Impact Of Remote Work On Home Design

Since the COVID-19 pandemic, the way that we use our homes has changed in at least one fundamental way. The pandemic saw an unprecedented, huge experiment in working habits. Millions of workers were forced to work from home, and a significant fraction of those workers elected to keep working from home even after the pandemic ended.

With so many homeowners now looking for a space that's suitable for home working, the demands on home designers have changed considerably. Let's take a look at a few significant implications of this shift.

The Rise of Home Offices

Perhaps the most obvious shift has been the rise in demand for home offices. Spare bedrooms and other spaces have been converted en masse, and many floor plans for new homes now include purpose-built office spaces – even in smaller homes.

Multifunctional Living Spaces

In some cases, the better approach might be to adapt an existing living space, so that it can serve as an office, too. The addition of partitioning screens and room dividers can allow some tangible separation of a living room. You might have a dedicated nook, complete with a desktop computer, hidden out of sight in a suitable corner of a living room.

Developers of new houses are increasingly incorporating flexible living areas that can easily transition between work and leisure functions. But you can achieve the same thing by adapting an existing living space.

Technology Integration

If you're going to be doing more work from home, it follows that you'll face technical challenges, too. This applies especially if you're going to be working at the same time as other people in a busy household. You might look for high-speed internet that can cope with peak traffic. After all, you don't want to risk dropping out of an important Zoom call because your kids are watching Netflix downstairs. 

The quality of your router will matter, too – as might charging stations built into your plug sockets, and smart home systems to limit your energy use. After all, if you're using extra heating and electricity because of your work, it only makes sense that you should limit it.

Outdoor Spaces and Wellbeing

When you're working from home, you might find it difficult to separate your professional life from your personal life. If you're working in the same room where you're spending your leisure time, it can be difficult to unwind. You might pick up a number of subconscious cues that pull you back into a work mindset.

For the best possible relaxation, the right garden space can be enormously useful. In some cases, however, you might choose to work in the garden. Being surrounded by plants can be enormously beneficial for your well-being – which is why so many home offices include a varied selection of houseplants. By making your office outdoors, you can get even more of this benefit.

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