At the time of this writing, my office is my backyard. If it rains later, I will migrate to the dining room table. If the dogs decide that anything, I mean anything, moving outside warrants a barkfest, then its on to the bedroom where I can spread out and hopefully stay awake!
Sound familiar?! And this still happens even though I have a perfectly good studio space walking distance from the house!
It’s human nature for most of us to just make it work. And winging it is fine for an occasional late night or mandatory work over the weekend kind of gig, but if this pandemic has taught us one thing (and it’s taught us a lot!), it’s that we should take control where we can… and that can start with your home office.
We have changed, perhaps forever, the way we work, educate and play. And now when it’s so easy to blur the lines (and the days and the meals and the workout plans), it’s more important than ever to set aside space to work, attend school, pay bills and all the other tasks that deserve their rightful space in your home, and your brain.
We have some tips on how to make even your office feel like a sanctuary and a place you might actual enjoy taking a Zoom call!
It’s important to create a physical space between work and home. Studies show that having your home office in your bedroom, while perhaps convenient, reduces your ability to get a good nights sleep and makes it difficult for your brain to ever truly turn off.
Ideally, pick a space that requires you to retreat from the rest of the house. Be creative- An extra closet in a guest room might work, or the guest room itself. Basements and attics are a luxury for their space and get away from it all ability, but make sure you have ample light and fresh air. And if you are the lucky few, a shed or Folly House might have you begging to stay at work!
Make sure your work space has everything you need to do your job. This might sound like a no brainer, but it’s the little stuff that can drive you crazy! Do you have enough outlets? Is your internet connection good enough? Is your workspace big enough? And how is your storage? Investing in a few good tables and filing cabinets can make a world of difference. And think outside of the box. That extra dining table in storage waiting for your grown up kids, might be the perfect place to spread out a project.
If you know me, you know I have a fasten your seatbelt approach to color. I never met a color I didn’t like (except that green they used in hospitals in the ‘70’s!), but knowing what helps you focus and what does not is really important.
Yellows have a tendency to stimulate the brain as do oranges and reds. I love to use those as a spritzer in a room. Think about a fabulous drawer or the inside of a cabinet.
Try those colors in pillow or a throw, but not your walls. Blues and greens are the worlds most prevalent colors and, for the most part, the brain sees them as safe and calming. These tones can set the mood for a productive and calm space that allows work and study to have it’s time.
You’ve seen it. That amazing bookshelf filled with perfectly proportioned objects and sculpture and books on the art of neurophysics along with the occasional photo of someone shaking someone’s very important hand. Zoom shelves have become a snapshot of our lives and homes, but not always an accurate one.
Let the backdrop to your video calls represent who you really are. Avid golfer? Adored grandparent? Collector of Comic-Con art? Go for it. But let it be you. And if it’s not you, hey that’s ok too. A few rules to remember include not sitting in front of a light facing into your computer screen or in front of a window. And check yourself in your screen before the call to avoid anything embarrassing like vases that give you Micky Mouse ears or showing up in boxers, true story.
We may not be able to get out the way we used to, but that doesn’t mean leaving the world behind. Adorn your new space with things that inspire you…travel, inspirational quotes, family, friends and, my favorite, an inspiration board of bucket list items. Keep moral high and give your mind a moment to wander.
Embrace the idea that we are the fortunate ones, having the opportunity to work from home. And as much as we yearn for our connections to be face to face, we can find gratitude in the opportunity to work and work from home. Try to find time to celebrate those you have at home with you and give a heart felt thanks to those on the front lines for us each day.
Capture a space that allows you to focus, produce and move forward. The only thing that is constant is change. Change and Justin’s Dark Chocolate Peanut Butter Cups. That’s my new constant.
For more inspiration check out our Pinterest board!
Be well,
Renee
Renee possesses a rare combination of artistic creativity and intuitive design. Her warmth and compassion extended beyond working with us to understanding the style and feel of our home and how we live in it. We felt fortunate to work with and get to know Renee and absolutely love the updates she made to our home- from windows and walls to artwork and furniture!
Renee is an absolutely wonderful designer. Very talented and easy to work with! She will transform your room or outdoor space into exactly what you want, only better!
Talented, creative, dedicated, great communicator. Renee is such a special person.
We have worked with Renee Carman at this company for almost 2 years. Renee is professional, personable, and a pleasure to know. She is very helpful and will go the extra mile to please her clients. Renee has excellent expertise and knowledge of interior design. We have a beautiful home and highly recommend her.
Renee possesses a rare combination of artistic creativity and intuitive design. Her warmth and compassion extended beyond working with us to understanding the style and feel of our home and how we live in it. We felt fortunate to work with and get to know Renee and absolutely love the updates she made to our home- from windows and walls to artwork and furniture!
Renee was a pleasure to work with and has great vision. We were doing a total rehab of a recently purchased property and she was able to look at a gutted out '50s cottage and turn it into a beautiful mid-century modern home. She understood our budget and timeline and was good about narrowing all our options down to just a few choices. This expedited the process, made it less difficult and more enjoyable. Once the rehab is done, we look forward to working with her again and finish the rest of the rooms.
Renee at Mandeville Canyon Interior Design was simply wonderful to work with. She was able to understand what we were looking for in terms of color, function and design from the moment we first spoke. She's easy to work with, goes above and beyond and delivers an outstanding design.
I highly recommend Renee and Mandeville Canyon Interior Design. I don't think I will attempt to decorate another room in my house without the help of Renee!
Love working with Renee and Mandeville Canyon Interior Design ! I had the opportunity to collaborate on a large scale design project recently and the results were fantastic! Creative, resourceful and one of kind design ideas made this design opportunity with Renee "one of a kind" Have a large or small project? You won't be disappointed!!
Renee not only has an amazingly creative eye, she also directed a massive renovation for us this past year that included the challenges of operating during the pandemic. She put together a team that had an incredible work ethic and brought the project in on-time and on-budget. She's a great listener. When we threw ideas at her, she was never dismissive; quite the contrary, she made them better. Her patience, attention to detail combined with her whacky sense of humor meant we were all able to smile while producing a home that we love. A great talent and a great lady.
Rene is amazing! Great customer care and wonderful attention to detail.