How to Design a Productive, Functional Home Office

How to Design a Productive, Functional Home OfficeIf you’re one of the almost 4 million U.S. workers who work remotely, you probably understand how important your home office is to your productivity.

But simply having a home office won’t make you a productive worker by itself. You need to put some consideration into the design and layout of your space. Making sure that everything is in order will ensure that the workday does not go to waste.

Here are some of our best tips to help you design a functional and StressLess home office.

Location, Location, Location

Most homes do not have a specific place designed for a home office or study. If you don’t have a dedicated office, then you may have to choose a space that was meant to be a formal living room or a dining room, or spare bedroom. Whatever location you choose, make sure that it works well for your work needs as well as the needs of the rest of the family.

No matter what space you choose, ensure your family understands that during your work hours your office needs to be as low-traffic of a space as possible. It may take some negotiating if this is a common space, such as a den.

In some instances, a small outdoor shed or another outbuilding (if space permits) can be converted into a great workspace.

Meeting Space

Depending on what you do for a living, you may need space in your office to meet with people. Even if it’s only on a rare occasion that you have a real meeting in your home office, it’s a good idea to plan for those moments. Having space set aside for meetings helps you and your space make a more professional impression than if you simply grab a folding chair.

Types of Desks Types of Desks

There are a lot of options available when it comes to desks. When choosing your desk, consider your work process, what you need easy access to, and how much storage you may need.

Another thing to consider: Ideally, your home office desk and furniture should match the details of your existing home furniture—especially when the home office blends into the rest of the larger home.

Care About What You Sit On Care About What You Sit On

photo courtesy: Ekornes

Sometimes people think they can get by with any old office chair. But, they quickly realize how wrong they were when their backs begin to ache.

You’re going to park yourself in that chair for hours every day, so invest in a good, comfortable ergonomic home office chair Rather than going cheap on a home office chair, spend the necessary amount of money on an ergonomic office chair and your back will thank you. Check out this office chair buying guide for your reference.

Include Storage in Your Design

Nothing will distract you more than a messy workspace. Include ample space for shelving, cabinets, or decorative storage boxes to keep things organized and to keep your desktop from becoming a cluttered mess.

Think about Tech

One of the most important things you can invest in for your home office space is a surge protector and power strips. Typically, a home office has a lot more electrical needs than other rooms, and you’ll find that you may not have sufficient outlets. The surge protector is a good idea for any electronic devices whether they are part of your office or the regular living area.

Don’t forget about cord management—buy a cover for all of your cords. This is as much a safety issue as a decorative issue. You’ll keep your area looking neat and have fewer tripping hazards if you spend some time corralling your power cords.

Add Some Personal Touches

There’s no need to become a feng shui practitioner here, but at least make sure your space is inviting and enjoyable to be in (even if it’s only you in the room) by hanging pictures or posters or simply including some personal items.

Plants are also great for an office, adding color and dimension to a room, but more importantly, they can help improve mood and productivity. A University of Queensland study found that in offices that had plantlife, workers were 15% more productive. This could be due to a number of factors, but mostly it seems to come down to mood—plants improved mood and that can lead to improved work and productivity.

A home office should be a welcoming, comfortable space. It will remind you that working at home should not be a torturous experience, but rather an enjoyable one.

By designing your office area with your work in mind, and using some basic office planning principles you can create a StressLess, inspiring, and highly productive workspace that you’ll enjoy spending your time in. Utilize some basic design principles to make it productive and inspiring, you can make sure you actually work when you’re working from home.

Related:
6 Home Office Flooring Design Ideas: With Pictures
3 Ways to Organize Your Home with Wall Units
4 Factors of Great Office Design
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What Your Home Style Says About You… And How to Change It

When you walk into a home store are you drawn to an electric green pillow, a simple black table or a supersoft, fluffy blanket? A recent study has shown that different regions tend to favor different styles of interior design and put emphasis on different rooms and it says a lot about the culture and people in those states. Interior design has as much to do with who you are as a person and what vibe you want your space to have. Curious as to what your home says about you? Here’s what you need to know about analyzing your space! What Your Home Style Says About You… And How to Change It

Start with the Walls

Color is a crucial point in setting the tone for the vibe of a room. Is your home filled with greens and browns and earthy tones? You like the relaxing, earthy vibe that eases the shock to the senses of moving from the outside to indoors. Are you likely to choose gray or blue? Gray is serenity and blue is calm and fresh. Have a home that incorporates both colors? You are focused on creating a space that’s zen.

