Homework Made Easy

With more of us working from home, a dedicated office space is becoming a must. But it can also increase the value of your property and help clinch that sale.

Get the look: our round-up of the best home office furniture is the perfect source of inspiration.

It’s at the top of many people’s wish lists: a dedicated working space at home. Options range from creating a cosy nook for the computer, perhaps with a work station cleverly built under the stairs; to converting a garage into an office or workshop; or commissioning a bespoke building in the garden.

Our appetite stems from the number of us who now work from home, at least some of the time, if not full-time. There are almost six million businesses based in people’s homes in Britain; more than 27 per cent of these were set up in the past year alone.

The high street is feeling the social shift too: sales of office furniture at Debenhams, for example, reporting a 340 per cent increase in 2010. At John Lewis, smaller desks have been selling fast, as has office furniture that looks less ‘officey’, such as its Creator range, which is designed to use space to its best potential without losing any of the design detail.So, the office or work space at home looks set to stay. But, if you’re thinking about spending your money, can it add value? Yes, says Justin Bhoday of the Kennington branch of estate agent KFH: “More people are working from home, and they want defined spaces – this is where I work, this is where I relax. A home office makes a property more desirable, and if you want to sell, it could make the difference between a buyer saying yes or no.” However, it’s crucial to create a quality space: “That’s what gets you your money back, something well-built and bespoke that adds to a room.”He cites a clever bed-cum-desk unit installed in a two-bedroom property nearby in Oval: the bed folded into the wall, and a desk dropped down from underneath it – instant compact office. “It made the room work and the flat seem more spacious,” he says. “It added £5,000 to its value. As that was what the unit cost, no money was lost – and it was what made the buyer said yes.”

Architects Carolyn Trevor and Pat Lahiff own a four-storey Victorian house in south London and they have sited their practice in the basement. “The house needed to be totally refurbished, but the basement had its own entrance – it had been a doctor’s surgery. It was perfect for our practice,” says Carolyn. “We both work very long hours, so living ‘above the shop’ really helps and it removes travel time. We have five children, so we save on the cost of nannies being based here, too.” The couple extended the office under the terrace at the back and installed a glass wall to ensure plenty of natural light. The space accommodates their drafting tables and racks of architecture magazines; the clocks are set to GMT and the time in Nepal, as they work with a team in Kathmandu. She adds, “It’s common now to find that clients want a work space factored in when creating a home.”But what if there’s not an inch of extra space in the home? Then look to your outside space. Installing a garden office is a popular solution for growing families. Many companies make them, such as Crane, a Royal-seal company offering quality sheds and summer houses.

James Crane has seen a huge leap in demand for garden offices in the past 10-15 years. “The cost of land and the expense of moving have contributed,” he says. “Plus, almost everyone has a computer at home now and needs a place to put it. That said, our studios are used as leisure rooms or extra bedrooms as often as offices.”Crane’s bespoke buildings start from £6,155, and they sell ‘off-the-peg’ studios and workshops through John Lewis, from £2,395. But is it wise to invest in what is, after all, just a glorified shed? For starters, garden offices can add value to your property. “The building will be incorporated into your property’s overall square footage when it comes to valuation,” says Steve Jones of KFH’s Chiswick branch. “Depending on size, spec and location, it could increase the value of your property by anywhere between five and 10 per cent.”

Monetary value aside, it’s improved quality of life and convenience that can make home offices or garden studios desirable. “We design a lot of studios for artists, craftspeople and writers,” says architect Carolyn. “They may have adequate space in their homes, but they like to go out of the house, even just a few yards, so they can focus on their work.“The same applies to the home office: it’s a specially designated space that when you enter, it says to you, ‘I may be at home but here I’m not, so let’s get to work’.”

Back