Classic or Craze

HOMEWORK

When the pandemic began, everyone had to bring their work home with them, creating the need for home offices in every price range. Now that we’re going back into the office, will at-home workspaces keep their popularity?

Edited by Moe Godat Design by Joni Spear Photography by Kip Dawkins Photography

CLASSIC

The need for a designated home work space is a constant. It is the quantity of time spent in the space that is the variable. A well-designed home office should be versatile enough to adapt to personal and lifestyle changes along the way. Certainly no one could have predicted the amount of use home work spaces have seen over the past two years. While that may wane as people return to work, I think the convenience of having a space at home will remain a staple. Emily Koch, JCR Design Group. Home offices are definitely a staple in any home. The pandemic just pushed the need for them to become functional for everyone! This includes good lighting, aesthetically pleasing finishes and a way to make the space feel like an escape from your home life. Anne Marie Boedges, Anne Marie Design Studio, LLC. Home offices have been around for decades, but there was a huge home office resurgence during the pandemic. Even the average homeowner enjoyed the perks of a home office, and let’s not forget how popular the stylish backdrop became for zoom meetings. The pandemic taught us, even the average homeowner, that home offices are going to be a necessity from now on, due to the uncertainty of future pandemics or unforeseen crises. Home offices will be around for a very long time, if not forever. Barbara Collins, Barbara Collins Interior Design. Due to the accessibility of online communication, home offices are a staple of the majority of households and allow employees and homeowners a space to keep work and personal documents along with various paperwork organized. An added benefit to these rooms is that they can be used as a multipurpose area in combination with a home library or guest bedroom, giving the homeowners extra flexibility in how they utilize their space. Savannah Sells, Youtopia Designs. The pandemic has increased the desirability of creating a real home office. These spaces have morphed into much more than a corner of a kitchen, a dining table or a stolen nook. We are thoughtfully planning and creating very specific spaces to support our clients as they transition into their new work parameters. Amenities abound and are carefully and specifically tailored to each individual's wants and needs. Also popular are beverage areas, coffee centers and snack refrigerators. All of the comforts of home right at home in one’s personal space! Kristine Keller, The Design Source Ltd. When the pandemic hit, everyone was forced to shutter in place and get creative. Fast-forward two years: people have transformed their garages, dining rooms, attics and basements into savvy and functional work spaces, rendering no need to leave the comfort of home. With precipitous hikes in fuel prices, blood-pressure challenging traffic jams and Sisyphean road construction, I suspect most of those who remain able will continue saluting the many perks of "homework." Joni Spear, Joni Spear Interior Design. Many of us cringed at the thought of not leaving our houses to go to work each day during the pandemic, but as days turned into months, we got more comfortable working from home. With Zoom and Google Teams available at our fingertips, the home office has become the new norm. As interior designers, we are seeing a surge in clients wanting home offices that reflect their lifestyles and tastes. Definitely a classic that is here to stay. CJ Knapp, Yours by Design.