Make your home work for you
Aerin Lauder’s office. Image via Mode Amour
You are working from home but is your home working for you?
Your home tells a story about you and the introduction of Zoom calls have made us all think about how prying eyes are suddenly taking note of what is inside our homes and what it says about us.
Here are a few simple things you can do to help improve your interior at whatever scale.
Add colour
So many people are nervous about colour. In fact, I’d say that 95% of zoom meetings I’ve had are in front of white walls. And I’m here to say they don’y need to be.
Introducing colour is not something to be afraid of. It can be the perfect shade of off white but it can also be mint green, a subtle soft blue or a faded terracotta. And as design superstar Kelly Wearstler says, living without colour is like living without love.
Experiment with 3 different colours paint a sample on the walls and check it though out the day to see how it changes in the light. Then pick your favourite and paint it on as a fast, affordable upgrade. It will add dimension and personality to your space like never before and it’s impact on your mood will be life changing. You could also try a peel and stick wallpaper - it goes up quickly and is relatively inexpensive for fun patterns and a shot of colour.
Another simple, fun way to add colour is to swap out your desk lampshade for something bright and colourful.
A Kelly Wearstler designed home office. Image via 1st Dibs
Light
Sit in different rooms in your house and sit in different chairs. Good lighting is key and being next to a window made me feel like I was part of the world and not too snuggly. The light in your space will also make or break how you look on camera. Natural light is your best friend especially when it’s your face. So when on camera, always try to face a window. And at night, avoid down lighting at all costs.
Image via Pinterest
Furniture & Accessories
I recommend sitting at a desk with a chair and not your bed, but the chair doesn’t need to be an ugly office chair to be comfortable.
And in addition to the essentials, make sure to incorporate elements that will make you happy and reduce stress. You need to want to go into your new home office, so adding personal touches like a frame with a personal photo your love or a small vase of flowers will help boost your morale.
Image via Clary Bosbyshell
Storage
Also, incorporating good storage into your space is the best way to make sure your are able to mentally seperate home life and work life. In particular, closed storage is the best option so you don’t have to leave the mess for all to see at the end of the work day.
Keep baskets or bins or file holders on your desk or on a nearby hard surface to help keep your paperwork nice and tidy. I always find that a clean and crisp work surface is important to mentally stay focused on the task at hand. Rattan storage baskets like in the image above also work well and can layer some nice texture to your space as well.