The New ‘Home Office’

Remember the days when it was quite the novelty to ‘work from home’. The comfy joggers were still a special treat, and no need to worry too much about what you looked like because video meetings were not ‘a thing’? There was the chance for an extra coffee or two and the comfort of your own loo? For nearly a year now though, this has become the norm for many, and the pros and cons of our home also being our workplace have been well documented. It may not be the future for all of us, but what could it mean in the longer term for how we now see the spaces we live in?

Our Office Manager, with three adults in the family all working at home, now has a ‘Garden Office’ aka the shed. Light is powered from an outside socket and enhanced by the natural light which comes through the Polycarbonate roof. Heating is provided by a radiator which can be switched on from inside the house for pre-warming. The floor has been insulated and with a rug on top, although not cosy in the current weather conditions (a woolly hat and scarf are sometimes required) it provides a perfectly useable extra working space.
Maybe the ‘Garden Office’ will stay, or maybe it will once again become a shed, but now that we have discovered how home working is possible for more than just the odd day here and there, or only considered for certain types of business, many may see it as preferable to going back to the office and look for a more permanent solution.

A radical change in lifestyle and a move to a bigger house or new location won’t be for everyone, but there are smaller changes that can be made to this end. Maybe you fancy a Garden Pod, or perhaps this could be the moment you’ve been waiting for to convert a garage or loft that could be better utilised. Remember, a home office can also provide extra storage space or double up as a Guest Room. If you love where you live but could do with a bit more space to work at home, you might consider an extension which could enhance both your life and the value of your property. Any conversion or new building work undertaken should not be taken lightly however, and if this is the path you choose, the expert advice of a Structural Engineer is essential for ensuring the structural integrity of both new extension and the existing building. At SER our Engineers have vast experience of just such projects, so please do give us a call and we will be happy to help.