10 Hard-Working Home Offices

Multitasking Home Office

Perfect Perch

With its ample natural light and pleasant views, this office in the Southern Living West Bay Idea House feels like a spacious tree house perched high in the woods. Though it's small (measuring only 7'11" x 5'2"), the office holds two work surfaces and has space for a laptop, fax machine, and files. Its glass walls also bring light to the windowless dining room. The dining room table can serve as an additional work area when needed.

Movin' on Up

The intersection between the sharply pitched ceiling and the low wall of this Sunset attic provides a perfect spot for a long built-in desk that can also function as a craft center. Large, operable skylights that double as windows fill the area with natural light, making it perfect for doing detailed work.

Mirror Image

Deep tan walls and dark brown moldings make for a more masculine feel in this study from Coastal Living. Four mirrors hung on the wall give the illusion of a larger space.

Soothing Space

In this home office from Cooking Light, spacious work surfaces, abundant natural light, a ceiling fan, and a fireplace yield a comfortable, user-friendly workspace that makes a compelling argument for telecommuting.

An Organized Haven

This office, tucked between an entryway and the dining room at the Southern Living Brookfield Idea House, is really an organizational nook that can be adapted for multiple uses. Because of its location, the room is convenient for paying bills, working on projects, or making important phone calls. Pegboard cabinets add storage space and organizational finesse to the area, and working hard is easy with the desk positioned in front of large windows that overlook the courtyard. Herringbone-patterned wallpaper adds a subtle, textural look to the walls, while the rust-and-khaki wallcovering adds instant panache to the small space.

Rustic Workspace

This cabin-like home office from Sunset subtly blends modern technology and a pastoral setting. The room features a pine desk with lots of storage, while real river rocks hide the foundation wall.

Multipurpose Nook

This functional space between the Southern Living Salado View Idea House kitchen and mudroom not only serves as the central craft and study area, but it also houses a much-needed butler's pantry. Cabinets, some with glass fronts, match those found in the kitchen.

The Wall With It All

Designer Tony Cooper turned a blank wall at the gable end of this small Sunset bungalow into a built-in unit that meets all the homeowners' storage needs. The 10-foot-wide, 10-foot-tall, and 2-foot-deep structure is divided into two equal sections. A desk and bookshelves are on the right-hand side, while a television cabinet rests over a storage unit on the left. Four down-lit mirrored display niches across the top of the built-in mimic nearby windows and visually expand the space.

Compact and Convenient

If you enjoy working at home but don't want to feel isolated, you'll particularly appreciate the arrangement of this compact study from Southern Living. The office is conveniently located at the front of the house and holds a pair of desks, one with a computer.

Lofted Genius

Combining the best features of a library and a retreat, this Sunset loft includes computer desks, walls of bookshelves, and a cozy reading nook where you can stretch out on cushioned bench seats.