New This Week: 5 Stylish and Functional Home Offices
Designers share how they hide cords, documents and office equipment without compromising on style
A home office shouldn’t look like a corporate cubicle. But unsightly cords, documents and printers often create an unwelcome reminder. Here, designers share a variety of strategies to hide elements that scream “work” while playing up those that emphasize pleasing style and personality.
2. Green and Gorgeous
Designer: Marisa Lafiosca of ML Interior Designs
Location: Summit, New Jersey
Size: 156 square feet (14 square meters); 10 feet by 15 feet, 7 inches
Homeowners’ request. “This was part of a total home renovation,” designer Marisa Lafiosca says. “We added French doors to separate the living room from her office for privacy.”
Special features. Green built-ins and trim (Card Room Green by Farrow & Ball). Patterned wallpaper.
Cord and document control. The built-ins hide file drawers and a printer. Outlets installed inside the built-ins allow the homeowner to keep electronics plugged in. “The client uses a laptop versus a desktop computer to avoid seeing wires at the floating desk,” Lafiosca says.
Designer tip. “We painted all the trim the same color as the built-ins to create a cohesive design for this small space,” Lafiosca says.
Desk: Belmont, Mr. Brown London
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Designer: Marisa Lafiosca of ML Interior Designs
Location: Summit, New Jersey
Size: 156 square feet (14 square meters); 10 feet by 15 feet, 7 inches
Homeowners’ request. “This was part of a total home renovation,” designer Marisa Lafiosca says. “We added French doors to separate the living room from her office for privacy.”
Special features. Green built-ins and trim (Card Room Green by Farrow & Ball). Patterned wallpaper.
Cord and document control. The built-ins hide file drawers and a printer. Outlets installed inside the built-ins allow the homeowner to keep electronics plugged in. “The client uses a laptop versus a desktop computer to avoid seeing wires at the floating desk,” Lafiosca says.
Designer tip. “We painted all the trim the same color as the built-ins to create a cohesive design for this small space,” Lafiosca says.
Desk: Belmont, Mr. Brown London
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3. Moody and Modern
Designer: Bonnie Kespohl of Kasa Interior Design
Location: Edina, Minnesota
Size: 204 square feet (19 square meters); 12 by 17 feet
Homeowners’ request. “This is my personal home and this is my husband’s office space,” designer Bonnie Kespohl says. “While the existing dark oak wainscoting was in mint condition, the overall space felt heavy and dated.”
Special features. “He wanted to lighten up the space, which was accomplished through adding another window, adding recessed lights overhead [digitally removed by the photographer], replacing the existing built-in with an updated built-in painted in Benjamin Moore’s Blue Note, and lightening up the carpet,” Kespohl says. “We also refinished his existing maple desk and added new white powder-coated legs for a fresh look.
“We removed a portion of the existing wood wainscot in the window bump-out to the left of the desk and instead treated the opening with flat paneling enameled in Benjamin Moore’s Blue Note to match the new built-in. This helped to mix in a modern nod to go with the rest of the renovated home but still played nicely with the existing wainscoting.”
Cord and document control. “We have one visible cord from the monitor [not shown] to the wall, as a floor outlet wasn’t viable for this renovation,” Kespohl says. “We have a grommet on the built-in credenza so charging cords can plug in behind the file drawers below. The base of the credenza is fitted with three shallow top drawers for office supplies and personal effects, while the three deeper base drawers are sized appropriately for filing documents. The space also has a closet so residual items can be stored away out of sight.”
Designer tip. “Try to reimagine existing elements with just slight changes and add-ins,” Kespohl says. “Originally we had discussed removing the existing wood wainscoting. However, I loved it and it was in excellent condition, so we had to try to save it. It’s a beautiful feature of the original home, and we were able to modernize the office space and lighten it up, all while keeping the wood in play.”
Sconce: Lani in aged brass, Mitzi; carpet: Traverse in Chambray, Nourison
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Designer: Bonnie Kespohl of Kasa Interior Design
Location: Edina, Minnesota
Size: 204 square feet (19 square meters); 12 by 17 feet
Homeowners’ request. “This is my personal home and this is my husband’s office space,” designer Bonnie Kespohl says. “While the existing dark oak wainscoting was in mint condition, the overall space felt heavy and dated.”
Special features. “He wanted to lighten up the space, which was accomplished through adding another window, adding recessed lights overhead [digitally removed by the photographer], replacing the existing built-in with an updated built-in painted in Benjamin Moore’s Blue Note, and lightening up the carpet,” Kespohl says. “We also refinished his existing maple desk and added new white powder-coated legs for a fresh look.
“We removed a portion of the existing wood wainscot in the window bump-out to the left of the desk and instead treated the opening with flat paneling enameled in Benjamin Moore’s Blue Note to match the new built-in. This helped to mix in a modern nod to go with the rest of the renovated home but still played nicely with the existing wainscoting.”
