Home & Garden
Home Decor & Furniture Ideas
How to Identify Good Quality Wood Furniture?
If constructing a home is tough, then furnishing it with the right furniture pieces and décor items is even harder. Every person puts in a lot of love and thoughtfulness before they carefully pick and place it in the apt corner or any area in their house that then emphasizes the aesthetic beauty of their home.
So, if you too are on an exploration of renovating your home, here are 7 ways to identify good quality wood furniture–
- Know your wood
When buying wooden furniture, the first thing to remember is that all woods are not the same; in fact, they are available in a dozen varieties and differ in appearance. It is also essential to know the basic properties of each and if it will complement your existing fittings.
To make things simpler, the three broad categories of wood are- solid wood, veneers and particle board or composite wood.
• Solid wood is a natural form of wood that is obtained directly from trees. This type is not engineered and hence, is one of the most robust version of timber used to make a sofa, bed, etc. As it is the sturdiest variant and can last years, it is also the most expensive. Handmade wooden furniture made of this wood adds elegance and character to the room and thus, this wood is undoubtedly a value for money purchase. But, this type is also susceptible to scratches and watermarks.
• Veneers, on the other hand, are an engineered wood covered by several thin layers of better-quality wood. This type is relatively less costly and is used for both sophisticated and budget pieces.
• Particle board and composite wood pieces are however made from the scraps of wood, i.e. a combination of wood pulp, plastics, and resin. Hence, it is the cheapest variety of timber, and thus, it won’t last for decades. It is also highly resistant to absorbing moisture and is temperature-sensitive. - Construction
If you are looking for custom furniture in India that will spruce your home, then the best place to determine its quality of construction would be the joints. If screws, interlocking sides, finger or dovetail joints are used to hold everything together, then the wood furniture is certainly high-quality. But, if these points are held by nails, glue, or staples, then the furniture may not be that much durable.
To check the quality of tables and chair, make sure the legs are reinforced with triangular or diagonal blocks of wood. This technique is used to keep the joints intact and also give stability to the furniture when moved or when pressure is applied to it. - Material used throughout
One essential aspect to examine when purchasing wood furniture is to look at the underside of the piece. Ascertain if the same wood is used everywhere. For instance, in solid wood fitting, the lumber will look the same or almost similar in both visible and hidden parts. Also, if you see unfinished wood underneath, then it is natural wood. In the case of veneered wood, there will be a large panel of repeated grain pattern. Another secret identifier is the scent; a freshly machined timber has a very identifiable odour. - Uniformity
To check real solid wood from the manufactured one, review the uniformity of the piece. The veneer wood will have a uniform look as they are a combination of different woods, whereas solid hardwood will have imperfections. The smooth shine on the former may seem tempting but don’t forget the material is man-made and the sleekness is after fabrication. - Heaviness
This is straightforward to find out the quality of furniture as weight indicates quality. Fixtures made of solid wood will generally be denser and thus, heavier than any medium density fiberboard fitting. So, a fixture made of mahogany will be better than that made of pine wood. - Study the drawers and cabinets
To know the quality of wood furniture, do a physical inspection of the drawer and cabinets and be mindful of any resistance or wobbling. If the joints are stuck together, then there is a problem with the manufacturing, and hence, you should stay away from buying it. Similarly, for the cabinet door, test by opening the door and see if it remains in its appropriate position. Also, review if the knobs and handles are fit tightly on the drawers and cabinets. - The Finish
This one is an essential aspect of wood furniture. A high-quality piece of fitting will be smooth from sanding and thus, have no rough patches when you run your hand over it. It will also have the natural beauty of the wood without any dark spots because of the staining process, which will further add color and character to it. Thus, buy a finish that is satiny smooth and free from rough spots, dust specks or bubbles. Also, look for depth and richness in the finish, both on the top and underneath the furniture.
Eyecare / Digital and Your Eyes
This Covid-19 pandemic had plunged us into a digital world. Our learnings had been directed to e-learning, working-from-home, and the social distancing measures had prominently pushed digital gadgets into the forefront of our lives. Netflix, Youtube, e-books, online shopping had moved up as our main source of entertainment.
With more time spent in front of digital gadgets, digital eye-strain symptoms such as eye fatigue, watery or dry eyes, headaches or blurred vision are now more commonly experienced. These symptoms can be worst for people with pre-existing eye conditions such as astigmatism, myopia or hyperopia.
While we most likely are not able to reduce our time spent in front of digital devices, there are some steps that we can take to protect our eyes while using these gadgets:
Gadget Display Settings:
Ensure that the brightness of your display is not too bright, nor too dim; the screen should be adjusted to similar light level to the rest of your workstation or your room. Other than brightness, we should also not neglect the font size and font type. If you are straining to read the text, you might consider adjusting the size and type so that it is less straining to your eyes.
