Greg says…
Creating non-specific workspaces is key, as they will benefit others in the household too
I’ve always felt that office spaces within homes are really important. Having a zone where you can focus on work, or homework for children, can have far-reaching benefits. Ultimately it can improve job prospects, work/life balance, exam results or even getting a business off the ground.
With the increasing prevalence of modern working practices such as hot desking, paperless offices and flexible working, a home office or study is more vital than ever – and there are lessons that can be learnt from these new ways of working.
If you don’t have the space for a dedicated study room, this isn’t necessarily a bad thing as it forces you to make better use of the space you have. It also opens up the option of providing multiple informal home office areas within the home for all members of the family to use.
Normally, I would encourage clients to think about how they work from home and the types of tasks they deal with. But non-specific flexible working spaces are the key. Follow the workplace model of hot desking, avoiding ownership of spaces and trying to make them work for various members of the household. Adaptability is important, particularly as family circumstances change. Someone might start working from home, for example, or students might want to use the study area when they come back home from university.