The number of people working remotely has skyrocketed since many were forced to during the Covid lockdowns. That has meant the need for a study has soared, as residents want to feel comfortable in their working-from-home environment.
Indeed, a 2023 report revealed that a home office is the most desired room in the house. More than a third of homeowners prioritise a study when adding rooms to their property, coming ahead of gyms and snugs.
Beth Boulton, director at Eurocell, which commissioned the research, said: “Creating a home-office has never been more popular as working from home remains a permanent option in the UK.”
She added: “We expect the demand for this to stay, as the housing market forces more to adopt the don’t move, improve notion.”
The findings also revealed that 55 per cent of homeowners said they had thought about getting an extension for their homes, showing just how much people want a separate space for their working needs.
What is the demand for a home office?
To demonstrate how important a home office is to many Brits, it is sensible to understand how many actually work from home still.
According to Forbes, 39 per cent of working adults worked from home and 28 per cent adopted a hybrid working pattern between January and March 2025, splitting their time between the home and the office.
This proves that flexible working arrangements are still popular five years on from the pandemic when nearly half of those in employment worked from home, government figures reported.
In fact, the proportion of hybrid workers has actually increased since March 2022, showing that people are adopting this approach due to its lifestyle benefits, including providing a better work-life balance.
In total, nearly two-thirds of workers worked at home either all or some of the time, so it is not surprising that they want a distinct area of their house for this.
This not only stops their work from taking over their home life and keeps the two distinct, but it also makes sure their work documents are safe so they do not get mixed up with personal letters and children’s artwork.
Why conservatories make great home offices
Some people convert a spare bedroom into their home office while others build specific garden rooms for this purpose. However, transforming or building a new traditional conservatory is also a great option, and it is also the most practical and financially viable one.
It means spare rooms can remain a place for guests, and homeowners do not have to spend lots of money and use up valuable space in their garden for a separate building.
Conservatories are also a great place to work in, offering lots of benefits to those working remotely.
For instance, they are flooded with light thanks to their floor-to-ceiling windows. This allows people to enjoy lots of natural light, which is good for their mental health, increases productivity and energises them.
In fact, a Knight Frank report revealed that employees who sat near windows were 51 per cent less likely to experience eyestrain from their computers. They also had a 63 per cent lower chance of getting headaches and had a 56 per cent reduction in drowsiness, meaning they could concentrate on their work better and for longer.
As the conservatory is likely to overlook the garden, this is great for homeowners’ emotional wellbeing, as it helps them to feel connected to nature. They can look out at the plants, trees and animals, which helps to relieve stress and keep them calm.
A conservatory-cum-study also helps employees keep their home and work life distinct from each other. This creates a boundary so that you are not tempted to finish a project or send an email late at night and makes it easier to switch off at the end of the working day, so you can be more present with your family.
Using a conservatory or orangery for your home office also means you can have peace and quiet for work calls and to help you concentrate, as it is away from the main hub of the house. This is particularly important during school holidays when the children could interrupt meetings or disturb you if you are working in the kitchen or living room.
A conservatory home office can add value
This is why having a home office in your conservatory can add value to your property, as more and more homebuyers are looking for houses with studies in their property search.
Recent research revealed that 66 per cent want a house or flat with one home office, while 13 per cent want at least two.
This increase in demand for studies at home will drive up the price of houses that do have home offices.
Therefore, whether you are planning to sell your property soon or just want to keep improving it to maximise market value, having a home office in your conservatory could be a very astute move.