Red- Power, Passion

Orange- Energy

Yellow- Happiness, Creativity

Green- Soothing

Blue- Calm, Fresh

Purple- Royalty, Luxury

Gray- Relaxation

Brown- Relaxing

Black- Power

White- Cleanliness, Purity

Thinking about tweaking the color of your walls paint? Don’t feel like you can’t mix and match. Too much orange will be overwhelming and an all white room will feel sterile and impersonal. Spruce it up with a statement wall based on the room’s purpose!

The Room’s Styling

What did you decide to put inside of the room? Did you fill your bedroom with soft pillows, fluffy blankets and tapestry hangings? This implies a soft, inviting room designed for comfort and relaxation. Do you keep your surfaces cleared and clutter free with no knick-knacks or distractions? You are all about efficiency, getting things done and keeping things neat, and you are clear headed and rational. Do you have brightly colored furniture, blankets, and little things scattered all over every surface? You’re the picture of exuberance, very open and full of life, and passionate about everything. We experience every room on different levels, and texture makes a big difference in the design aesthetic of the room.

Most of your design decisions in this case are intuitive – your personality tends to dictate what type of things you’re attracted to and how you’ll display them. Which style most closely resembles your home- and which one represents the real way you wish your home were designed?

Farmhouse Style- Warm, rustic

Cottage Style- Quaint, cozy, plush

Mid-Century Modern- Understated with accents, trendy

Modern- Neutral, efficient, simple

The Room You Emphasize

Which area do you spend the most time in? Which room needs to be the most styled and designed for a specific purpose? If you work from home, focus on styling your office to maximize your efficiency and give you a professional space. If you love to cook and entertain, make the kitchen and living areas pop. Take a good, hard look at what part of your home needs the most design attention.

Whether you thrive in minimalist surroundings that enhance your focus or need blankets, pillows and every surface covered with fun knick knacks to get going, your home is an extension of you! Knowing your style means finding cool pieces that will create a home that fits your personality. So take a look at your space and see what you can do to spruce up your space!

Related:
Home Decor: Decor As A Minimalist
Redecorating: Its Actually Not As Hard As You Think
A Touch of Glimmer in Your Home: Decorating with Metallic Finishes

5 Ways to Make a Small Apartment Feel Big

If you’re living in an apartment, chances are you’re not drowning in space. Most apartments don’t come with much square footage, so if you’ve got 300 square feet per person, or less, you probably wish you had more room.

The good news is, there are some easy ways to make a small apartment feel big. Simple tricks can do wonders. Without further ado, here are five ways to take your cramped space and make it seem larger. 5 Ways to Make a Small Apartment Feel Big
Add Shelves

If you’ve got walls, walls, and nothing but walls, you can improve both the look of a room, and your storage problems, by adding shelves. Whether you install “floating” shelves in the living room, or build a bookcase headboard, you can make way better use of your apartment space if you store upwards. Head to a home improvement store in Lyndhurst, Eastlake, and Greater Cleveland and start creating your own storage solutions.

Put Up Art

Even the ugliest room can be improved by great, framed art. Besides improving the aesthetic, art also makes a room look larger, since it controls the wall space. Your tiny bathroom can look brand new and wide open with a few jungle or beach art prints. Like tiny windows, prints break up the white and lend atmosphere. You can put up Acrylic Photo Prints or start browsing artists on Society6.

Hang Mirrors

A mirror will make your space look double the size. If you hang them right, they’ll transform a room. Mirrors capture and reflect light, amplify colors, and provide a “window” into a new space. Any sized mirror will help, but if you’ve got a poky living room, a huge mirror behind the couch might be exactly what you’re looking for.

Hang Your Curtains Higher

Any space looks bigger when you amplify the distance to the ceiling. If you hang your curtains at the top of your squat windows, your place is going to look squat. If, however, you hang the curtain from the ceiling down, both the window and the room look bigger. Make your ceilings appear taller by hanging curtains an extra foot or two higher.

