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Tips and Tricks for Organizing Your Space According to Your Needs
As your personal and professional circumstances change, you may find yourself in a home that isn’t quite configured to suit your lifestyle anymore. But what to do if you’re not ready or willing to move from your current space? Whether you started working from home, your growing kids need more room for crafts and playtime, or you want to entertain your friends and family, here are some tips from Cribbin Realty to make your existing space work for you.
Your Office Space
When you work from home, you know how easy it is to get distracted by other members of your household or even by your pets wanting to take a stroll outside! To avoid annoying interruptions (that can even turn embarrassing if you’re on a video conference call with your boss!), strive to create a workspace separate from the rest of the house. HomeServe notes that you can turn an extra bedroom, a den, or even a closet into your own home office.
If at all possible, get rid of anything in that space that is not work-related and don’t use the room as an extra storage area, or it will soon become cluttered and a big source of distraction that can even lead to stress. Instead, decorate and organize it to put you in work mode and to optimize your productivity as soon as you step inside, with colors that spark your creativity and keep you energized. And The Spruce suggests investing in good lighting options, so you don’t unnecessarily strain your eyes while working!
Keep in mind that your home office is an ideal spot for a smart home hub, where all your smart devices are connected wirelessly. It’s a good idea to bookmark troubleshooting info to keep at your fingertips just in case any issues arise with certain devices or apps.
Your Entertaining Space
Even smaller apartments can be great places to entertain guests. If you don’t have room for a large dining table, consider hosting buffet-style events and let your invitees freely mingle in the room. Spread your guests around by setting up different stations for what you’re serving in separate areas: drinks in one corner, finger foods and light appetizers in another, and desserts in the kitchen. Declutter the space and invest in furniture that can do double duty, such as a coffee table with storage and tall shelves or bookcases where you can neatly stash away your belongings by adding storage bins and decorative boxes.
Another clever idea is to buy a folding table you can slip under your sofa when not in use. And if you have a patio or outdoor area suitable for entertaining people, think about moving the party outside for extra square footage! Upgrades like an outdoor kitchen can complete the space, so invest in a few items including a grill and a BBQ range hood for optimal ventilation.
Your Relaxing Space
If you’re trying to reconfigure your bedroom in order to create a separate area for cozying up with a hot cup of tea and a great book, or to change up your living room so that you can accommodate your children’s play area, consider drawing up a rough plan of the space before you buy any furniture and accessories.
Once you know what dimensions you’re working with, shop for pieces that will fit your needs – a rocker with an ottoman, a reading lamp, or a storage bench for toys, for example – and match the style and colors of what you already own for a better flow. And don’t forget about the bedroom. If you’re thinking of upgrading to a king size bed, you need to know the dimensions of the space and compare it with the sizes of mattresses (this may help). A king-size mattress, for instance, measures 76 by 80 inches, making it a top choice for couples because there’s approximately 38 inches of personal space on either side of the bed.
Take photos, print images off the internet, and make a collage of your dream layout. You’ll get a better idea of the final result, and you’ll be able to shop for what you need with greater confidence.
With a little creativity and ingenuity, you can make your existing space work for you and your housemates. Take time to evaluate what you have and what you want to get rid of; then, make a plan and design the space you want. And if you work from home, take extra steps to make your workspace as productive as it can be!
