6 Ways to Make Life at Home Easier
Lockdown, Work from Home, Quarantine: Make life at home easier and more enjoyable with these easy 6 Interior Designer's Tips.
If there is one thing we all have in common right now, it is that we are all spending a LOT of time at home. I wouldn’t believe you if you told me you haven’t started noticing things in your home that annoy you, are not practical, or just don’t work. Well I am here to help you make your life easier!
The past few weeks have been all about finding new creative ways to stay busy. Whether you are still going to work, lost your job or have to WFH, all the fun has been cancelled and we spend most of our time at home.
So yes, you have made a banana bread, re-folded all your towels nicely and cleaned your fridge. But have you thought about changing a few things up in the house so that it better suits your needs for the next few months?
I have seen a lot of people literally just "wacking" a desk in a corner and call it the home office. I have heard people complaining about lack of space. And most importantly about how some things in their home were just not practical.
Let me tell you: You’ll benefit greatly from making a few changes to your home so that it works better for you NOW. Yes, our situation is temporary, but we are talking months, not days! I want to help you make your time at home a bit more enjoyable with easy tips you can implement now to make your life easier. You might even want to keep these changes after all of this is over. If not, you can very easily revert back to the way it was before.
Set up a Real Office Space
It doesn’t matter what size your house or flat is, it is super important to seperate work from life. It might be for you or for your kid’s online classes, either way, try and find a space in your home where you put the desk, the chair, the printer etc… all together. No printer on the kitchen island because it was the easiest powerpoint to get to!
If you don’t have a spare room, try and move furniture around to create a little dedicated space, the less in plain sight the better.
Rethink your priorities. If you can eat at the kitchen island for a few months, turn the dining room into the office. It’s not like you will be having a dinner party anytime soon, is it?
I used to have a small desk for casual work in my living room. Once my partner was at home and we were both working full time, there was no way it was going to work. So we turned the guest bedroom into an office. We got a free desk on FB Marketplace and put the mattress against the wall: DONE.
It allows us to not be on top of each other all the time. We can really get into work mode without the distractions. That definitely made our life at home a lot easier!
Create a Breakfast Station
It can be difficult to get up in the morning when you don’t have much to do. One thing that I love and put into every one of my kitchen design is a breakfast station.
Choose a spot in your kitchen where you will put the coffee machine, kettle, toaster, mugs, cereals and tea bags… The idea is to be able to make everything standing in that spot (apart from fridge items of course).
It doesn’t sound like much, but when you are half awake (or in a bad mood), having everything in front of you, ready to be used, makes things a lot easier and more enjoyable.
Somehow it also feels a bit like when you are on a holiday and you get to the hotel’s buffet breakfast. Everything is there, nicely presented and ready for you to enjoy… Let’s be honest, we all get excited about the buffet breakfast!
Review your house to decide what you can set aside for now
Not doing the same stuff means we don’t need the same stuff, right? I don’t know about you but being at home so much turned me into a bit of a neat freak.
When you are out most of the day and then get home tired, you don’t care too much about the mess. But now you almost can’t stand a glass of water left on the coffee table!
So re-assess the situation. Ask yourself: "what items can I actually store away to have more room for new things?" I am thinking home workout equipment or board games here.
As for me, the first things that went in the cupboard were my iron and steamer! They used to be on top of my washing machine and gathering dust from the dryer, now they’re gone and I can clean my washing machine easily every morning.
What about re-arranging your clothes to have the fancy “going out” outfits out of the way and easier access to loungewear and activewear?
Bring in the Plants
Bringing a bit of nature into your home will definitely help you relax and feel more connected to the outdoors. They also clean the air by absorbing toxins and produce oxygen. It is so important to try and keep that connection.
If you don’t have children or pets, plants will be the most human things you will be able to interact with (sad but true, ask my 10 indoor plants…). Observing their growth, watering them regularly, and taking care of them is a good way to feel responsible and accountable. It is good for keeping track of days too.
That doesn't mean you shouldn't open your doors/windows for at least 10 minutes a day to get some fresh air in! Please do!
Cozy it up!
Comfort is key! It doesn’t matter what season it is! It’s been quite warm here in Sydney since we have just gotten into fall and although I am still wearing shorts and t shirts, I still want to cuddle up under a blanket and light a candle or two. Nothing better than reading a book under a blanket on the couch with a warm cup of tea. That is what Hygge is all about. If you don’t know what Hygge, head over to this article to learn how Hygge can improve your life at home.
Rethink your Space
Now more than ever is the perfect time to figure out what works and what doesn’t in your house. Maybe you have been cooking at home most days for the past few weeks and realised that you really didn’t have enough benchspace. Maybe you have been staring at the walls a bit too long and decided they really need a fresh coat of paint. What about your couch? Is it that comfy after your 6 hour Netflix binge?
Now is your chance to improve your home to better suit your needs, or your tastes!
Pinterest is a great source of inspiration for styles or DYI items. Check out my Pinterest boards, they are full of gorgeous images and inspiration!
Remember all the times you said: “I wish I had the time to redo the bathroom/redecorate the living room…” Well guess what, now you have time to plan and research, you’ll definitely be there for deliveries. Cherry on top: many brands are having great deals at the minute!
Re-designing a space, whether it is just a few pieces of furniture or a whole makeover, can make you feel like you live in a brand new space, and you haven’t even stepped out of the house!
If you need help at any stage of your project, I am here to help! Get me on board! Being a 100% Online Designer means I am all set up to help you, wherever you are, with your project. I can find you the perfect new coffee table, re-design your entire floorplan, or create a custom office space. I am all about making your life at home easier! Check out my services page to learn more about all the convenient, easy and affordable ways I can help you!
In the meantime, I hope I have helped you make your life easier with my simple design tips!