The desk is where all the magic happens. Whether you catch up on work at home or need a convenient place to study, it's nice to have flexibility when it comes to office design. The ideal workspace will feel comfortable and functional while meeting individual productivity preferences and stylistic tastes. Everybody has different needs: some prefer the familiarity of sentimental decorations and others look to eliminate distraction at every turn, some require a little creative chaos while others place organization as a first priority. This post examines a delightful variety of inspirational workspaces you can adapt at home or at the office.
While some people need neutral offices for concentration purposes, others prefer having some color and character around to energize their work. This office turns even the most ubiquitous details like shelf brackets and lamp cords into something inspiring with just a simple splash of yellow.
This sleek office maintains a more traditional theme, but includes plenty of modernistic influence as well. You'll notice the classic tube framed chair and the vintage-inspired bank of drawers to the right.
A no-nonsense approach can make sense for open plan offices, but this desk and chair combination would look just as good at home – it has a smart minimalistic appeal, with its subtle black edges creating just the right amount of contrast to help it stand out. The computer chair in use here is the Eames Group Management Computer Chair. They could do with a cool headphone stand though.
Of course, within the privacy of your own home, an office can be whatever or wherever you want. This compact home office occupies a convenient niche in the living room where it's easier to keep an eye on the kids.
Or if a grand office is more your style, you could take inspiration from this sprawling workspace. The desk stretches behind the full length of the sofa, with a stunning functional and decorative bookcase occupying most of the luxurious striped wall.
Chic and simple, this clean home office look is perfect for the bedroom. Crisp white accents offer a modernistic aesthetic while the dark wood finish maintains a touch of classic formality. The dark swivel chair adds contrast to the setup.
Artistic and quite edgy! This black and white office centers on a small but smartly arranged modular desk system paired with a provocative interpretation of the famous Panton Chair.
Technically part of the living room, this workspace remains aesthetically distinct thanks to the distressed exposed brick and tile floors in contrast to the traditional stylings of the rest of the space. The seat is from the Chair One collection by Magis.
Check out this cool desk idea! With the matching shelves above and the white panel behind, it looks like an updated take on the classic secretary desk style, yet modernized and streamlined for maximum space efficiency.
The photo of Audrey Hepburn on the desk says it all – this cute workspace embodies a fresh and cheerful approach to work or study. And just look at all that storage!
Stylish yet welcoming, this office utilizes neutral and organic tones to create a focused atmosphere. It packs tons of character into details like the shelf hardware made of repurposed pipes and the fabulously quirky adjustable lamp made from wood.
No-frills furniture offers plenty of storage and a convenient L-shaped modern home office desk ideal for people who like to spread out their reference materials while working. The lamp is the iconic Jieldé design looking just as fresh today as it did when conceptualized in 1950.
Vintage aviation themes meet minimalistic decor in this black and white office. The concrete and chrome details add an industrial attitude very well suited to the theme. The wire-frame chair is the work of furniture designer Alfredo Häberli.
This desk is stunning! It takes center stage in an otherwise simple home office space, its bulky a-frame legs cutting a striking contrast with the smooth white work surface. Substantial desks like these are sure to many anyone look extra productive by association.
Here's another amazing Jieldé lamp, this time in the tall floor style. Whether browsing magazines late at night or working on a project until dawn, this thing can easily reach to illuminate the task at hand. Plus, it makes a great focal point for this otherwise minimalistic office.
Concrete and white accents team up to give this office a serious yet chic aesthetic. The transparent acrylic chair helps prevent the compact space from feeling too cramped, and it does its job quite well.
If you're looking for office ideas inspired by minimalist composition, this workspace demonstrates several useful principals. Notice that it's not entirely bare to avoid the impracticality and impersonal feeling that sometimes goes along with ultra-refined themes. Instead, this space keeps its necessities simple and even includes a potted plant and a framed photo to boost the mood over a long workday.
Bedroom offices are a necessity for many, sometimes employed as a solution to cluttered living rooms and sometimes for the simple sake of privacy in a family home. This one doesn't feel like a compromise at all, especially considering the fantastic view.
Classy and classic – this workspace seems conceptualized to suit the needs of an artist or an architect. Rather than pushing the table against a wall, this one faces in toward the open room. This arrangement allows the eye to wander for inspiration and leaves plenty of room to study models or references.
And finally, let's leave off with something fun. The geometric Chair One makes such a wonderfully dramatic pairing with the striped rug. While many designers try to make these miniature offices blend into the background, this designer embraced the arrangement with a bold theme. The shabby chic trash bag is also an interesting touch.
Metallic accents can add a hint of lux to the space. Check out our copper table lamp post for some beautiful pieces.
