking of those stairs, how incredible is that whimsical staircase? We love this mix of contemporary design with antiques.

If you can stay organized, this organizational system is for you. Seeing everything means you'll never lose a file or supply. In this Boston brownstone, the kitchen pantry also houses the office, so the shelves serve double-duty.

An architectural alcove is the perfect place to dedicate to your home office. In photographer Bjorn Wallander's New York City apartment, he painted this nook in a soothing deep espresso color but then brightened things up with plenty of artwork and books for inspiration. And don't forget to add speakers (with your housemates's permission, of course).

If you have enough storage in your home office thanks to built-ins or a spacious media cabinet, then choose a desk with less drawers and a sleeker, leaner profile instead of a bulkier alternative. Designer Corey Damen Jenkins mixes colorful abstract art and modern photography with more classic elements, like the antique desk and accessories while the lucite chair provides some contemporary flair.

To totally transport yourself somewhere way more exciting than your work, try an bold pattern, like the black-and-white zebra motif in this Charleston home office. A rattan chandelier adds texture.

Pare way down and keep your aesthetic clean and calming. A simple Swedish desk was placed by a window with a view of the Baltic Sea in a Scandinavian home. It's mostly neutral, but the pops of blue keep the room feeling fresh and invigorating.

If your clutter feeds your creativity, you don't have to get rid of it, you just need to conceal it smartly. In a Birmingham, Alabama office, curtains soften the room and hide everyday office papers and books that are stacked up on the shelves.

Have an extra closet or storage area? Set up a nearby caffeine bar. In the case of this space designed by Marie Flanigan, the desk-side cabinet is stocked with tea supplies. This way, the occupant can actually get some use out of their collected china and reduce their trips back and forth to the kitchen while working.