April 24th, 2020
Making your space work for you
(It is an interesting time to revisit this article. While the shift to working from home is now far from a novelty, the workplace of our futures has evolved. In our own space, while employees will use our headquarters at Westinghouse HQ as a collaborative hub, many will continue to work from home for more focused tasks. We anticipate many of you will have this same choice. As you carve out a longer-term home work environment for yourselves, these are some great tips that remain as relevant today, as they did one year ago.)
Working remotely demands a big mental shift. As we shelter in place and spend a lot more time in our homes, we begin to realize the distractions that come with it. From dealing with your new (temporary) colleagues, being surrounded by household tasks, or the layout of our spaces in general, we understand the challenges that come with working from home.
We touched down with Liz Gabaldo, from our Interior Design team to share some tips and tricks to make working from home work for you.
How can we achieve a fulfilling work and live from home experience?
Everyone should be realistic about the demands on their time while working from home. Children, partners, pets, and daily household routines all need to be accommodated while still achieving a productive workday. The key to a fulfilling experience may be flexibility, organization, and balance.
The human connection is so important when working from home, so be sure to chat with a neighbour (from a distance) or connect with family and friends often. Equally important, making sure you log off and shut down at the end of the day. Reading, getting creative, cooking a nice meal, exercising, or going for a long walk can help us all unwind and clear our heads. It is okay to relax the reins for now.
What is the easiest way to spruce up a space?
There are many things you can do at home to improve or change up your space. Consider purchasing a new piece of artwork, purchasing some plants, or ordering a new piece of furniture.
Paint is always the least expensive and most impactful change to a space. If you are happy with your existing paint choices, I would suggest trying to declutter and edit your home. By moving things around, you will find joy in seeing your things in a new way, and it costs nothing!
What advice do you have for people wanting to revamp their homes during this time?
Now that we are all spending so much time in our homes, we are realizing what works and what does not work for us, both functionally and visually. We may need to pare down, reorganize, and declutter if we are feeling the need to simplify our lives and environments. Some of us may realize we need to purchase some additional items to make our spaces function more efficiently or complete a particular look. If you are realizing you would like to paint or do some minor renovations, be sure to consider the new retail norm which is more complicated but still functioning.
If we’re short on space, what are some ways that we can make the most of our living and office areas during this time?
Increase your access to light. There is a direct correlation between daylight and well-being. Position your workspace near a light source. Not everyone has the luxury of a separate home office, but most of us do have a sofa. Try placing your desk or work surface behind your sofa. Add a comfortable chair and a light fixture on the surface or floor and you’re ready to get to work. This ensures that you do not look at your work area and think about it constantly during your downtime, both visually and physically separating these spaces.
We offer a range of services including art selection, furnishings, kitchen/bathroom design, historical home renovation and colour consultation. To read more about our services and how we can help make your space work for you, visit our Interior Design page.