A home office has to multitask harder than almost any other room. Good home office design keeps you organized, inspires you, and stays calm enough that you actually want to sit down and work.
This furnish-and-style project started with a room that had no built-ins at all. Our goal was home office design that works hard today and can easily turn into a bedroom later. You can see more of our work in our portfolio.
| Project Type Furnish + Style | Spaces Home Office | Location Escondido, CA |
The Challenge
At first, the room had nothing built in. A freestanding wardrobe filled the nook, while the desk wall was a mix of mismatched furniture, shelves, and cords.
In addition, it needed to be a real working office now, with plenty of storage. At the same time, it had to be flexible enough to become a bedroom one day without a remodel.
Our Solution
First, we planned the room around two zones: a storage nook and a built-in desk wall. Then we layered warm white oak, soft wallpaper, and tailored window treatments so the home office design feels calm, not corporate.
Warm Home Office Design: White Oak and Wallpaper
First, we wrapped the desk wall in custom white oak paneling. Then we added a custom white oak desk built by Circuit & Saw. As a result, the whole wall reads as one warm, finished piece instead of furniture pushed against a wall.
For pattern, we chose a palm-leaf peel-and-stick wallpaper from Serena & Lily. It brings soft texture and personality, and it can come down easily if the room ever changes.
Window Treatments: The Defining Home Office Design Choice
If one design decision defines this room, it’s the window. For this, we partnered with TWOPAGES Curtains to layer drapery over motorized roman shades.
| INNER LAYER — MOTORIZED ROMAN SHADE Patti, White B311 |
| OUTER LAYER — DRAPERY Veda Luster Cotton Velour Drapery Pleated Peacock 9518-37 |
The teal velour drapery layers over a simple white Roman shade, both from TWOPAGES. Together, they give the room everyday light control and a real style statement. Plus, the deep teal grounds the lighter wallpaper and white oak without making the room feel heavy. In short, it’s the kind of layered window treatment we love in home office design.
Home Office Storage That Can Change With the Room
In the nook, we replaced the old wardrobe with IKEA kitchen cabinets dressed in custom fronts from Semihandmade. Marble hardware from Zara Home adds a small, elegant detail. On top, a custom white oak countertop has built-in outlets, so it works as a printer station or a second work surface.
Above the cabinets, wall-mounted Elfa shelves hold labeled sample boxes and supplies. Today the cabinets store office supplies, but they can just as easily hold clothes. If we ever turn this room into a bedroom, we can add curtain rods under the shelves and the nook becomes a closet.
The Result: A Home Office You Want to Work In
This project was never about making a home office look like a showroom. Instead, we designed a room that supports real work: a built-in desk, smart storage, and good light control. Every piece, from the white oak paneling to the teal drapery to the blue-green cabinets, earns its place.
Best of all, the room is ready for whatever comes next. With a few curtain rods, this home office design becomes a guest room or bedroom, with no remodel needed.
Fall in Love With Where Your Life Unfolds
Every project starts with a simple conversation.
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