Is Working From Home the New Normal?

Recent estimates are that 42% of the U.S. labor force is currently working from home full-time. What began as an emergency response to COVID-19, is morphing into an economic norm for a swath of industries. Tech giants like Facebook, Twitter, Square and Shopify have all announced a shift in policy, to enable some, or all employees, to work from home indefinitely. Other industries are following suit.

Home Builders See Spike in Home Office Requests

Recent data from a survey carried out by the National Association of Home Builders found that 65% of homebuyers requested a home office and that is sure to spike in the current environment. George Ratiu, an economist with Realtor.com, reported that listings featuring an “office” still command a more than 3% price premium and sell nine days faster than listings without an office.

“Being thrown into our homes every waking hour of the day has really made us realize that spaces need to be flexible for multiple activities,” said Sarah Tiedeken O’Brien, a partner with Steamboat Springs-based Vertical Arts Architecture. Workers who set themselves up at the kitchen table or the sofa in the living room have encountered a multitude of challenges. Unwanted family and pet disruptions during teleconferencing or harmful ergonomics are just some of the most common irritations to arise. As a result, the need to converge working and living space has become a priority.

Tiedeken O’Brien shared her topmost considerations when designing a workspace in the home:

  • Location: Consider traffic flow in the space. Do you work best in the thick of activity or tucked away in a quiet place?
  • Flex Space: Can you incorporate a small nook desk in a guest room that can double as an office?
  • Sound: What are some simple ways to dampen sound in open plan rooms and create a sense of privacy?
  • Views and Natural Light: Interaction with changing daylight and the outside environment improves productivity.
  • Lighting: Use decorative and task lighting to add character and functional light for everyday tasks. Make sure you are getting the right amount of light from the right direction to cut down on glare.
  • Furnishings: Forgo the corporate furnishings. Office furniture should be functional but also complement other rooms in your house. Custom casework can incorporate file storage, printers and workspaces without feeling sterile.