Burlanes' 2021 Trend Insights: Working From Home

There is absolutely no question about it, 2020 highlighted just how important our homes are, and how functional living spaces for all the family to enjoy are essential.

With the majority of us spending more time than ever at home, there has been a drastic change in how we use each room. Following on from our first 2021 trend insight, multi-functional kitchens, Helen Gulutu, Burlanes Chelmsford's Studio Manager, takes us through her top trend prediction for this year; the home office.

Whether your new normal is working from home full time, or if you will be splitting your working week up between a place of work and your house, you will need to ensure that you have a comfortable and practical space within your home to work efficiently, away from unnecessary noise and distractions.

Whether it is a dedicated room of its own, an alcove within a bedroom, or tucked into the space beneath the stairs, your home office furniture will need to serve a practical function, but that does not mean you have to compromise on aesthetics and style.

Work with a designer who can create a space that is perfect for your desired working environment; you should not have to struggle for storage space, or a place to put your printer, second screen or portfolio. The beauty of bespoke furniture is that it can be designed, handmade and installed to tick every single box, something that just is not possible with an off-the-shelf solution.

If you are able to dedicate an entire room to your new office space, do not be afraid to use colour! Your home office should be a space that motivates and inspires you, and it should be somewhere you enjoy spending time in. Add artwork to the walls, home accessories and things that reflect your personality!  

If you only have a small area of a room to work with, opt for smart storage solutions such as tall, fully adjustable shelving, and concealed storage drawers. Bespoke furniture can be handmade to fit around beams, sloped ceilings and wonky walls! 



Will you be sharing your office space with somebody else? If you live with someone who may also be working from home, consider a dual home office space to avoid overcrowding of a desk space.

Do you have a garage or an outbuilding that you are hoping to convert into a home office space? As long as planning permits, converting an outbuilding into a working room is fairly straight forward, especially if you are working with a company like us who will undertake all aspects of the renovation project; from design, manufacture, rip-out, redecorating and installation.