The Evolution of Home Offices

The face of business has changed many times throughout the years. What started with stuffy office buildings and cramped cubicles has since evolved into lush and relaxing home offices equipped with all the comforts of modern amenities. Stroll with us down memory lane as we explore where home office designs have been and where they’re going. We provide a brief look into the evolution of home offices.

Early home offices

The evolution of home offices began when business people mainly utilized home offices as a convenient way to bring work home with them. Workers who found there weren’t enough hours in the day to complete all their projects would carry the work over into their home life. They would seek solace in the quiet and solitude of their home office. Here, they were free to carry on with their office duties without fear of spouses, children, or pets interrupting them. Early home offices typically featured a large desk, chair, and stack of work to complete. Home offices were popular among lawyers, real estate agents, business executives, and many other individuals who found their workload reaching monumental amounts.

Turning to technology

As the typical 9 to 5 workday slowly gave way to more flexible work schedules, the home office also saw a shift toward more relaxed décor. Working individuals began to incorporate smart technology into their home office for increased productivity and efficiency. Computers, smartphones, tablets, and chargers began to pop up in many home offices. The purpose of home offices also began to experience a shift. With the popularity and prevalence of technology in daily life, many companies began to introduce work-from-home opportunities. To maintain business as usual, even when working from home, individuals became tasked with outfitting their home office will all the necessities of a traditional office building.

Comfort is king

With more and more individuals now working exclusively at home, home offices adapted yet again—this time to focus on comfort. Individuals who work from home will spend the majority of their time in their home office and, as such, it should be a place where they feel completely comfortable and at ease. Many people are embracing a more minimalist design aesthetic, freeing their space of any unnecessary clutter that may impede their efficiency. Working from home is a particularly popular option for many individuals working in more creative fields, such as writing, graphic design, and web development. It is also popular among freelancers. The design of a home office for people in these fields, therefore, should encourage comfort and creativity. Many individuals seeking a more liberating work-from-home experience decide to forego a desk and chair entirely. Instead, they opt for more comfortable furniture, such as an office sectional sofa, where they can recline and create comfortably.