Upgrade Your Home Office With These Brilliant Design Ideas

Just about anyone can benefit from having a functional workspace to tackle their to-do list, make headway on a creative project, or simply catch up on some reading. Luckily, when it comes to home office design schemes, the possibilities are endless. You can transform an unused closet with a few space-saving design tricks or go bold by outfitting an entire room with graphic wallpaper, standout furniture, and colorful accessories.

Whether you love nothing more than rustic decor or prefer a modern aesthetic, look no further than our roundup of 30 brilliant home office ideas. This collection of images is filled with more than enough inspiration to upgrade your own home office with the right color palette, affordable furniture, and decorative accents.

Draw inspiration from Kaitlyn Fast and let an oversized mirror steal the show in your home office. “It reflects all the natural light we have in this room and makes it easy to switch out the decor and flowers as each new season arrives,” she says.

One of the best ways to bring a compact office setup to life is with bold accessories. California-based party stylist Kelsey Klos went with colorful cake stands, rainbow garland, and more to show off her style.

Spruce up an all-white bedroom by weaving a pop of color, like a rich navy, into your closet office setup. Pull the look together with a statement piece of art.

If you're working with a large space, consider incorporating a cozy sofa, as Kari Bancroft, a stay-at-home mom in South Jordan, UT, has done here. It's the perfect spot to step away from your desk, take a call, or catch up on reading.

Lindi Vanderschaaf and her husband, Russel, opted for an unexpected yet functional office setup — a wall next to the stairs on the first floor of their Grande Prairie, Canada, home. The wood desktop and shelving add contrast to the black-and-white color palette.

If you're unable to dedicate an entire room to your office, carve out a space right in your kitchen. That's just what Heather Keeling of Portland, OR, did. She created a cozy, contemporary workspace with baby-blue penny tile and sleek custom shelving.

Baltimore is known for row homes with exposed brick walls, so Megan Leonard of the Our City Nest lifestyle brand chose to make hers the foundation of her office setup. “It provides an instant texture throughout my home that I love to pair with wood accents,” she says of the charming design.

If you've struggled with how to make use of old furniture, this kid's space, designed by Sara Johnston, will inspire you. “We painted two old IKEA dressers with leftover white paint and asked a local lumber provider for the top, which just happened to be shelving cut down to this specific size,” she says.

Looking for an easy way to add a playful touch to your office? Consider chalkboard paint that's ideal for putting your to-do list on full display.

A home office is the perfect place to experiment with different patterns. Choose a few of your favorite prints for pieces like seating and window treatments, but stick to the same color family for a cohesive look.

Don't fret if you're lacking cabinet space. Graphic designer Ashley Smith revamped her compact closet with high shelving that offers just enough room to store books and decorative accents.

If your home office features white walls, introduce color in the form of a desk chair and accessories, like pencil cups, pinboards, and small storage boxes.

Take a cue from Rachel Mae Smith of The Crafted Life blog and mount your desk to the wall. Enhance the low-profile look with a track shelving system and brackets spray-painted in bright hues.

Warm up a neutral home office by styling a bookshelf with wooden accessories, including art and decorative boxes.

Expand your workspace by adding a sleek wooden shelf at eye level. The rest is up to you: Display artwork, or use it as a handy storage spot for gadgets.

RELATED: 18 Desk Organization Ideas That'll Inspire Productivity In Your Office

Keep your desk space clutter-free and store books, paperwork, and storage boxes on wooden shelves.

See more at Keys to Inspiration »

No office in your floor plan? Make your own by removing the doors of an empty closet and turning it into a cozy office space. Decorate it like you would any other room: Add wallpaper, light fixtures, and decorative touches.

Rely on Mother Nature to give your office new life. Scatter succulents and plants — real or fake — on shelves and reap the benefits, especially if you choose air-purifying varieties like spider and snake plants.

Wire shelves and baskets are a simple way to encourage you to keep clutter at bay because, well, you see everything. You can also use 'em to incorporate another color into your space — just add paint.

Covering a wall with plaid fabric (or any patterned fabric, for that matter) is a clever way to personalize your space. Plus, if you stick thin cork squares behind select areas of the wall, you can pin photos, prints, and notes straight to it.

Modernize your office space by incorporating an assortment of gold, silver, and rose gold accent pieces (think: lamps, trash bins, and plant misters).

Timeless design aside, this clear acrylic chair, commonly called the "ghost chair," is a modern-day design that opens up even the smallest spaces (and looks ultra-chic while doing so).

To mix warm and cool tones, pair a minimalistic white desk with a contrasting antique chair. Decorate with baskets, paintings, or accessories that combine the two colors.

RELATED: What Is Minimalist Living? Here's How to Start Living With Less, According to Experts

Prioritize functionality by covering an entire wall in cork square panels. Then pin calendars, to-do lists, and bucket list-worthy photos straight to it.

Give your home office some Scandinavian-inspired flair by keeping your space light, airy, and minimalistic. Adding one colored piece — a bright orange desk chair, for example — makes a statement.

Part office, part art gallery: Surround your desk with inspiring prints and artwork, complete with mismatched frames.

Give yourself plenty of room to craft, write, and work by building a butcher desk that fits an entire wall's length.

See more at Beneath My Heart »

If you're short on space, stick a console table against a blank wall for a makeshift office. Hang a framed bulletin board directly above the workspace for added inspiration.

Give the room a warm and inviting feel by painting one of the walls a rich hue like hunter green, navy, or whichever color best matches your accessories.

See more at The Faux Martha »

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Even if you opt for a muted paint, infuse color into your space with a patterned rug and coordinating drapery. Then dress up the room with decorative accents in the same hue.