Cord and document control. “We have one visible cord from the monitor [not shown] to the wall, as a floor outlet wasn’t viable for this renovation,” Kespohl says. “We have a grommet on the built-in credenza so charging cords can plug in behind the file drawers below. The base of the credenza is fitted with three shallow top drawers for office supplies and personal effects, while the three deeper base drawers are sized appropriately for filing documents. The space also has a closet so residual items can be stored away out of sight.”
Designer tip. “Try to reimagine existing elements with just slight changes and add-ins,” Kespohl says. “Originally we had discussed removing the existing wood wainscoting. However, I loved it and it was in excellent condition, so we had to try to save it. It’s a beautiful feature of the original home, and we were able to modernize the office space and lighten it up, all while keeping the wood in play.”
Sconce: Lani in aged brass, Mitzi; carpet: Traverse in Chambray, Nourison
Trending Now: 10 Popular New Home Offices
4. Open and Opulent
Designer: Stephanie Larsen Interior Design and Associates
Location: Phoenix
Homeowners’ request. “This office was part of a complete home renovation, and the client’s vision was to create a space that felt modern and open, in keeping with the rest of their newly updated home,” designer Stephanie Larsen says.
Special features. “We placed a glass desk in the middle of the room, which offered a sense of unobstructed continuation in the space, and installed LED-lit floating shelves along the rear wall, creating a backdrop for added personal touches,” Larsen says. “The client’s love for aviation also played a role in the room’s overall theme and can be seen through accent pieces like the tailpipe of an airplane, aviation-themed books and other accessories. Bringing a sense of texture and depth to the room, the floating shelves were then backed by the Alchemy: Dove wallcovering from Holly Hunt. This innovative wallcovering adds a modern, organic flair to the space with hand-applied hardwood strips placed at distinct angles on a metallic foil underlay to create a dimensional trellis pattern.”
The cabinets are painted Web Gray by Sherwin-Williams. The countertop is Vega Blue quartzite.
Cord and document control. “We opted for a completely wireless tech setup in the office to avoid the use of cords,” Larsen says. “Cabinetry, located along the room’s rear wall, provides ample storage for office supplies and other documents, keeping the room visually and physically uncluttered.”
Designer tip. “A floating glass desk or table in the middle of a room can help a space feel more open and expansive,” Larsen says. “By avoiding breaking up the visual flow of a room, you give the illusion of continuous, uninterrupted space. Plus, glass has a lighter visual weight than materials like metal or wood and naturally reflects light, bringing a luminosity that helps a room feel bright and airy. It’s a great choice to avoid overcrowding in home offices with a free-flowing layout.”
“Uh-oh” moment. “We opted to paint the existing cabinets in the office space rather than replace them, and because of this, we had existing hardware holes to cover,” Larsen says. “We didn’t like the spacing of the holes, so we had to find a solution that let us adjust the spacing while still covering the holes from the previous hardware. Fortunately, we were able to source the Analemma bar hardware from MYOH and use a backplate to cover the existing holes, allowing us to go longer than the previous spread without having to create new inserts.”
Desk: Fiandre table with silver metal base and Velvet Blanc opaque glass top by Bontempi Casa, Alexander Sinclair Design Showroom; wall paint: Origami White, Sherwin-Williams
How to Set Up Your Home Office on Nearly Any Budget
Designer: Stephanie Larsen Interior Design and Associates
Location: Phoenix
Homeowners’ request. “This office was part of a complete home renovation, and the client’s vision was to create a space that felt modern and open, in keeping with the rest of their newly updated home,” designer Stephanie Larsen says.
Special features. “We placed a glass desk in the middle of the room, which offered a sense of unobstructed continuation in the space, and installed LED-lit floating shelves along the rear wall, creating a backdrop for added personal touches,” Larsen says. “The client’s love for aviation also played a role in the room’s overall theme and can be seen through accent pieces like the tailpipe of an airplane, aviation-themed books and other accessories. Bringing a sense of texture and depth to the room, the floating shelves were then backed by the Alchemy: Dove wallcovering from Holly Hunt. This innovative wallcovering adds a modern, organic flair to the space with hand-applied hardwood strips placed at distinct angles on a metallic foil underlay to create a dimensional trellis pattern.”
The cabinets are painted Web Gray by Sherwin-Williams. The countertop is Vega Blue quartzite.
Cord and document control. “We opted for a completely wireless tech setup in the office to avoid the use of cords,” Larsen says. “Cabinetry, located along the room’s rear wall, provides ample storage for office supplies and other documents, keeping the room visually and physically uncluttered.”
Designer tip. “A floating glass desk or table in the middle of a room can help a space feel more open and expansive,” Larsen says. “By avoiding breaking up the visual flow of a room, you give the illusion of continuous, uninterrupted space. Plus, glass has a lighter visual weight than materials like metal or wood and naturally reflects light, bringing a luminosity that helps a room feel bright and airy. It’s a great choice to avoid overcrowding in home offices with a free-flowing layout.”
