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Six Tips For Improving Your Home-Work Life Balance

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Improving Home-Work Life Balance
Before 2020 working from home for some of us was a dream. Now, it has become most of our reality. If some of you feel like the transition of bringing and conducting work from your permanent residence is still not where you’d like it to be, we have the tips to help you find the perfect blend of work and life. These are handy alterations you can use to modify your environment to prevent your work and personal life from becoming one endless headache. Support your healthy living with interiors that inspire productivity and encourage relaxation and entertaining.

Together But Separate

Separating your work and home life when these places are now one in the same has prompted conscious life and interior design solutions that will help bring order and balance to you and your family. 

1. Set Office Schedule

Depending on your line of work, your regular office hours may not always be 9 to 5. With your clients and workload in mind, be sure to set standard work time hours, so you know where you need to start and end your day to complete your duties. This may go without saying, but you would be surprised how key time management is to ensure you’re not burning the midnight oil when you could enjoy time with your family.

2. Take Breaks

Be sure to designate break times that nurture your overall mental health, like eating away from your desk or putting your phone down to take a brief stroll outside. Keeping a semi-consistent schedule will help hold you accountable and prioritize work items first, so you have the time and freedom later to unplug.

Office at home

3. Establish Your Home Office Space

While your entire home is yours to live, work, and play in–it is best to work from one room within your home base. Having your designated business area will allow you to be more productive and focused. Your type of business will help you decide on your workspace’s size and location within your home.

A couple of things to consider when designating your business area are your overall day-to-day living rituals and the consideration of special events. If you don’t have a dedicated home office, there are plenty of home office alternatives. You could utilize a spare bedroom, a closet, a private nook under your stairs, or a quiet living area that is rarely visited and far away from the kitchen or laundry room. Create an environment that will work for you to make your job easier and more enjoyable.

If you have a family that lives with you, you know that they are part of the equation. Don’t forget to plan how your new work environment will impact them. Preparing your workspace will help enhance your day at the office and minimize any unforeseen obstacles later down the line.

4. Design and Curate Your Home Office Space

Ensure your office furniture, equipment, and surroundings serve you the best in their appearance and function. Do you need a traditional desk with a computer, or will you need a modified workstation? Computers and desks come in plenty of configurations and alternatives nowadays that make them more comfortable and functional. If you require storage, make sure your desk drawers fit in their new home and open and close easily. You’ll want the ability to house all of those little odds and ins you may need and still keep everything in its place and out of sight. Natural lighting in your work area is essential! Open your blinds or curtains to windows or position your desk under a skylight. If your workspace is in a windowless area of your home, consider splurging on quality lighting. This will help alleviate eyestrain and increase your productivity.

You not only have to interact with this area every day for business purposes, but you also have to live among your office atmosphere to a certain degree. Making sure your interiors flow from business YOU to personal YOU will ensure a unified look that is equipped and easy on the eyes.

Home Office Space

5. Weed Out Distractions

Flexibility in your time does not mean you should distract yourself with daily household chores. Dirty dishes and laundry can wait till your day at the home office is complete. These distractions will keep you from completing the tasks at hand and you’ll quickly find that you’ll get far less work done or that you will need to work later to get the same amount of work done. Part of the dream we used to have of working from home is how productive we could be if we had that freedom. Trust us, block out that temporary mess until you are done with your workday.

6. Set Boundaries And Close Down for the Day

That feeling you get when you come home after a hard day’s work is still supposed to happen. This relaxing moment can be hard to come by if you never entirely turn off, and we understand that here lately, it is easier said than done. If you are preparing to call it a day, go ahead and shut down your equipment, whether it is your business phone, laptop, or any technology that could strain your eyes from overuse. The tiny notification bubbles on any backlit screen can wait while you are enjoying dinner or reading your favorite book.

Out of Office

Don’t forget to leave your office for the day. Departing from your work area for the day can help you separate work life from home life. If your business space is in a central location of the home where you’ll have to pass by from time to time, modify your business environment for non-business hours. This will help enforce that line in the sand where you are truly done for the day.

Setting boundaries for yourself is crucial to an overall healthy well-being. Be present in those little moments of life. You’ll find that you will be a more engaged and fulfilled human being who enjoys the work-life balance.

Get It Together

Learning and perfecting the boundaries you set will help you feel more in control of your life. Keeping business and home life humming along is important, but so is the time for your personal life events as well. Birthdays and anniversaries are meant to be celebrated. Allow yourself to have this kind of time and freedom to lead a more productive and happy life.

Have you recently found a job that you love that will allow you to work from home? Are you trying to master the work-life balance? Let us guide you through to a productive and stress-free New Year with a new home office design. We can help save you time and change the way you see working from home.

