Home office design trends in a post-pandemic world are all about balance and creating spaces that promote well-being. Many employees made the shift to becoming remote workers during the COVID-19 pandemic and worked whenever and however they could. However, sustaining remote work and staying healthy and happy requires a well-thought-out space that promotes well-being in mind, body, and spirit.
1. Natural Light
Natural light is one of the most important considerations when choosing and fitting out your home office space. Exposure to natural light from a window during the day helps you to sleep better at night, which in turn improves performance.
For your home office in 2024, choose a room or corner with a window and place your desk near it to maximize light exposure. Think about the effects of the view when choosing a window for your home office space. Views of nature enhance cognition more than looking at concrete. You also want a view that will relax you without providing a potential source of distraction.
2. Connection With Nature
A more direct connection with nature is another top consideration for the post-pandemic home office. Professionals these days are spending much of their time indoors working on a computer. This is in stark contrast to our ancestors who spent the best part of the day outdoors tending the flocks and fields.
Post-pandemic home office trends involve integrating nature into home-based workspaces in a range of ways:
- Placing your workstation on a patio or balcony
- Opting for green walls or earthy neutrals
- Decorating the space with nature decals and murals
- Purchasing furniture made from natural materials
- Placing potted plants on furnishings, on walls, or suspended from the ceiling
- Hanging artwork that reflects the local culture and environment
When creating a biophilic design, also think about using eco-friendly materials and items that reduce your carbon footprint. For example, opt for locally produced furnishings rather than their imported counterparts, and reduce waste by using reusable accessories like paper clips instead of staples.
3. Modern Colors, Furnishings, and Doors
Home office spaces that receive clients need to look and feel modern as well as fresh. Consider the following interior design ideas for a modern office:
- A neutral palette
- Clean lines
- Stylish focal points with modern touches such as oversized artwork, landscape photographs, sculptures, or inspirational quotes that you can show off in virtual meetings and video calls
- Soft furnishings such as plush seating for clients with a faux leather finish
Installing a modern door in your home office is perhaps the best way to modernize and elevate the space, especially if you receive clients in your home. Concealed rail or invisible doors, such as those sold by Trendy Doors, are an excellent choice for home offices. They save a huge amount of space in the room because they slide along the wall rather than opening out. They are also visually stunning—your clients will be very impressed when they see your elegant door floating along the wall with no railing or other hardware in sight!
4. Flexible Furnishings
Flexible furnishings allow remote workers to set up their home office by day and use the same space for personal activities in the evenings and on weekends. This makes a lot of sense for professionals whose main work tool is their laptop as opposed to those who need space for client meetings and creative works-in-progress.
For a multifunctional space, consider multifunctional furniture such as a custom desk that doubles as a dining table, a coffee table with a lift-up top (that doubles as a desk and accessory storage), a desk that doubles as a bookshelf, or a sofa/bed with a lap tray. Choosing furniture that serves multiple purposes and makes good use of vertical space allows you to make better use of your home and maintain a (hopefully) clutter-free environment.
5. Separation between Work and Home
A challenge that comes with hybrid workspaces and flexible workspaces is achieving adequate separation between work and home. Few members of the modern workforce have an entire room to dedicate to work activities, and when you’re working in the central living space, distraction can become a real issue.
There are a few home office ideas you can implement for a clearer separation between home and work:
- Use standing panels as movable walls to separate your “work” space from your “home” space and reduce distractions.
- Set up your desk in a corner of the home that is as far away as possible from high-traffic areas like the dining area and living room.
- Use a different device and/or a different user account for work tasks and personal tasks.
6. Elements that Promote Physical Movement
A greater awareness of the need to move regularly and avoid a sedentary lifestyle has led to the rise of home office furniture and equipment that allow for movement. Try these home office ideas to get moving while you’re on the job:
- A standing desk or sit-to-stand desk
- An under-desk bike pedal exerciser
- A treadmill with a laptop stand
Ergonomics and good posture have also become important health concerns with the rise in computer-based work. Adjustable chairs and adjustable-height tilting desks are two pieces of furniture to consider for a home office that will be used long-term.
7. Spaces that Refresh the Senses
Work-from-home professionals who have a dedicated room can splurge on the luxury of a “serenity corner” or a space intended to refresh the senses between sessions of intensive work. Serenity-promoting elements could be placed as a centerpiece in the seating area or set up in a corner of the room, depending on your home office layout.
Consider the following elements:
- An essential oil diffuser (with a flame or electrically lit) or incense burner
- Candles or dim lights
- A water feature
- Potted plants
- Stones
- Crystals
- Gemstones
- Shells
- Fresh flowers
- Colorful textiles
- Pictures of natural landscapes
If you have the luxury of an entire serenity room or patio, add some comfortable seating, cushions, and pillows so you can relax and refresh in comfort whenever you need to.
Create a Home Office that Refreshes and Inspires
The top home office trends for today’s flexible workforce seek to combine modernity and nature, relaxation and focus, and promote well-being throughout the working day.
The modern home office is also highly personalized to the preferences and needs of the worker—opening up an infinite range of possibilities as far as furnishings, color palettes, and decor.
The most important things to keep in mind when designing your home office space are:
- The home office needs to help you focus and do your best work.
- The space needs to promote mental, emotional, and physical well-being.
Get those two things right and you’re sure to create a workspace you love.