America’s Home Offices Continue to Evolve

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Published Date 1/16/2024

While Americans have been returning to offices in greater numbers since the end of the pandemic, designers and stagers are finding ways to offer people who work from home more versatility than a dedicated workspace often provides, according to Realtor.com’s Melissa Pittman Tracey in her recent article Is the Home Office Getting a Pink Slip?

“Even though remote work remains commonplace, some real estate professionals and home stagers say the home office is losing its luster. Many home buyers are reclaiming this space for other non-work uses,” she reports after having done a bit of research.

Home office spaces are “getting the treatment,” so to speak and are being transformed into a flex space, such as a media room or a den with lounging space, geared toward relaxation, entertainment, or work.

Often a work “nook” is all that today’s buyers are looking for, according to some designers. As an example, the real estate and design team at 53 West 53, a Manhattan condo tower, decided to exclude the home office in a recent home staging project, instead opting for a game lounge complete with a fully stocked minibar and foosball table.

“Recent studies have shown that at-home workers have flexibility when choosing where in the home to work,” says Tracey. “They’re no longer tethered to cords and outlets, and they don’t need to plug into a dedicated space each day. They can easily take a laptop to a kitchen island, living room sofa or even a neighborhood coffee shop.”

According to Tracey, only about a third of consumers who work remotely say they have a dedicated office space at home, but of that group, 45% say their “home office” is located within another room, like a bedroom, kitchen or living room. Fourteen percent of remote workers say they prefer to move from room to room during their workday.

Study or work nooks may indeed offer the same benefits as a larger home office. However, the priorities are design and comfort, blending functionality and aesthetics without compromising valuable space. As for productivity, many studies attribute a dedicated office space as a bonus, enabling the home-owning worker a bonus in avoiding constant distractions.

As for how the pandemic changed work as we know it, Georgia Southern University reviewed numerous studies that explored home office design. “The review found the best results from a home office that prioritizes ergonomics and elements from nature and takes into account light and noise,” says Tracey. “Regardless of where that office is located and whether it has to serve multiple purposes, she discovered a few research-backed tips, the first of which is choosing a spot near natural daylight, greenery, and plants, preferably near a window. Otherwise, add ambient and task lighting. Next, use headphones to block out noise, and portable screen dividers to block out visual distractions if you don’t have a dedicated workspace.

Tracey also says it’s best to get moving. Make it a point to stand up and move around for at least two of every 30 minutes during the workday to help avoid eye strain, back pain, and headaches. Having a lounging area in or near your office for a different type of seating than a desk chair is ideal for short breaks.

Realtor,TBWS

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