Which Home Office Solution Is For You?

Before the COVID-19 outbreak, working remotely was largely viewed as a perk that was growing in popularity. Pre-pandemic, the number of people telecommuting in the U.S. had increased 159%. With those numbers now forcibly soaring even higher, working from home for many is no longer considered a perk but a necessity. With school age children home, remote workers are struggling to establish work space in their homes for themselves and their children.

"The struggle is real" for many workers.

As outlined in “17 Stats About Remote Work in 2020” remote work is here to stay and the COVID-19 outbreak will only perpetuate the growth of home offices after the pandemics is

long gone. Note this article was written before the pandemic, so the key stats and indicators discussed are more pervasive than ever. However, there is one point that in the article that does NOT necessarily hold true under pandemic conditions. The seventh point states that working from home reduces stress. Again with children at home, you would be hard pressed to find many workers that are experiencing less stress.

None-the-less, there are several articles and resources that offer advice and address the need to create functional home offices that offer adequate work space, technology and above all solitude.

How to Design the Ideal Home Office 5 Tips for Effectively Working From Home During the Coronavirus Outbreak, When You Have Kids 5 Real Challenges of Working from Home

Glass partitions divide space and sound.

Undoubtedly, spare bedrooms and kitchen tables have been converted to “home offices” across the globe. People with limited space are even converting closets to charming work spaces. On the opposite side of the spectrum, homeowners with abundant open space are installing partitions with glass panels and a door that provide parents a sound barrier while also enabling them to keep an eye on their children and pets. The metal and glass enclosure pictured to the right allows sunlight to flow freely while also offering functions of dividing space and sound.

Whatever physical space solution is feasible for you and your family, creating a functioning work environment at home requires more than a make-shift desk, a computer and a chair. As discussed in “10 Great Habits For Working At Home,” having discipline and a game plan is more crucial than the “brick and mortar” of your work space.