Bunk beds step up in the world to make space for home office

BUNK BEDS have leapt in popularity as a result of home workers having to make room for desks, John Lewis, the retailer, said.

Sales of the beds were up by 60 per cent in the past six months compared to the same period last year, which the retailer said was because parents were turning children’s bedrooms into offices and asking their kids to share.

Some were also buying bunk beds with desks underneath to give their offspring a place to do their homework while schools were closed.

In a report out today, John Lewis said the country is abandoning open plan living as homes have become offices, schools, restaurants and gyms in lockdown.

Since the Seventies, families have prioritised open space to provide “welcome moments of togetherness in otherwise hectic schedules”, the report said, but in the past few months they have adapted their homes to make rooms serve different purposes.

Johnathan Marsh, from John Lewis, said: “After several months of change, our homes are working harder than ever before, having become offices, gyms, schools, restaurants and more.

“Nothing so groundbreaking has shaken our use of the home since the rise of open plan living, which began in the Seventies.

“Although sparked by urgent needs in the midst of the pandemic, this new perspective on a modular approach to living within our own four walls is here to stay.”

Among the items which have soared in popularity are so-called “designer desks”, with sales up by 73 per cent, and premium office chairs, up by 86 per cent. John Lewis said its customers have also been buying more wireless headphones.

Polling by the company found this was the most common change made to homes in the past six months, with 28 per cent of people saying they had repurposed a room for a home office.

Turning a room into a space for hobbies was a priority for 21 per cent of respondents, a space for people to be on their own was favoured by 20 per cent and a home gym was favoured by 17 per cent.

Meanwhile, fitness machines were 122 per cent more popular than last year and sales of yoga mats were up by 45 per cent.

Mr Marsh said: “While we continue to adapt to the new normal and local lockdowns we expect to see customers continuing to evolve their homes as they seek to make the most of their space including dining outdoors in winter.”

Honey Langcaster-james, a behavioural psychologist, said that human beings need “variety” in their environment and that, while contact with others is “nourishing”, it can sometimes be draining.

She added: “Something as simple as separating off an area with a curtain, or a screen, or turning a sofa around so that one side is for relaxing and the space behind is for work can make all the difference.

“Creating separate space to work, relax, conduct cleaning and maintenance tasks, or be entertained also helps prevent the home from feeling chaotic.”