While practicality should always be the priority #1 when setting up a home office, choosing furniture and decor that you genuinely like looking at (and that won’t clash with the rest of your home) is a very close second.
However, setting up an office that looks just how you want it to is no easy task – especially when the majority of office furniture looks like it’s been built for a corporate environment, rather than our homes.
As such, we’ve pulled together a comprehensive guide, designed to help you translate your favourite interior design styles into a functional home office that you’ll actually like working from. Whether you’re a mid-century modern enthusiast, colour-obsessed stylist, or simply want to bring a trendy scandi aesthetic to your workspace, this is where to find the home office ideas and inspiration you need.
Home office ideas tailored to your design style
Creating the perfect working-from-home set-up means balancing two key criteria: functionality and aesthetics.
If you abandon intentional styling in favour of a purely practical setup, you’ll end up hiding your workspace behind a closed door. Alternatively, if you only prioritise how your office looks, you may end up with an uncomfortable setup that doesn’t truly support the way you work.
Jump to home office ideas for:
So, to help you find pieces that work hard and look great, we’ve rounded up a selection of home office essentials tailored to three popular design styles. However, if your existing interiors don’t align with our core categories, we encourage you to have a browse through anyway – these desks, chairs, and accessories can work well with almost any aesthetic if you style them right!
For a mid-century modern home office:
Mid-century modern has long been a go-to design style for trendy homemakers. Hinging on the use of clean, simple designs, geometric forms, dark woods, and a minimalistic approach to styling, opting for this aesthetic in your home office is a fail-safe option.
To really lean into the corresponding design principles and ensure your workspace is still functional, try pairing a dark wood standing desk (like the Desky Dual Hardwood Sit-Stand Desk) with a bright, blood-orange lamp, Eames-esque chair, and some Bauhaus-inspired artwork. Bonus points if you kit out the desk with a monitor stand, under-desk drawer, and some clever cable management accessories.
Desky Dual Hardwood Sit-Stand Desk
from $1,149 at Desky
Dennis Did It Sunnyboy Lamp
$223 (was $279) at THE ICONIC
Mid-Century Modern Adjustable Office Chair
$105.99 at Amazon
Bauhaus Canvas Wall Art
$22.40 at Amazon
For a bright scandi home office
The ever-popular Scandi aesthetic is perfect for anyone who wants to make their space look bigger, brighter, and more inviting. And with its design principles hinging on simplicity, practicality, and functionality, it’s perfect for the context of a home office.
For a Scandi-inspired workspace, we recommend starting with a comfortable ergonomic chair in light, natural colours: whites, greens, and soft blues are all safe bets. Next, add a space-saving desk – ideally with a light oak or teak wood finish. Finally, track down a simple cordless lamp to create a cosy atmosphere (without the hassle of unsightly wires) and some wall-mounted storage to maximise floor space.
Recess Ergo Chair
$445 at Recess
Desky Dual Mini Sit Stand Desk
From $765 at Desky
Cozey Themis Shelving Unit
$570 at Cozey
Porcini Green Tea Table Light
$119.99 at Adairs
For a colourful home office
If you’re tired of your all-white home office, brightening up the space with a colourful new desk, chair, or rug can make a world of difference. If you nail the palette, that is.
“When choosing a colour palette for your home, try to limit yourself to 2-3 hues. The best combinations are either complimentary (on opposite sides of the colour wheel), triadic (three colours, evenly spaced on the colour wheel), or analogous (directly next to each other on the colour wheel).”
Paris Blanchfield, Shopping Editor
One particular palette we’ve been loving is a simple blush and sage combo; a classic complementary colour scheme. However, if this specific duo isn’t quite your cup of tea, combinations such as berry and ice blue, rust and chartreuse, or chocolate and soft blue look great and make a huge impact, too.
Desky Evoque Low Back Office Chair
$499.99 at Desky
Vassuda Desk
$629 (was $699) at FREEDOM
Desky Oslo Metal Locker Cabinet
$189 (was $249) at Desky
Banksia Blush Washable Wool Knotted Rug
$930 at Double
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