“Uh-oh” moment. “We opted to paint the existing cabinets in the office space rather than replace them, and because of this, we had existing hardware holes to cover,” Larsen says. “We didn’t like the spacing of the holes, so we had to find a solution that let us adjust the spacing while still covering the holes from the previous hardware. Fortunately, we were able to source the Analemma bar hardware from MYOH and use a backplate to cover the existing holes, allowing us to go longer than the previous spread without having to create new inserts.”
Desk: Fiandre table with silver metal base and Velvet Blanc opaque glass top by Bontempi Casa, Alexander Sinclair Design Showroom; wall paint: Origami White, Sherwin-Williams
How to Set Up Your Home Office on Nearly Any Budget
5. White, Wood and ‘Wow’
Designer: Melissa Powell of Design Shop Home & Interiors
Design-build firm: New Leaf Custom Homes
Location: Dallas
Size: 167 square feet (16 square meters); 12 feet, 3 inches by 13 feet, 8 inches
Homeowners’ request. “The homeowner envisioned a stylish yet functional office that blended unique design elements with practicality,” designer Melissa Powell says.
Special features. Built-ins with stained white oak cubbies and white push-latch doors (Pure White by Sherwin-Williams). Dropped ceiling with LED cove lighting. “The overall goal was to create a modern yet warm theme that would foster creativity and productivity while providing ample storage for documents, supplies and personal items,” Powell says. “We reached this goal by designing custom built-in shelving that would maximize vertical storage while providing a stylish way to display books and decorative items, incorporating stained wood to add some contrast, and implementing a mix of ambient and task lighting that would brighten the space and create a welcoming atmosphere, making it more conducive to work.”
Cord and document control. “We utilized clever design strategies such as concealed cable management systems within the built-ins to hide cords, along with designated sections for printers and filing systems to prevent visual and physical clutter,” Powell says.
Designer tip. “A great design trick we recommend is incorporating multifunctional furniture that not only serves a purpose but also adds visual interest to the space,” Powell says. “For example, using decorative storage boxes that blend with the decor can keep essentials organized without sacrificing style.”
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Designer: Melissa Powell of Design Shop Home & Interiors
Design-build firm: New Leaf Custom Homes
Location: Dallas
Size: 167 square feet (16 square meters); 12 feet, 3 inches by 13 feet, 8 inches
Homeowners’ request. “The homeowner envisioned a stylish yet functional office that blended unique design elements with practicality,” designer Melissa Powell says.
Special features. Built-ins with stained white oak cubbies and white push-latch doors (Pure White by Sherwin-Williams). Dropped ceiling with LED cove lighting. “The overall goal was to create a modern yet warm theme that would foster creativity and productivity while providing ample storage for documents, supplies and personal items,” Powell says. “We reached this goal by designing custom built-in shelving that would maximize vertical storage while providing a stylish way to display books and decorative items, incorporating stained wood to add some contrast, and implementing a mix of ambient and task lighting that would brighten the space and create a welcoming atmosphere, making it more conducive to work.”
Cord and document control. “We utilized clever design strategies such as concealed cable management systems within the built-ins to hide cords, along with designated sections for printers and filing systems to prevent visual and physical clutter,” Powell says.
Designer tip. “A great design trick we recommend is incorporating multifunctional furniture that not only serves a purpose but also adds visual interest to the space,” Powell says. “For example, using decorative storage boxes that blend with the decor can keep essentials organized without sacrificing style.”
More on Houzz
Read more home office stories
Browse home office photos
Find a pro for your project
Shop for products on Houzz
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Designer: Allie Mann of Case Architects & Remodelers
Location: Falls Church, Virginia
Size: 260 square feet (24 square meters); 13 by 20 feet
Homeowners’ request. “The homeowner had an open loft area with railing to the foyer below,” says designer Allie Mann of Case Architects & Remodelers. “This open loft didn’t serve the best purpose for the family, so we removed the railing, closed up a wall and created a cozy home office space.”
Special features. Blue built-in cabinets, window seat and desk with a walnut top and ample bookcase storage. “The space hosts great views for many Zoom meetings,” Mann says. The flooring is wood-look luxury vinyl planks.
Cord and document control. “One of the base cabinets is the designated printer cabinet that also has the routed wiring,” Mann says.
Designer tip. “We incorporated reeded fillers to hide the seams of the wall cabinetry,” Mann says.
“Uh-oh” moment. “There was a moment in production where the homeowner wanted to add another 60 inches of cabinetry and make dual workstations,” Mann says. “We had originally toyed with a similar idea during our design phase though ultimately abandoned it for one larger workstation. After careful consideration in the middle of production, we revisited briefly and we determined that we should stick with the one workstation application.”
Cabinets: Baltic Blue, Crystal Cabinets; wall paint: Mascarpone, Benjamin Moore
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