Home Offices Give Way to Hobby Rooms
Introduction to the Shift
During the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, the most in-demand amenity was a stylish home office. Headlines proclaimed that commuting was a thing of the past and working from home was the future, while homeowners were building sheds in their yards as makeshift office spaces.
The Temporary Nature of Remote Work
That future proved to be temporary. Five years later, major employers from the U.S. government to Wall Street banks have required their staff back at their desks, with some companies, such as JPMorgan Chase & Co., even requiring employees to return to the office five days a week.
Repurposing Home Offices
In the wake of these return-to-office mandates, homeowners are now finding new uses for their offices, converting spare rooms and outdoor additions into Pilates studios, golf simulator rooms, cigar lounges, and even hangout spaces for their children. “We built a garden room as an office during lockdown and have repurposed it as a teenage party room,” says Mark Lawson, partner at the Buying Solution, a property buying consultancy in London and the English countryside.
Emerging Trends in Home Design
Lawson is intimately familiar with design styles thanks to his career showing homes to clients, so he can sense that he’s part of a larger trend. Lately, he’s noticed a number of hastily built home offices that have been converted into what he calls hobby rooms. What were formerly spaces used primarily for online meetings are now pottery studios and yoga rooms, he says. “We viewed one house where the vendor has set up a mini cookery school in it,” he says.
Passion Projects and Hobby Rooms
Passion projects for homeowners are increasingly taking up square footage — a huge turnaround from when people would hire interior designers to craft the ideal WFH background to impress colleagues and clients over Zoom meetings. “One recent client of ours turned their home office into a fully kitted-out wine room. Having completed a sommelier course, this oenophile wanted a separate space to explore and enjoy their passion for wine,” says Giles Barrett, head of the Notting Hill office and director at real estate company Domus Nova. “The space was refitted with a spiral wine cellar, mood lighting and decor suited to a five-star hotel bar.”
Luxury Real Estate and the Shift Away from Home Offices
Edo Mapelli Mozzi, founder and chief executive officer of property and design company Banda, says that on a recent project renovating a Hyde Park town house for a family, what was originally planned as a study was ultimately converted into a cigar room, “reflecting a shift we’re seeing away from purely work-focused spaces towards rooms that encourage hobbies, entertaining and retreat.” In Battersea, Becky Fatemi from Sotheby’s International Realty is currently selling a house belonging to Made in Chelsea star Spencer Matthews, which features a colorful listening room/podcasting area in lieu of a more traditional closed-off office space. The home is listed for $5.3 million.
Global Perspectives on the Trend
It’s a similar story in New York City. “In luxury real estate, the once must-have home office is losing its crown,” says Eric Brown, co-founder of Manhattan-based estate agency Elevated Advisement. Brown says that as more high-net-worth homeowners are back in Manhattan four or five times a week, their offices are being reinvented, finding more creative second lives. “Formerly quiet, minimalist studies are now doubling as lively man caves, moody cigar lounges or private cocktail bars,” says Brown. “Others have been transformed into golf simulator suites, fully equipped gyms or kid-focused play or video game rooms.”
Versatility in Home Design
Homeowners in New York City, where space is at a premium, are embracing this shift, he says, and letting their spare rooms serve multiple functions. “A room might start the day as a calm workout spot, serve as a kids’ gaming zone in the afternoon and then evolve into a sophisticated entertaining space by night.” Interior designers and architects say they’re seeing clients change their minds on what they need during the middle of a construction project, with a home office falling further down the list of must-haves.
Conclusion
The shift away from home offices and towards hobby rooms reflects a broader change in how people are choosing to use their homes. As the world adjusts to new norms around work and leisure, the traditional home office is becoming less of a necessity and more of a luxury that can be repurposed for more enjoyable activities. This trend is likely to continue as people seek to make their homes more versatile and accommodating of their diverse interests and hobbies.
FAQs
Q: What is happening to home offices now that many employees are required to return to the office?
A: Home offices are being repurposed into hobby rooms, such as Pilates studios, golf simulator rooms, and cigar lounges, as well as spaces for entertainment and leisure.
Q: Is this trend limited to specific regions or is it a global phenomenon?
A: The trend appears to be happening in various parts of the world, including London, New York City, and other locations where there was a significant shift towards remote work during the pandemic.
Q: What kinds of spaces are home offices being converted into?
A: Home offices are being converted into a wide range of spaces, including hobby rooms, entertainment spaces, workout rooms, and areas for relaxation and leisure.
Q: Are interior designers and architects seeing a change in client preferences?
A: Yes, interior designers and architects are reporting that clients are changing their minds about the need for a home office during construction projects, opting instead for more versatile and multifunctional spaces.
Q: What does this trend say about the future of work and home life?
A: The trend suggests that the distinction between work and home life is evolving, with homes becoming more multifunctional and adaptable to the diverse needs and interests of their occupants.
