The majority of employees want to enjoy flexible working arrangements these days, but it can be difficult to create a suitable office space at home. Most people don’t have a spare bedroom they can transform into a study and some people find it difficult to carve a little area out of the living room for work.
That is why transforming your traditional conservatory into a bright and airy home office could be the answer, giving you plenty of room for your files and equipment, as well as a lovely view of the garden while you work.
Working from home popularity
It’s safe to say that Covid-19 lockdowns transformed the working-from-home environment in the UK. Just 4.7 per cent of UK employees worked from home in 2019, with this figure shooting up to 46.6 per cent just one month into lockdown.
Even though office doors have now been open again for a considerable amount of time, many workers do not want to give up their flexible arrangements. Indeed, 14 per cent of staff only worked from their house or flat between May 22nd and June 2nd this year.
An additional 26 per cent did a combination of travelling to work and working from home. The statistics show that more than two-thirds of people choose to stay at home on Tuesday, which could be because it is considered to be the worst day of the week so working at home may make it slightly better.
According to official statistics, 78 per cent of employees claimed the biggest benefit of working from home was having an improved work-life balance, helping them to spend the time they would have been commuting with their children or friends, or taking part in hobbies instead.
More than half stated the best advantage was having fewer distractions than the office, which was followed by it being quicker to finish work.
Forty-seven per cent said it improves their wellbeing, while 16 per cent believed it is easier to think of new ideas at home.
While some people also thought there were disadvantages of working from home, 31 per cent did not think there was anything negative about it.
These figures therefore show most members of staff who are able to work from home enjoy the option to do so, whether it is on a regular basis, every day, or just once in a while to help them be flexible with their personal life.
However, working from home is only possible and enjoyable if you have the right set up, otherwise you risk spending the entire day looking for what you need, feeling uncomfortable or being distracted by others in the house. That is why creating a study in one part of the house is important.
Why does a conservatory make a good choice for an office?
When choosing where to situate your home office, consider putting it in your conservatory. There are many reasons why this extension makes a good choice, including the following:
Natural light
The great thing about orangeries is that the floor-to-ceiling windows give you plenty of natural light. There are so many benefits of daylight exposure, particularly when working.
For a start, it is thought to improve focus, make you more efficient, boost your morale, keep seasonal depression at bay, improve sleep quality, reduce eye strain, and make you less drowsy.
According to a National Sleep Foundation report, those who were exposed to more natural light in offices had better quality sleep due to the improved regulation of circadian rhythms.
Furthermore, a Rand Health Quarterly study showed those who slept better were able to accomplish more than their colleagues on less than six hours of sleep a night.
Those who get more sleep are less likely to be lethargic at work, are able to focus and be more attentive, and can be more productive and efficient during the working day.
By increasing vitamin D levels in the body, as well as getting more sleep, this helps workers to fight off more bugs, so they are taking less time off work.
Calm and relaxing space
Conservatories are a great choice for a home office, as they face the back garden, allowing you to take in the view of nature while on an office call or working at the computer.
Being able to look at the flowers and watch the birds can have a positive effect on your mental health, boosting your mood and making you feel more connected with nature. You might also have a break in the garden, which has more therapeutic benefits than a lunchtime walk through busy city streets.
Feeling peaceful and relaxed helps to preserve your energy, so you can put more effort into your work.
Privacy
Conservatories also make a good spot for a home office, as they tend to be set apart from the main body of the house, as opposed to the living room or a bedroom.
This enables you to have more privacy, peace and quiet when working, with fewer family distractions. It also means you are less likely to procrastinate than if you are in the heart of the home, with many people finding the sight of household chores distracting while they are meant to be working.
Multifunctional space
As conservatories are designed to be multifunctional spaces, you are less likely to need structural changes than if you moved your office somewhere else. It also means you don’t take up an entire room, such as a bedroom, with your laptop and documents.