The spread of high-speed and fibreoptic broadband and new laws designed to facilitate flexible working, alongside recent economic woes and the concurrent rise in freelance work and small startups, mean that working from home has never been more common.
For all its benefits - working in pyjamas, daytime television breaks and rush hour avoidance spring to mind - home working also has drawbacks and distractions as whole mornings can be lost to bookshelf rearranging or family laundry.
Carving out a sufficient area in which to work is essential, but with space at a premium in London, this can be hard enough for desk-based workers, let alone anyone who needs a whole studio, or room for more than one person.
There are also specific planning permissions necessary for those who want a specific live-work designation for their home/office, which are essential if employees will be working from the space, or if things are being produced there.
For the average self-employed worker, however, the most important facet of a home designed for work and play is the ability to retain some degree of separation between the two.
The Camden Collective, average rent £250/week
Not everyone working at home is gainfully employed and many students do most of their studying at home. The borough of Camden has the highest proportion of students in London, comprising 11 percent of the local population.
While not only for students, The Camden Collective premises is an ideal place for students to live, with short leases available on serviced studios and rooms with en suite bathrooms and shared kitchens.
Accommodation is a cut above bog standard student halls with an emphasis on design, and rents include room clean, linen change, concierge services and bills.
Importantly for students planning to study at home, there is ample desk space provided in all rooms with a segregated study area included in the larger rooms, meaning that books and papers can be kept in a designated area away from other accoutrements of daily life.
The building is currently full but prospective tenants should check again in January.
For more information call 020 7183 5748
Mission House, Archway N19. 2 bedroom flat £799,000 through Urban Spaces
The mezzanine workspace in this two bedroom flat will be a godsend to home-based freelancers, meaning that the second bedroom can be used for children or guests, rather than as a study.
The space leads onto a private terrace, ideal for an attack of writer’s block, while there is a separate balcony leading off the bedrooms, meaning homeworkers need not be disturbed in their upstairs sanctuary.
The former mission house is set on a quiet residential street and boasts loft-living style features including bare brick walls and stripped wood floors.
Copenhagen Rooms, York Way N7. Up to 3 bedrooms £1,275,000 through The Modern House
This ground floor apartment is incredibly flexible following a recent refurbishment by Jonathan Woolf Architects and would be ideal for someone needing a home studio for photography or design.
The interior has an industrial-look finish with exposed concrete ceilings, poured-resin floors, LED lighting, shadow gaps, sliding doors and bronze door furniture.
A private entrance lobby has space for either bicycles or plants, while the 2,000 sq ft open plan space has a central reception room and kitchen.
York Central, Kings Cross N1. 1 Bedroom flat £1,999,500 Urban Spaces
According to Matthew Stanway, sales manager at Urban Spaces, this property is popular with an array of fashion designers and photographers, including David Bailey, who work and live in the large apartments.
The flat covers 1,813 sq ft and has a flexible layout: it is currently set up with a huge open plan living space and single bedroom but could have further rooms added.
The building was home to the British Poppy Foundation until 1996 and retains many warehouse features including large factory windows and ceiling beans.
It also has a private roof terrace.
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