When it comes to creating a home office, commercial-looking pieces aren't your only option. There are plenty of fine furnishings that can provide comfortable work spaces, too. If you're a part-timer who's short on space, consider a simple writing desk. Whether your style preference is clean and contemporary or more fanciful French, a writing desk can easily serve double duty as a sofa table, perhaps. Or, this kind of delicately scaled piece can tuck neatly into a corner of a room. Place at a right angle to the wall or dramatically on the diagonal.

If space is still a consideration but you need more room for office equipment, consider one of today's attractive office armoires. Available in a variety of sizes, these pieces open their doors to reveal writing surfaces as well as plenty of specially-sized niches for computers and other must-haves. And here's the bonus: When you're through for the day, you can close the doors as you would in any other office. Armoires also work well in extra rooms with a sleeper sofa to provide both office space and extra sleeping accomodations for guests.

Finally, for the full-time traditionalist, there's perhaps no better option than the full-fledged partner'sdesk. But even this age old favorite is taking on a few new twists. Though given the same library look, today's versions are more apt to accommodate up-to-date equipment.