 

Live Beautifully Organized

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As a residential holistic design firm, we can help you enhance every area of your home with elegant interior design solutions. A key piece to incorporate in a luxurious living experience is innovative storage and organization methods in your environment. The idea and function of the home has changed in recent months. Are there areas that need a little refresh or that could better serve you and your loved ones? The holiday season will come to a close soon, and how and where you store your décor does not have to be a chore. A New Year full of new plans is about to be underway, and there is no better time than now to evaluate your current home storage situation. Transitioning your home for each season can be seamless and comfortable with custom cabinetry and built-ins.

Fabulously Functional

Custom cabinetry and built-in carpentry can be functional and fabulous. Alleviating your home of clutter will encourage productivity and increase energy to enhance the lives of all who dwell in the space. These types of design elements demand attention. Custom made products and furniture mean more, not just to the people who live in the house but for those who visit–not to mention they also increase the value of your home. Having something made especially for you and your family’s needs is the kind of personalization everyone can appreciate and should enjoy.

Live Beautifully Organized

Showcase what is essential in your life with custom cabinetry. For the kitchen cabinets, it could be your fine china or priceless glassware. In your home office, you could display your collection of books or classic vinyls that help give your interiors personality. Turn what you treasure into a statement piece to be admired.

Fabulously Functional

Two Kinds of Problems

In our experience, we have come across two types of storage problems.

  1. You don’t have as much storage as you would like
  2. The storage available is not working for you as it should

Another side to how and where you keep items tidy could depend on what you use daily versus what you use seasonally. Supplies you and your family utilize daily will need to be easily accessible to where there is little disruption in obtaining them, going about your day, and returning them back to their home. While season décor can be tucked away in a safe place, you won’t need access to every day.

Custom built-ins can add storage to numerous rooms in your home, like your closet or mudroom. They can also make organizing clothing items or other personal articles more visible and accessible. Built-ins can also hide those homey things we know we all use but would instead have tucked away when guests arrive.

Custom Cabinets Home Design

Make Your Storage Work For You

Bringing custom cabinetry and built-ins to your home will bring the necessary storage to your kitchen, closets, laundry room, and garage. With these design elements’ versatility, you can convert any space into a functional and soothing retreat. Carve out the space you need and make it work to maximize your home’s square footage for relaxation and entertaining.

Do you have lower cabinets that are a dark deep abyss where you cannot find or easily reach what you are looking for? You can make those deep wells easier to use with custom pullout shelves and drawers. Creative configuration can also improve ease of use around plumbing or support beams while providing effortless living. Can you feel the Zen mood we are creating here?

Organized Storage Solutions

Change Your Ways

With each change in season comes life anew. Make the transition between the seasons effortless by keeping your belongings things arranged perfectly. Year-round decorating is a breeze with these easy tips. For those larger pieces of furniture and feature items in your home, stay in the neutral zone of color and layer in your décor from there. Having a neutral base to build off of will lend your interiors to all the seasons.

Create a more inviting window seat by placing luxurious pillows and something to read for the next passersby to take a break. If you have a mudroom equipped with cubbies, let your loved ones organize themselves so they can grab and go on their way out the door. If it’s springtime, help them along by keeping their raincoat or rain shoes handy.

For your living room, switch out those dark bulky pillows and throws for items that speak to a lighter and brighter time of year. In the bedroom, remove the cozier blankets for crisp white duvets and linens to keep everyone covered and cool. Replacing curtains and throws to lightweight cotton or linen are quick and easy updates that allow for lighter and breezier air to flow through indoors.

Change the way you see your interiors and especially the storage features of your home. We have the expertise and know-how to make your custom cabinetry and built-ins work for you and your home. Living well in your domain is what it’s all about, after all. Connect with us and let us help you invigorate your interiors with the latest and greatest in storage solutions.

Custom Home Design

Designing for the Season in the Midst of COVID

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Our goal is always to enhance you and your family’s lifestyle. Here are some design practices you can apply to your day-to-day life or for those special occasions. While COVID has brought its share of challenges, there is a lot to be grateful for this year. It has been a blessing to be able to take a step back from the hustle and bustle and be able to truly reflect on what is most important. Thanks to quarantine and social distancing, we have all come to appreciate what has always been right in front of us. The holiday season is well underway, and we are all still trying to navigate it with health and safety in mind. Traditions may need some modifying, and your checklist may look a little different this year. Remember, the environment you are creating in your home will help you and your loved ones be ready for this joyous time. We have carefully planned and compiled a holiday checklist that incorporates the new health and safety paraments that we hope will help you welcome your company in the most stress-free way.

Not the Same Song and Dance

A holistic design brings peace of mind that helps alleviate the rush that always comes with this time of year. While your overnight guest list may be altered this year, it is still essential to make your guest feel welcome and safe during their stay. Here are a few little reminders that will make the transition easier for everyone. 

