Which of these describes you better:

I miss the structure of the office. I focus better there.

OR

Working from home has quietly become one of the best parts of my routine.

A few years ago, this question sparked some pretty heated debates. Back then, working from home felt temporary. For many people, it was something to endure, not design a life around.

Fast forward to now, and the conversation has changed.

For a large portion of Canadians, working from home is no longer an experiment or a perk. It’s simply how work fits into daily life. Some people still prefer an office. Others split their time. Many never went back at all.

What started as a disruption has settled into something more ordinary, and that shift has quietly reshaped how we think about our homes.

From experiment to everyday

At the height of the shift to working from home, millions of Canadians adjusted their routines almost overnight. What mattered most at the time wasn’t preference, it was necessity.

What’s more interesting now is what happened afterward.

Once offices reopened and employers had choices again, a large portion of the workforce didn’t fully return to the way things were before. Some people went back a few days a week. Some didn’t. Others changed jobs entirely to keep the flexibility they’d grown used to.

That moment proved something important. Working from home wasn’t just possible at scale. For many roles, it was sustainable.

How working from home feels now 

For most people, the conversation about working from home has settled into something much calmer than it was a few years ago.

Very few see it as an all-or-nothing choice anymore. Some people like the focus that comes with being in an office. Others value the quiet and flexibility of home. Many land somewhere in the middle, splitting their time in a way that fits both their job and their personal lives.

What stands out is how normal these arrangements have become.

Parents appreciate being closer to home, even if it just means fewer rushed mornings or a shorter commute on in-office days. People without children often point to better concentration, fewer interruptions, or simply having more control over their schedules. Employers, too, have adjusted, with many designing roles around output rather than location.

The novelty has worn off. What remains is a practical question of balance.

How homes have subtly adapted 

As working from home became part of everyday life, houses didn’t suddenly change, but people did.

Kitchen tables became work spaces. Spare bedrooms picked up a second purpose. Corners of basements, dens, closets, and even wide hallways became places where laptops lived during the day and recharged again at night.

Over time, those temporary setups started to feel more intentional.

Some people claimed a guest room and made peace with the fact that guests don’t visit as often as they used to. Others carved out space wherever it made sense, adding a proper chair, better lighting, and a door or divider that could close when the workday was done. Basements became more about useful space and less about storage. Closets were reimagined. Dens got a makeover.

None of this feels unusual anymore. The way people have woven work into their homes simply reflects how we live now.

Creating a Home Office That Works

As working from home settled in, so did a clearer understanding of what actually makes a workspace functional.

It turned out that productivity had less to do with having the “right” room and more to do with a few simple conditions. Enough quiet to focus. A place to sit comfortably (ergonomics, anyone?). Lighting that doesn’t strain your eyes by mid-afternoon. And, when possible, some way to mentally step out of work mode at the end of the day.

For people living alone or in quieter households, that often meant claiming a corner of a living room or kitchen and making it intentional. A desk that stays put. A lamp that works without making the place feel fluroescent and sterile. Storage that keeps papers from creeping across the table once dinner rolls around.

The biggest challenge might be finding a spot close to plugs and cable hookups.

Shared households required a bit more creativity. Spare bedrooms became dual-purpose spaces, serving as offices most days and guest rooms when needed. Dens and basements offered separation and quiet.

 

Even a shallow closet with the doors removed can accommodate a desk and chair comfortably in some bedrooms.

If you think I’m being ridiculous…Google the word “cloffice.”  You’re welcome.

Of course, if your home has a basement, and you don’t mind working down there, that’s an easy solution, too.  Inspiration is everywhere.

However working from home fits into your life, one thing has become clear over time. Homes work best when they allow space for all the activities we do, including the restful ones.

It’s up to do to decide what balance means for you. For some people, it’s a door that closes at the end of the day. For others, it’s packing a laptop away, closing a curtain, or simply changing rooms when work is done.

This is just the new normal now. Homes flex to fit the day, and no one thinks twice about it. Working from home, whether full-time or part-time, is no longer something unusual to explain or justify. It’s simply part of how many of us live.