Living Room Office Combo Decorating Ideas

10 Spectacular Living Room Office Ideas for Working in Style

SaveComments

We independently select these products—if you buy from one of our links, we may earn a commission.

If you WFH daily now or just spend a lot of time on projects at home but don't have a designated home work space, a living room office is the solution you might be looking for. A home office carved out of a family room or common living area can benefit from the comfort—and oftentimes extra space—that comes with this room. You don't have to renovate, and very few furnishings are required to make this shift. So if you're lacking a spare room, here's how to create an office-friendly environment with what you already have.

To set up the best environment for a living room office, you'll want to ensure that your shared spaces strike a balance of blending into one another while still retaining their separate functions. This solution will not only look prettier from a stylistic standpoint, but it'll also keep work from bleeding into your home life and vice versa. You can do this easily with a few key pieces of furniture and tweaks to your existing layout. Bring in a desk and file cabinet then set up a chic divider to section off this area, or designate an empty corner as your new living room office. You could also set up a console table behind your sofa and pull up a spare chair here when you need to start working. A good rule of thumb is to match your office furniture with the rest of your room's current style. While you probably couldn't tell your corporate boss that you hated those gray desk chairs and partitions, you have full control over office decor this time around. You can pair you mid-century modern couch with a desk from the same era or distress your wooden file cabinets to match your rustic farmhouse entertainment center.

Another factor to consider is the potential for distractions. It's a lot easier for your work to be impacted when Netflix and your kitchen are within a few feet. You can combat those attention-stealing details of your home by positioning your desk to face a wall or a window (not the TV) and by ensuring your space is clutter-free and well organized for maximum C-suite vibes from the comfort of your living room.

Ahead, you'll see a handful of living room offices that are undeniably stylish and successful at blending the biggest parts of our lives—work and play.

1. Corner Office Nook

Above, this minimalist Michigan home's spacious living room seamlessly blends into the office space. While it's all one room, the desk's placement in an empty corner and the positioning of the sofa make a distinction between the two zones, work and play, without using a wall or divider. This makes it easier to drift from a day's work into a defined relaxing social space.

(Image credit: Cathy Pyle)

2. Book Boundary Office

A pile of books is the unique separation between the office space and rest of the living room in Doris and Jon's Vintage-Contemporary Victorian. The round table and its office set up are tucked away just enough to make it feel like a separate space.

(Image credit: Brittany Purlee)

3. Accent Wall Living Room Office

The black paint both draws attention to and camouflages this living room office in Sam and Linsey's thoughtful Chicago home. While the color choice is edgy, it gives the illusion of depth and extra space in the corner.

(Image credit: Hayley Kessner)

4. Game Room Study Combo

Work and play come together nicely in this home office in Duncan and Tanya's textural Kensington cottage. Because the back of the chair faces the TV, there's much less chance of distraction if two people share the room at the same time.

(Image credit: Kim Lucian)

5. Efficient Office Nook

Small spaces are no longer an excuse for not treating yourself to a nice work space. This tiny office in Myka and George's modern abode makes efficient use of little square footage and managed to create a comfy area to get work done.

(Image credit: Brittany Purlee)

6. Artistic Office Space

While there are no dividers, the gallery wall is what really designates the office area in this warm Chicago studio apartment. The hanging artwork and textile create visual boundaries, making it almost feel like another room.

7. Light-Filled Home Office

A light, bright office space makes the chore of working much more bearable. The choice of a white desk, drawers, and accents in this fresh San Francisco apartment is stylish and helps camouflage the working area, which keeps the living room looking spacious. If you have a window in your living room, this is always a great area to consider putting your desk.

8. Mid-Century Modern Living Room Office

In a small home like this cozy Seattle Studio, it can be tough to find room for all your stuff, much less a work space. But the addition of a desk is a simple, easy way to set up an in-home office that still matches the rest of the room. Having your desk face away from the entertainment center can also prevent distractions, especially if someone else has commandeered the TV area while you're working. Headphones will help, too.

9. Eclectic Bohemian Living Room Office

For creative types, a boho office setup similar to this one in a colorful Seattle rental can spark ideas and provide a playfully vibrant space to get work done in. When working two spaces into one, you can never go wrong with sticking to the decor that matches your interior tastes and lifestyle.

10. Colorful and Plush Home Office

A maximalist mindset when designing your home office can make your WFH days more exciting. This dazzling Toronto apartment keeps style front and center while balancing work and play in its living room office. Although there's a wide range of colors and patterns mixed here, they work in harmony to still provide an organized, streamlined workspace.

Taryn Williford

Lifestyle Director

Taryn is a homebody from Atlanta. She writes about cleaning and living well as the Lifestyle Director at Apartment Therapy. She might have helped you declutter your apartment through the magic of a well-paced email newsletter. Or maybe you know her from The Pickle Factory Loft on Instagram.

Follow Taryn

SaveComments