5 minute read

House & Home

Next Article
Local Culture

Local Culture

7 Essential Home Office Design Tips

Inspire productivity and creativity

Advertisement

One of the joys of working from home is that you do not have to sacrifice your style within your office space with cookie cutter desks, bland wall colors and uncomfortable standardized chairs. An organized space goes beyond how it looks. Its functionality and vibes are important to working towards your goals and being in a space that creates the backdrop of possibilities for your future self.

1. If you don’t have a desk, make one. While working from home gives you all the comforts of home, don’t forget the real purpose of your home office. Separate your work life and home life and get your laptop out of your bed. 2. Make use of shelf space. Whether you add in a small shelving unit or hang a shelf of a nearby wall, take advantage of the vertical space to store your papers, notes and any other things you need for daily work tasks. 3. Allow enough space. Make sure you can work comfortably as you don’t want to sacrifice your productivity for camped quarters. Ask yourself if you will be able to move freely, stand up and sit back from your desk. It can be easy to underestimate how much space you will need. 4. A place to meet. Will you have clients or colleagues visiting during the day? Plan for some additional seating in your home office design to allow for these sit-down meetings. This can be as simple adding in a settee or 1-2 comfortable chairs that are easy to pull up to your desk. 5. Natural light and view. Good lighting is a must for any home office space, especially for the best screen views on your next Zoom meeting. Position your desk facing a window to give you soft, even pleasing light on your face. You can enhance natural light by including a mirror and keeping your walls mostly light in color.

SMALL TIPS AND CHANGES THAT WILL MAKE A BIG IMPACT IN YOUR HOME OFFICE

Invest in a Great Chair. Paint the Walls a Color You Love. Choose Homey Accessories. Organize Vertically and Horizontally.

6. Personalize your accessories. Don’t sacrifice your personal style, and since you are the owner of this work house, this is your way to shine like a #boss.

Think about what or who inspires you to level up.

YOU can decide how you want your home and office to feel. These personal touches will greet you when you start each day and make you feel at home. 7. Get creative with mugs, cups and vases. Repurpose what you already own as storage tools for every items like pens, scissors, rulers etc. These are an extension of your home and creative flair, so bring that look into your home office. 

Owning her space

Amber Bauman, Grey Pearl Interior Design believes women can have it all - if they want to.

BY LISA CRESS PHOTOS BY STUDIO 78

Amber Bauman loves the challenge of transforming a room. From residential homes in need of a refresh to clinics and offices looking to enhance their functionality and improve their workplaces, Grey Pearl Interior Design has built a solid reputation from a diverse portfolio of satisfied clients. Bauman has certainly paid her dues and invested in her career. She studied interior design at the Art Institute of Vancouver and graduated with honours in 2008. She is also certified by the National Council for Interior Design Qualification (NCIDQ), which demonstrates a practising interior designer has the experience, skill and ability to satisfy a client’s needs and resources.

“I’ve always wanted to be in charge of the work I do and who I build relationships with,” explains Bauman. “But I also understood that work experience was extremely important. I was with a small design firm for 10 years before I started my own business in 2018. After starting my family, sole proprietorship felt like the natural next step.”

Interior designers typically work with architects, engineers and construction laborers to determine how an interior space functions and flows. Bauman acknowledges that her profession can be a bit of a boy’s club.

“There are a lot of women in the design industry – but having worked in an architecture firm and being on site a lot, a woman’s expertise is often dismissed,” Bauman says. “I make it a priority to be as educated as I can with my contract documents and when speaking to other consultants. I deserve respect and to be taken seriously - I know I am very good at my job.” Bauman finds inspiration to grow and build on her success from her family. The support of her family strengthens her determination to provide and be better every day. Eventually, she hopes to retire her husband.

“I love what I do. I hope to still be designing when I’m 80 – I can’t see myself ever quitting,” Bauman says. “I truly believe that when a woman sets her mind to something, you can’t stop her. Can we have it all? Well, if you don’t want it all, what’s the point?” Confidence comes with time and experience. For career-minded women with ambitions to start their own business, Bauman encourages you to find what your passion is, go after it and don’t stop.

“Sometimes we need to stop and ask ourselves ‘what would a man do?’ because women tend to care so much about the needs of others. We’re often putting ourselves and our wants and dreams last,” Bauman says. “Care less about what people think. Set boundaries and give yourself the space and grace to make mistakes. The world is slowly changing to make room for women in leadership, but no one is going to hand it to us. After all, behind every successful woman, is herself.” 

Grey Pearl Interior Design www.greypearldesign.ca 204-509-4020

“Power’s not given to you. You have to take it.”

- Beyonce Knowles

This article is from: