Introduction
Our homes, whether we’ve lived in them for decades or just a few years between PCS moves, are unquestionably among the most vital spaces in our lives. And with the ongoing implications of the COVID-19 pandemic the importance of the houses, condos, or apartments we occupy with our loved ones has never been more obvious. But another result of the current state of the world is the expansion of our homes beyond just where we eat our meals and lay our heads down for the night. With work and education being diverted into the safety of our homes, the rooms and spaces that once had single uses are now being used for multiple things. Parents, students, employees alike are having to navigate a world in which they work remotely while helping their children pay attention to their teacher over a zoom meeting, cook, and eat all within the same space. And knowing how to set up and fill multi purpose rooms the right way is the best way to give your home the flexibility it needs.
Flex Room Spaces
For those with large square foot houses that don’t plan moving out of anytime soon, setting up areas for all the things people now need to do remotely is simply a matter of organization. But for those with regular-sized homes and those who move regularly, like members of the military community, having a dedicated space for every individual component of your day is just not possible. What would have just been the dining or living room in the past may now have to also work as an office, classroom, study area, fitness center, and more. These kinds of multi-use spaces and flex rooms are great ways to expand what you and your family can accomplish without ever leaving your front door. While what you need to fit into your flex space will likely be unique, these are some of the most common ways people are expanding their homes into much, much more.
Home Office
The number of people working remote jobs has, understandably, skyrocketed over the last year. In a recent survey by the Society for Human Resource Management, 67% of employers said they were taking measures to allow employees to work from home. (Click to Tweet this)
What was becoming a slowly incorporated trend has overnight been forced into a widespread reality across numerous industries. So a dedicated working space is extremely important for those whose 9 to 5 takes place in front of a computer screen in their home. A place to work, make phone calls, join e-conferences, and just plain focus, makes a remote job infinitely more doable. And with a proper setup, you may find yourself far happier and more productive in your home office than you ever were at your old office. Whether that means adding a small, easy to store desk in your dining room or a full desk suite to the guest bedroom, setting up an office space at home is going to be a big part of many careers going forward.
Virtual School
The novel coronavirus pandemic hasn’t just changed the way countless people work, but the way students of all ages learn. From elementary schools to major universities, educational institutions are holding digital classes or staggering in-person attendance among multiple protective measures. So a place in your home where your children (or you, if you’re in the process of getting a degree) can focus on classwork, homework, study time, and other aspects of schooling will make the difficult task of learning from home much easier. And while spreading a stack of books out on the kitchen or dining room table may be fine in the short term, having a real, dedicated location in your home for educational tasks is essential given how long many schools will likely remain remote.
Home Gyms
Even as gyms begin to reopen even in many of the areas and cities hardest hit by the coronavirus, a lot of people are thinking twice about returning to them. Not to mention paying the dues required to use them (those not lucky enough to have great gym facilities available on the nearest base, that is). As such, lots of people have switched, or are looking to switch, to conduct some or all of their regular workouts at home. Whether that means setting up a gym in a room with extra space or switching to more flexible furniture so you can make space will depend on the size of your home and the kind of exercise you do. But from adjustable weights to collapsible treadmills to workout classes watched on FB live, YouTube, or an app on your phone, there are plenty of options for setting up a place to get fit within your own home.
More like this: Home Gym Hacks for Your Small Space
Purchasing Furniture for Multipurpose Spaces
Okay, so you know which kind of space(s) you want to set up in your home to create flexible rooms and areas. You may even have a pretty good idea of just how you’re going to set up the room(s) you’re adding new purpose(s) to. But to really get things moving, you’re going to have to start looking for furniture that will fit these rooms in the new way you envision them. The thought of purchasing new furniture may fill you with a little trepidation, given the cost and the added difficulties the coronavirus presents. But that’s where great furniture companies like CORT can help ease the burden of setting up multipurpose spaces. Not only are they taking vital measures to minimize COVID-19 risks to consumers, but they offer quality furniture at competitive prices for purchasing, renting-to-own, or renting, plus special packages and discounted pricing starting at $99 per month for military personnel. And this is great for those who prefer to not drag around large household items between PCS moves. Which means you can test out your new setup without having to make a big purchase.
Photo by Katie M Crenshaw (@KatieMCrenshaw) for CORT
Conclusion
Someday, hopefully, not far from now, the current health crisis will be over. But even when it is, many jobs will remain remote, the value of a study space at home will never diminish, and the convenience of home gyms is hard to beat. So while the urgent need for flexible spaces and multipurpose rooms may fade away, the concept isn’t going anywhere. Setting up your current home and/or planning for your next one for work, school, fitness, and more is an endeavor well worth doing.