In the last few years, home offices have taken on far greater importance across the U.S. than ever before. Research suggests that by 2025, 36.2 million Americans will be working remotely. Working from home, whether that’s with a hybrid model or fully remote, requires a designated area to do so. This raises questions such as; what rooms do homeowners prioritize? And how can a home office affect property value?
To find out this and more, we surveyed over 70 top home staging and interior design experts. They gave us the lowdown on their client’s wants and needs, as well as what are the biggest home office trends we can expect to see in 2024.
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A multi-functional space is the biggest home office trend in 2024
For many of us, a home office was once a luxury, but never a necessity. And while times have changed, our home size has not. We might not all have the space to have separate offices, spare rooms, and playrooms.
So it comes as no surprise then that 77% of experts say that having a multifunctional space is the biggest home office trend in 2024. This can include a range of different possibilities. For example, Deborah DiMare, Founder of DiMare Design says “When space is an issue, I like the flexibility of a home office that can also be a guest room.” There are different ways to achieve this. Vicente Wolf, Owner of Vicente Wolf Associates Inc, mentions that “Home offices serving a second purpose as a spare guest bedroom, the bed is concealed as a daybed or sofabed or Murphy.” Another useful feature is to have office furniture that is easy to move around for whatever other uses the room has. As Leslie Carothers, Founder of Savour Partnership says “Multi-functional furniture on hidden casters will play an ever-increasing role in home office design, especially in smaller homes or apartments.”
However, it’s not only spare bedrooms that combine with home offices. As Laura Medicus, Owner of Laura Medicus Interiors, explains “Recently, people are making small, micro offices at home out of closets and pantries.” A place to work can be wherever works best for you in your home.
Image by Arica Martinez, Colorado Staging + Design
Other top trends include minimalism and moody design, both of which 39% of design pros believe will be a top trend this year. Minimalism makes sense in a home office space; as it is an area for working you want it to be less personal compared to other parts of the home. This simple design style also means less distraction that can come from clutter. A moody design with darker tones can also help differentiate between work and living spaces. For instance, Kristie Barnett, Owner of The Decorologist shares her experience saying “My clients are asking for zen-like office spaces in dark, moody tones.” As well as calm, moody-colored walls can bring a sense of formality and elegance to the space.
37% of pros agree that biophilic design and incorporating color into home offices is one of the biggest trends. Feeling connected to nature is at the heart of biophilic design, and it makes sense that it would be popular when research claims it can boost your work output. One report suggests productivity can increase by 6% and creativity can be boosted by up to 15%. As well as nature, color can also help. Marcia Moore, Owner of Marcia Moore Design, comments that “Some people need vibrant color to energize them and some need a calm atmosphere to alleviate stress.”
It’s worth considering who is using the space and what they need from its design. As Helen Bartlett, Owner of Refined Interior Staging Solutions puts it; “As a student space, a creative aesthetic can help the creative mind. A businessman or woman may be inspired by a minimalistic, clear space to allow the mind to focus on their objectives.”
People prioritize ergonomic furniture in their home office
If you decide to dedicate a room to becoming a home office, you need to budget for its contents. There are many aspects to consider, but 54% of experts believe that ergonomic furniture is the biggest priority for people. Spending hours a day sitting in the same spot can take its toll, and having the right chair, desk, footstool, screen height, and accessories is essential.
Yet, 49% also say that homeowners prioritize backgrounds for video calls. This means choosing the color for the walls, opting for wallpaper, or having a shelf showcasing books, or even hanging art. Minol Shamreen, Owner of Studio M Designs, states “In this era of a hybrid work model, the desire for a ‘zoom wall’ in the home office persists! Wallpapers remain the most popular choice and will continue to be prominent in the 2024 design scene.”
46% of pros opt for light as a main feature for homeowners. Whether natural or cleverly-used artificial, lighting can optimize a working environment. 46% also say storage is essential, while 33% claim calming design and space are top priorities. The closeness of these statistics suggests that it comes down to each individual’s needs. As Kerrie Kelly, Owner of Kerrie Kelly Design Lab sums up; “In 2024, the home office is evolving to become a versatile and inspiring workspace. Designs emphasize comfort, natural light, and personalized touches to foster productivity, while ergonomic furniture and innovative technology solutions cater to the growing demand for remote work, creating a space where you can thrive professionally without sacrificing style.”
Lighting tops homeowners’ smart technology list
No home office would be complete in 2024 without some sort of smart technology. And from the options available, 70% of design professionals say that homeowners most want smart lighting. Not all workspaces will have natural lighting, and while others might, it might not be available all day, especially when winter evenings draw in early. There are many possibilities for smart lighting, from voice control or remote use to motion sensors and scheduled settings. Having lighting that works as both task and ambient means creating the perfect environment for working. Smart technology can help with both, enhancing concentration and calmness, while also not harming your sight.
Voice assistant technology is what 57% of experts say is most popular this year. Voice control with smart tech means more efficient ways of operating with fewer interruptions. It can be used for turning on lights, managing room temperature, and even playing music without having to worry about stopping work and getting up and moving around.
Smart display is a way of optimizing your home life, and 46% of pros agree that it will be the most popular smart tech for home offices in 2024. A smart display includes a touchscreen interface, which works as a hub for controlling home features. You can use them to view security camera feeds, play music, control locks, lights, and thermostats, and even serve as a photo frame when not in use.
Home offices are far more popular than spare bedrooms
A massive majority of 91% of experts agree that people are more likely to have a home office than a spare bedroom in 2024. While a multifunctional space is the most on-trend, usually one room takes precedence over other uses. And it would seem that home offices win. Jackie Santos, Owner and Interior Designer at Scottsdale Interior Design Group confirms this, saying “Our clients prioritize home offices over lesser-used spaces such as guest rooms or formal dining rooms.” Many people are working remotely on a daily and weekly basis, yet they only require guest rooms from time to time. While having a spare room is still a sought-after extra in a home, a home office can also double up as a study for kids to do homework. This is interesting for home sellers. When staging a home, it might be wise to show potential home buyers the space for a home office as opposed to a spare room.
Home offices massively impact home value
67% of home stagers and design experts say that having a home office has a ‘big impact’ on home value. Bartlett points out that “Home offices allow for greater perceived value in a home.” Considering that many more people are likely to use a home office than a spare bedroom, it would be wise to conclude that staging an extra space in a home with a home office rather than any other room would be most beneficial to home sellers. Another 26% say it has some impact on the value of a property, while only 3% say it has no impact. You’ll have to speak with a local contractor to determine whether installing a room addition will be worth it in terms of ROI.
Any spare space is likely to impact positively on home value, however, if you have an area of your home that could be converted into an office, it might be worth considering to boost the sale price. As Karen Otto, Owner of Home Star Staging points out “A home office has become a non-negotiable requirement for most homeowners and home buyers. Even just carving out wall space in a spare bedroom is enough to showcase an area where they can work quietly and productively at home.” The message here is to not underestimate the value of home offices.
Methodology
The statistics featured in this report are based on the results of a survey completed by 71 top interior design and home staging experts in December 2023. These professionals were asked a mix of multiple-choice and open-ended questions. Most multiple-choice questions allowed for more than one answer to be selected. All percentages were rounded to the nearest whole number.
Expert Contributors
A full list of the experts who contributed to this report can be found here.
Adam Graham is a construction industry analyst at Fixr.com. He has experience writing about home construction, interior design, and real estate. He communicates with experts and journalists to make sure we provide the most up-to-date and fact-checked information. He has been featured in publications such as Better Homes and Gardens, and written for various outlets including the National Association of Realtors, and Insurance News Net Magazine.