When we moved into our new home about four years ago, I was most excited about the great big office incorporated into the floorplan. We had a quaint little one in our previous residence which worked well, but I was looking forward to having a large room which I proudly named “the study” for the full snobby effect.
Lately though, I’ve been missing that small little space with glass pocket doors and built-in shelving. Even though it was tiny, it worked and it was smack in the center of it all – centrally located between the kitchen, living area and powder room. Even if I was working, I still remained connected to the goings on in the main arteries of the house.
I do like being able to hide the mess and shut the doors of our current office, and it is nice having the extra space, but in the age of the wireless network I rarely ever even sit in that office anymore except to file. Working, shopping and paying bills are all done from my comfy leather family room chair. Sometimes even my bed.
Is the office becoming obsolete? I think it may be. There seems to be a trend with many families that are no longer using computer desks for home offices. Even in my own circle of friends and family I’ve noticed this. I’ve also come across so many great desks designed to fit anywhere in the home, from the kitchen to the living room and bedroom – all settings where you can still be connected with your family members while getting the work done. It’s safe to say that “the study” no longer feels like the appropriate name for our office. It’s more like, “the dumping ground” but at least I can close the doors and pretend the junk on the other side doesn’t exist.
Do you get work done in a traditional home office, or do you find yourself working in other areas of the home?
Well, often at night I “work” online on the couch while “watching” tv wiwth a laptop in my lap. But if I truly have to work from home (which I do often, especially during quarter-end times) I prefer my desktop. We have a counter/shelving-like area in the hall outside our bedroom and that’s my current office. One day when Lily moves to a bedroom on the third floor I’ll claim her room as an office. Maybe :)
Totally agree! I loved “the study” and just furnished the whole thing last fall…lo and behold, I’m still on the couch with not one but two laptops wirelessly routed to my printer. The study is really just a place for everything I don’t want to look at!