Designing for the Season

1. Plan and Plan Some More

Planning, especially this year, goes far beyond the usual cleaning and decorating. There are various hosting options to consider in our new normal, such as, digital meetups or socially distant in-home events. Before your visitors arrive, be sure to discuss the importance of social distancing and the appropriate time to wear a mask ahead of time. This will help keep everyone on the same page and establish the answer to any questions they may have during their stay. Also, it is best to keep your guest list to a minimum this year. I know we all want to gather with those we love and that seem so far away. There are other ways for us to gather, celebrate, and keep everyone healthy and safe.

If you have guests that are still coming home to you, discuss transportation ahead of time. Schedule with them a set times and coordinate rides, so that you can prepare for them upon their arrival.

2. Safety First

Here is a list of go-to items to have ready and waiting. Keep everyone safe but make it fun with personalized or festive masks. This will remove the awkwardness if someone forgets to bring their own. Another good idea is to provide mini sanitizing pouches as welcome gifts. You can conveniently place these in the guest room or on your entryway table. Remember to stay a safe distance from others when possible and if the weather permits, host outdoors. This allows for ample airflow and a nice change of scenery.

Safety during the Holidays
If the weather does not permit an outdoor gathering, consider these tips for an in-home socially distant gathering option. For a cozy and safe dining experience, set up two dining tables at least 6 feet apart. This will help keep everyone included and safe. Bring the crisp outdoor air in by opening a window with a screen. The fresh air will keep the circulation in the room fresh and prevent any stuffiness. If it is far too cold out, consider using an air purifier. Anything like this that will help with air quality control will help everyone stay in the holiday spirit in a careful manner. As the host, it is okay for you to ask your guests or family members to wear a mask except while dining. They know as well as you do that everyone is doing their best to keep themselves and everyone around them healthy. To help lighten the load of hosting order take out for you and your guests. If you are like us and you enjoying cooking, set up a buffet, and take turns getting your meals. Once everyone has settled, que that background music and open that special bottle of wine you’ve been saving, and enjoy connecting again.

Lastly, keep washing your hands and avoid touching your face. Be sure that everyone washes their hands before touching the serving utensils. If your guests see that you are dedicating time to make sure your hands are clean, they will follow suit and will make this activity second nature or a conscious habit if it is not already.

Guest Bedrooms

Consider what your guests will need during their stay, such as fresh linens and a private space to put their belongings. Your dwelling will be their safe space during their stay. Adding little touches will make them feel more accommodated and right at home. Make your visitor’s stay an enjoyable experience by having your home well-lit with plenty of open outlets for them to charge their mobile devices.

Don’t forget those thoughtful elements that will help to elevate the overall look and feel of your home. The feeling your guests will have as they mingle within your home should provide them a sense of safety and comfort. If you are able to hire a professional cleaning service, this is a huge plus. A deep clean will give your home a fresh new feel. Next, make sure your bathrooms are well equipped. Stock them with plenty of toilet paper, fresh towels, and tissues along with the festive touch of holiday soap. Make hosting a fun and easy for you by keeping your pantry fully stocked to allow you to indulge and celebrate more freely.

2020 Holidays

3. Show Must Go On

To bring a sense of normalcy to an unforgettable year, decorate as you usually do. Not all traditions require a change when something like COVID comes along. A good way to spread joy and cheer this holiday season is by safely volunteering or donating to your local charities and organizations. A fun activity for you and your family could be to bake your favorite recipes and play games with the little ones. Indulge in nostalgic moments that remind us how blessed we all are.

For example, host a movie night where everyone can tune in, wherever they are, and whatever they feel comfortable in—like those infamous matching pajamas. If gifts are your thing, send them to your loved ones in the in the mail and of course, don’t forget letters or those holiday cards. This is the perfect way to let your favorite people know that no matter the distance, you are thinking of them and they hold a special place in your heart.

4. Virtually Anywhere

Be with your loved ones from virtually anywhere. Keep everyone healthy and safe, by choosing a virtual option to gather that includes everyone. You can send your video conferencing links via email or text and share any itinerary details you’d like your guests to prepare ahead of time. It’s always fun to share recipes for food, drinks, or even cooking together LIVE can shrink the distance. Prizes like digital gift cards can be awarded to the best-looking dish or the most festive cocktail. Adding these little touches, along with other creative virtual party ideas, will help make this new tradition a hit.

Virtually Anywhere

We hope this comprehensive checklist of little reminders will help you plan and gather with your holiday visitors safely. There is no right or wrong way to do things this year because it’s 2020. Navigate your environment the best way you know, and the rest will take care of itself.

Have other ideas in mind? Share your tips with us on social media or send us a note. We’d love to hear your creative solutions for hosting a memorable and joyous holiday season!