Without a spare room or other unused square footage, it can seem impossible to have a designated home work space. However, with a bit of creativity, you can easily create a functional home office carved from a fraction of your living room.
Below, you can find the most inspiring living room ideas to help you design an artistic office space that will blend seamlessly with your existing interior design.
Combine Built-In Bookshelves With a Desk Base to Create a Sophisticated Home Office Space
One of the best ways to transform living spaces and combine separate functions into a cohesive room is to blend your home workstation with other functional furniture. This home office is created by attaching a desk to built-in bookshelves, allowing the office components to transition easily into more decorative elements.
The colors of the chair echo the top row of books, beautifully tying the space together and resulting in a sense of balance and harmony.
via Alicia Edelman
An Intricately Designed Wooden Desk Perpendicular to Wall-to-Wall Shelving
Perhaps your shelving doesn’t allow a desk to be added, or you simply need all of the shelf space for storage. You can still achieve a similar feel by placing the office desk against the nearest wall, perpendicular to the shelves.
Here, the elegant wooden desk pairs very well with the flooring and couch, while the rolling office chair matches the dark shelving. The placement of each piece of furniture is just right so as not to impede movement through the room.
Styled by Thomas Lingsell, photographed by Therese Jahnson for Historiska Hem
A Thin and Sleek Living Room Office With a Matching Bookcase and Furniture
If you want to make your living room office appear intentional instead of an afterthought, pick out a desk and accessories that match your existing decor. This example living room uses the same style and material for the TV console table, desk, and bookshelf, allowing everything to appear as if they came from the same set.
For a living room with larger and more substantial furniture, a full-sized corner desk may be more appropriate if there’s enough space.
Styled by Grey Deco, photographed by Fredrik J Karlsson for Alvhem
Place a Small Desk in Front of a Dormer Window in a Living Room With a Sloped Roof
Sloped ceilings can pose a design challenge, limiting space and requiring careful planning of the layout. That being said, the space in front of a dormer window is the perfect place to make a small office nook.
This placement floods the desk area with natural light and provides a wonderful view for you to enjoy whether working from home or completing a to-do list. The coloring of this desk pairs well with the coffee table and open shelving units for a cohesive look.
Photographed by Borgelin for Historiska Hem
Use a Small, Simple Desk Under a Skylight for Beautiful Natural Light in Your Workspace
Similarly to the last example, you can harness sunlight in your living room office space by situating your desk underneath a skylight. Though this layout doesn’t provide as much vertical space as a dormer window does, this is an excellent way to work wonders with the environment you have, especially in a studio apartment or loft.
Placing the desk here efficiently utilizes this section of the room and creates a place for your eyes to rest after being drawn in by the dark wood tones.
Styled by Emma Fischer and Annica Clarmell, photographed by Anders Bergstedt for Alvhem
Install a Chic Floating Desk in a Smart, Modern Living Room Space
An empty corner can often be the best environment to set up a home office in the common living area. This floating desk and black chair fit perfectly within this style of interior, bringing its attention-stealing details to the space.
The result is a sophisticated, yet relaxed, living room that has a clear theme and a soothing air.
Styled by Emma Fisher, photographed by Fredrik J Karlsson for Alvhem
Utilize a Compact Task Desk and Open Shelving to Create a Small Home Office
If you only occasionally need your living room office, installing a simple wall-mounted surface just slightly wider than a shelf can be a great option. This set up takes minimal floor space, which is perfect for smaller living rooms.
For extra space to store items that need to be kept close at hand, matching floating shelves can be mounted above the desk surface.
via Sjöman Frisk
Pair a Dark, Bold Desk and Chair With an Equally Dramatic Living Space
This living room office perfectly showcases that you don’t have to be an interior designer to have a stylish and dramatic space. These shared spaces strike a perfect balance and result in a look that’s easy to recreate with a DIY renovation.
The bold black shade of the doors and trim is perfectly replicated on the desk and chair, and the gold lamp adds a luxurious pop of color. A large clock face framed with subtle trim pieces creates an eye-catching focal point for the room.
Styled by Van Keppel, photographed by Ozollapa for Historiska Hem
Blend Floating Shelves With a Floating Desk in Light Wood Tones That Are Reflected Throughout the Room
You don’t always have to make a completely separate space in the living room for your home office to work. This living room office is just a few feet from the sofa and coffee table, but it doesn’t seem crowded due to the arrangement of the furniture.
In the same vein as some of the other living room ideas we’ve seen, this desk is paired with matching shelving for extra storage. The gallery wall features artwork framed in a similar color as the shelves, throw pillow, and chair for a balanced look.
Styled by Josefsson Ljung, photographed by Mariah Salander for Bjurfors
Add a Bookshelf With a Built-In Workspace for Extra Flexibility in the Living Room
Just like our first home office idea, this example combines the desk surface with a bookcase. However, where the previous bookcase was fixed to the room, this one is completely freestanding. This option is ideal for anyone who likes to rearrange their interior, plans to move soon, or doesn’t own their home and has limitations on what can be modified.
This specific design is much more delicate and subdued in appearance, something else that might appeal to some individuals more.
Styled by JosefssonLjung Interiör AB, photographed by Anders Bergstedt for Entrance Makleri
Pair a Thin, Minimalist Desk With Slightly Abstract Decor
This office area is set up just around the corner from the main living area to provide a bit more separation and privacy. Elements of this home office are reflected in the rest of the room, however, keeping the transition smooth and not jarring.
Styled by Grey Deco, photographed by Henrik Linden for Alvhem
Place a Small Task Desk in a Unique, Unused Nook to the Side of the Living Room
If you need help minimizing inevitable distractions in your new living room office or have a uniquely shaped room, creating an office nook in a more closed-off section of the room can be the answer.
This small office space matches the style of the rest of the room, but the positioning of it in relation to the living area makes a clear distinction between the spaces.
Styled by Bon Interior, photographed by Jens Eliasson for Bjurfors
Continue the Monochromatic Style of the Living Room With a Subtle White Desk and Black Chair
White walls and light flooring are a blank slate for self-expression. By adding black and grey accents, you’ll have a modern, chic room in your house that’s sure to wow guests. So why not accentuate the style with a home office?
In this example, these elements pair perfectly with the rest of the space and don’t immediately jump out as an office, which is ideal for anyone wanting something more subtle.
via Alvhem
Use a Longer Desk to Create a Multi-Seat Workspace for a Variety of Tasks
In the vein of popular closet office trends, this storage-friendly nook uses an extended surface for a larger workspace with multiple stations. Couples that find themselves both needing to use an office at the same time but without the ability to spare additional space can each have their own area to get things done. You can even remove the door or knock out the walls of a spare closet for even more room.
via Entrance Makleri
A Wall Mounted Desk and Shelving Unit With a Rolling Desk Chair in the Corner of the Room
A comfortable chair is a must when working in a home office for an extended time. This office idea uses a shelving unit similar to those we’ve seen before, but placed in a way that there is plenty of space for nice seating.
A rolling chair can also help you ease eye strain by allowing you to quickly and easily adjust your seating position in relation to the screen.
Photographed by Jonas Berg for Stadshem
Design a Completely Unique Home Office Layout to Maximize Space in the Family Room
Finally, on our list of living room office ideas, we have a design that is similar to a secretary desk, but with added personality. This wall-to-wall shelving unit features a flip-down surface perfect for a laptop, sketch pad, or notebook.
The versatility of this design allows you to put away the work area if needed, creating more floor space in the event of a party or other gathering. As a bonus, the entire look of this area can be changed by simply rearranging the shelves and their contents, providing additional versatility.
via Alexander White