Color Code

If you’re cramming every book you own into a tiny space, your shelves are going to look cluttered. To reduce the maximalist effect of all your stuff, try arranging things by color. Put all the red books together, all the green books together, etc. That kind of arrangement will help your space breathe more easily.

A beautiful apartment isn’t dependent on great architecture or tons of space. Your small living quarters are a fantastic challenge–one you can pass with flying colors. If you incorporate some or all of the tips from this article, your small space will start feeling open in no time at all. Keep your apartment full of your own personality, but remember to decorate with a strategy in mind. You can transform your current apartment to the apartment of your dreams, all by the way you arrange.

Related:
Apartment Options For Modern Living
10 Furniture Pieces For Small-Space Dweller’s Must Have
Is There Really Any Color Scheme For Small Spaces?-Help Double Small Spaces

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The Top Munich Attractions for Architecture Lovers

The Top Munich Attractions for Architecture Lovers

The Top Munich Attractions for Architecture Lovers

 

In terms of its recognition and popularity amongst German cities, Munich is perhaps overshadowed by the country’s capital, Berlin. However the city is the capital of Bavaria and home to dozens of museums, centuries-old buildings and architectural wonders that make it a perfect destination for art, culture and architecture lovers. And so if you’re a culture vulture looking for one of the best architectural mainstays in Europe then Munich is the place to go. Here are some of the top Munich attractions for architecture buffs to consider visiting on your next trip to the Bavarian capital:

 

 

 

The Brandhorst Museum 

Brandhorst Museum-TripAdvisor
Image: TripAdvisor

A good place to start your journey through Munich’s architectural wonderland is the Museum Brandhorst. Officially opened in 2009 and housing a private collection of hundreds of German and American artwork, Brandhorst is worth a visit just to see its striking façade. Designed by the famous Berlin architects Sauerbruch Hutton, the building is covered in thousand of brightly coloured vertical rods that give it its pixellated and undulating colour.

Odeonsplatz 

Odeonsplatz Munich Germany Trip Advisor
Image: TripAdvisor

Although at a certain point in its history the Odeonsplatz is the place where Hitler held some of his rallies, the building now commemorates all those that stood up to Nazism with its golden cobblestones.

Consisting of the commemorative cobblestones and an impressive facade, the Odeonsplatz is a great example of the impressive Architecture that Munich has to offer. And if you’re worried about getting about the city to see all these wonders Munich airport transfer to and from the city is easily available, as are various public transport links. Be sure not to miss the daily performance piece entitled ‘It’s never too late to say sorry’ held here every day at noon.

Munich Residenz 

Munich Residenz - Palace in Munich
Image: Almay.com

Regarded as one of the most spectacular palaces in Europe, Munich Residenz was the seat of power for several of Bavaria’s Dukes and Kings for many centuries. Now the vast complex of three main buildings is home to a number of museums and monuments. The Residenz houses the Court Church of All Saints, the Residenz Museum, Cuvillies Theatre, and beautiful gardens that feature dozens of exquisitely designed courtyards, ponds, fountains, and gardens.

Frauenkirche 

frauenkirche cathedral munich
Image: Yelp

Munich is also home to the magnificent Frauenkirche, or the Cathedral Church of Our Lady, an imposing late Gothic church that was completed in 1488. Highlights include the massive twin towers that make up part of this huge building and measure at 100 meters tall, as well as its Renaissance-inspired domes. The two towers are a major Munich Landmark, while the cathedral also houses the black marble and bronze tomb of Emperor Ludwig the Bavarian placed there in 1622.

Nymphenburg Palace 

Nymphenburg Palace Munich Germany schloesser.bayern.de
Image: schloesser.bayern.de

Set in glorious gardens that feature breathtaking landscapes, the Nymphenburg Palace is a must see for all architecture and culture buffs. Its highlights include enchanting pavilions, artfully decorated tearooms and swimming pools, as well as a Francois Cuvillies-designed hunting lodge complete with ostentatious dog kennels.

As the examples above prove, Munich is a treasure trove of architectural wonders and cultural heritage for those excited by both ancient and modern buildings. Many other fine examples exist in the city and its authorities have made it their mission to actively promote their beauty and charm. Munich is well worth a visit for an itinerary choke-full of art, culture, and amazing architecture alone.

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