IT WAS MORE than two years ago when many of us were told to work from home if possible, unexpectedly turning kitchen tables around the country into desks and bedrooms into offices.
However, with hybrid and remote work continuing to be embraced by companies and employees alike, working from a make-shift desk is unlikely to be a successful long-term plan.
This has led to buyers and movers having to plan for a working from home space for the first time – including having a broadband connection setup as early as moving day, which is a service offered by providers like Sky.
To learn from those who have already created a space they love, we asked three new homeowners to share their home office/study space. From smart desk solutions to choosing the right colours, here’s what they had to say…
Hannah and her partner moved into their Dublin 6 home in August last year. Maximising the use of space in the home office was an important factor for them, as well as being able to shut off the work space when needed.
We didn’t take any time off to move so it was important that our home offices were ready to go immediately. We were very lucky that our previous owners generously left us my desk (which can be closed over), so there wasn’t much to do other than to plug in my computer and pick the right candle.
I work in our main spare room, and my partner works in the box room. After living in a 60 sq m apartment, we were very keen to make sure that each of our rooms has multiple uses, and that we could ‘lock up the office’ at the end of the day. We have a spare double bed and a TV in here so it can be used as an office/guest room/sitting room depending on our needs.
I really like that this is quite a bright room and I can see the park over my shoulder from where I sit. My desk has some hidden storage too, which is great for hiding the mess that tends to accumulate when working from the same spot all week. I also like the print, which is from April & The Bear.
Claudia (@adublinhome) lives in a new-build in Dublin with her partner Daniel. Their home office was designed with functionality in mind, and to be a place they enjoy spending time.
Our home office was set up right away when we moved into our new house. As we moved in in 2021, we knew working from home would be a big part of our lives, so it was important to us that we put as much thought into the decor of the office as we did the rest of the house. A nice table lamp is a simple and cheap way to dress the room, and it’s practical for the dark winter evenings.
I love that our office is also used beyond working hours. Although it is nice to have a separate space to work, the door remains open for light and air and the room is used for other purposes. During the day, the office is used for work. In the evenings, we often use it to choose a new book, write a birthday card or do the weekly online food shop. It is also home to all our stationary, important documentation and paperwork related to the house. It’s nice to make the office feel part of the home instead of it being somewhere you wish to close the door on and forget about come 5pm.
Rebecca and Cillian (@our_irish_newbuild_home) wanted to create a peaceful and relaxing workspace in their new home, and did this by taking advantage of its north-facing aspect.
Neither of us were working from home when we moved in, so we got the study set up about six months afterwards. The main thing we were focused on for this room was for it to be somewhere calm, quiet and tidy. That’s why we decided to go with carpet to avoid any echos on Zoom calls and meetings. We thought hard about storage and the colours we decorated the room in. As it’s a north-facing room, we decided to embrace the darkness and create a relaxing atmosphere opposed to the starkness of a regular work office.
With Teams and Zoom meetings and needing to access shared files, having a reliable broadband connection was also very important.
The study is situated on the opposite side of the hall from the living room so we don’t have to walk through it or past it to go about our normal day when we’re not working. On weekends, the door is usually closed and it helps us to forget about the working week and get a good work/life balance.
Tick one big thing off your list before you move in with Sky’s exclusive new home offers and get your Sky TV and Ultrafast Broadband setup for your move in day. Find out more here. Terms and conditions apply.
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