Balancing technology and comfort in work-from-home spaces
Remote work isn’t dead, it’s just evolving. To meet the changing needs, home offices have become more sophisticated, yet at the same time, simpler. Creating a functional, comfortable workspace that accommodates today’s technology while blending seamlessly with the rest of your home simply requires a bit of creativity and some help from the experts.
According to Greg Timko, of Luxury AV in Cranberry Township, home offices are becoming multi-purpose spaces. “People are still working from home and needing office spaces that fit their needs,” he said. “But they’re definitely downsizing a lot over the last year.”
Many homeowners are now using rooms as sitting areas in the evening and work spaces during the day. This trend toward flexibility is echoed by Molly Lucas of Maison de Molly, who said she has been seeing two kinds of approaches to home office design.
“People still want a personalized home office with custom cabinetry and an executive desk in the middle of the room,” she said, “tailored to how they work and what they need.”
Lucas has also seen more interest in flex spaces that serve multiple purposes.
“I’m seeing a move away from a true desk space and more flexibility for people who work from home,” she said. “It reflects their desire to separate work from home life, even within the same living space.”
Reducing clutter by installing wireless technology is also a growing trend in home office design.
“A lot of times, all they have in the office is their computer and a desk,” Timko said. “The cable modem is usually hidden in the basement now, and they’re just doing wireless. The printer is hidden, often in a different room entirely.”
This simplified approach extends to furniture design as well. Lucas said, “Most new desks on the market look like executive desks — substantial and heavy. But now they have cord management systems, and Bluetooth wireless charging from a concealed spot on the desktop.”
For video conferencing, Timko has noticed a return to dedicated equipment, like external microphones because of their superior sound quality.
“Webcams are coming back. We’ve been putting in quite a few webcams, which I didn’t expect,” Timko said. It gives better video quality, plus it’s easier for them to turn the camera on and off.”
Some homeowners are even investing in specialized lighting for video calls for a more professional look while on camera. Others use wireless transmitters to display their computer screens on TVs, which can then serve as entertainment centers after work, Timko said.
Security and convenience are increasingly important considerations for home office design. Timko said he’s setting up more apps for security cameras, allowing people to see who’s at the door without interrupting their workflow. “A lot of people don’t want to have to leave their desks, so we’re setting up apps so they can see their cameras and not have to answer the door during business hours if it’s not something they’re interested in speaking with.”
Music systems are another popular addition, providing ambiance during the workday, according to Timko. Some newer TVs offer business-focused applications, allowing users to connect wireless mice and keyboards directly to the television. They can then turn around and use the same TV for home entertainment purposes after working hours.
When designing a home office, Lucas emphasized the importance of understanding her client’s specific needs. “The first part is to understand what type of job the person has and what they need to do from home. Do they need a nice Zoom backdrop for frequent meetings? Do they need printers? File storage?”
File storage, Lucas noted, is often overlooked. However, it remains necessary for many professionals. Custom built-ins can store files while hiding functional technology and serving as an attractive video call backdrop.
For those without dedicated office space, Lucas suggests adding hard surfaces in unexpected places. A console table at the back of a sofa with stools under it gives bonus space in a media room or living room, which is also a perfect spot to plop down with a laptop.
Creating a comfortable acoustic environment boosts productivity, especially in video calls. Lucas offered several suggestions for improving sound quality.
“Nine out of 10 people want wallpaper in their home office,” she said. “It doesn't have an official rating for acoustic properties, but it adds a bit of insulation into the room. It absorbs sound a bit better than drywall.”
Other sound-absorbing elements include canvas artwork, rugs, accent chairs with soft upholstery and draperies. “They don't look like they have acoustic properties, but they do improve the acoustics of the place,” Lucas said. Draperies serve double duty by also controlling light, which is important for reducing glare on monitors.
Personal style remains important for home office design. Lucas encouraged clients to consider color in built-ins and suggested that wallpapered ceilings can “transport you to a moment right there in your office.”
However, Lucas cautions against trendy designs that might become tiresome in five years. She said 10 years is her goal for a design’s longevity.
Lucas prioritizes comfort over aesthetics for seating. “For quality of life, it's important to have a chair that will be custom to you, and that means it needs to be adjustable,” she said, noting that she'd rather see clients in ergonomic chairs than stylish but uncomfortable alternatives.
Lucas and Timko recommend involving professionals as early as possible in the design process.
“The sooner, the better, especially if walls are unfinished,” Timko said. “We can run more wires and hide more stuff in those situations. Even if they're just doing a simple remodeling, we still have a lot of options for hiding cords and reducing clutter.”
His typical process takes about two weeks from order to installation and setup and includes customer education to help clients operate their systems comfortably.
When choosing a technology provider, Timko advised doing research and checking reviews. “Our customer service is second to none. If you ever have an issue, we come out and hardly ever charge customers for that. There are companies that want to nickel and dime you for every little thing. That’s not us.”
