- Changing commuting habits are influencing how homeowners redesign interior spaces
- Designers report increasing interest in ‘broken-plan’ layouts that support flexible working
- Demand for garden offices has declined significantly since the pandemic
Shifts in hybrid working patterns are reshaping how homeowners in the United Kingdom approach the design of their living spaces, according to new insights from home renovation and extension platform Resi.
The company notes that enquiries relating to internal layout changes have grown during the past year and now represent roughly 20% of project requests in its data. At the same time, interest in separate garden office structures has dropped sharply compared with the levels seen during the COVID-19 pandemic.
These changes indicate that homeowners are adjusting their homes to reflect more balanced work routines, as commuting habits settle following the widespread adoption of hybrid working.
At the height of the pandemic, many households invested in permanent home offices or garden studios while remote working became the norm. Now that many employees commute to the workplace two or three days each week, designers report a growing demand for adaptable spaces that can serve both as living areas and occasional work zones.
Professionals within the design sector have begun referring to this evolution as “Home Office 2.0”, describing workspaces that are integrated into shared living environments rather than placed in entirely separate rooms.
One concept gaining popularity is the “broken-plan” layout. Unlike traditional open-plan spaces, this approach creates gentle divisions within shared areas using elements such as sliding screens, internal glazing panels, or built-in desk recesses.
Resi’s review of project enquiries suggests homeowners are increasingly requesting these kinds of flexible layouts, allowing rooms to shift easily between domestic use and working space throughout the day.
Mark Hood, Director of Architecture at Resi, said the change reflects how hybrid work has settled into a regular rhythm.
“Open-plan layouts became popular because they suited modern family living. But hybrid commuting has changed how people use their homes during the week,” he said.
“For many households, work now happens at home for part of the week rather than all of it. That means people often want a degree of acoustic separation during the day, without losing the openness and connection that open-plan spaces provide in the evenings.”
Rather than extending their homes with additional rooms, many homeowners are choosing to reorganise existing layouts by adding sliding partitions, defining zones, or creating multifunctional areas that can change purpose quickly.
Hood added that the shift suggests a maturing approach to hybrid-working design.
“Rather than creating a permanent home office, many homeowners now want spaces that can switch between functions. The goal is flexibility — allowing a home to support occasional remote work without permanently reshaping the living environment.”
Observers within the housing and design sector say the trend reflects a wider adjustment in residential design, as hybrid working becomes a normal part of daily life.