Proper Workstation Settings:
It is important to avoid working directly under overhead lights and also eliminate external light sources (e.g. sunlight) which causes glare. These glare can add on extra stress to the eyes, you can blocked them out by having shades or blinds. The type of light bulbs used are also important. Typical fluorescent office lighting might be too harsh for your eyes, try using lower intensity bulbs as an option to reduce glare.
Aside from lighting, you should also ensure a proper distance for computer work. A comfortable viewing distance when looking at computer screens should be approximately 50-65cm from the eye. The computer screen should be tilt to a 15-20 degrees below eye-level in order to reduce eye fatigue.
20-20-20 rule:
We highly recommend taking frequent breaks when performing near tasks such as working on the computer for long hours. As suggested by American Optometry Association (AOA), you may adopt the 20-20-20 rule by:
Take 20 seconds break to view something 20-feet away every 20 minutes of doing near work
Blink Frequently:
Our eyes tend to blink less when we are concentrating on visual tasks. This may, in turn results in dry eyes. We should constantly remind ourselves to blink frequently (once every 10-15 seconds) to keep our eyes moisturised and hydrated while working.
Blue-light Filter lenses:
Research had shown that using blue-light filter lenses can help reduce eye strain when looking at digital devices. It might be worth considering blue-light filtering lenses to filter off the harmful spectrum of blue-violet light which can potentially cause damage to the tissues in the eye.
4 Ways to Choose The Right Home Improvement Tools
Home improvement is important whether you want to increase the value of your house or impress your guests. Nothing could make your home more appealing than updating certain areas such as the living room, and coming up with cool decor that will really improve how your home looks.
Then again, home improvement projects can cost you a fortune, starting with the tools for your projects. Sure enough, you wouldn’t want to purchase tools of low quality and, at the same time, spend too much money for items like claw hammers and power drills.
Fortunately, there’s an easier way to stock up on the tools you need for your home improvement projects.
Keep these tips in mind before you visit the nearest Home Depot.
Take an inventory
The first thing you will have to do is to make sure you know what you need for your toolbox. It makes sense to rummage through your arsenal and check if certain tools need to be replaced or repaired. You also need to check for what’s missing. But a more practical approach to this is to buy only for the long-term. Don’t pick tools that are useful only once. Otherwise, you’d be spending an unnecessary amount of money on stuff that will only rust in the basement.
Know your brands
In order to pick the right tools, you should be acquainted with the companies that are making them. And while choosing a brand could be more or less a subjective activity, you might want to go a little more in-depth when it comes to shopping for the best tools in terms of longevity, quality, and cost. Research is, of course, important to find a manufacturer that fits your needs. So, make sure to spend ample time comparing catalogues and make a shortlist of possible companies to consider.
Buy online
There are some tools you can’t find at your local hardware store, so you might want to do much of your shopping online. Whether you need industrial welding helmets and soldering irons, you can find most of these items online. One caveat to this is that you might have to shoulder the cost of shipping the products. If you’re keen enough to look for online hardware stores, you’ll be able to land great offers on high-quality tools. You just have to take a closer look at the descriptions and reviews from past customers.
Inspect the product
Finally, before you decide on purchasing hardware for your home, you will need to test it out. For this, it’s important if you could ask the manufacturer if you can unbox the tool first and check if it has any external defects. You should also know if it’s working properly by taking the tool out for a test run. For instance, you can drill holes through a panel of wood.
Tips On Choosing Tools For The Garden
Selecting the right types of tools for gardening may seem like a simple task but you have to consider several factors. Your size, any special challenges, the task level, manufacturer and the material are just some of the considerations. Learning how to choose the right garden tools can spare you a lot of pain and money. Some tips and information about grips, handle lengths, and attachments can help you get the most for your dollar while also getting tools suited to you and how you use them.
Garden Tool Selection Guide
We all have our favorite garden implement. It may be a 20-year-old shovel or your new rototiller, but what they all have in common is their usefulness and comfort. To get to that place where all your tools are exactly as you need them to be, you must first do some research. Whether you are looking at gardening tools for beginners or you are a professional landscaper, the tools you choose need to suit your body and the tasks you require of them. They also need to have a long life so you don’t have to keep purchasing the same item over and over. One of the most crucial things to look at when choosing tools for the garden is how the implement is made. The way in which the handle is attached to a digging tool can either mean lifetime use or instant breakage when you hit that first rock.
– The least expensive tools will likely have a tang and ferrule attachment. These are cheaply made and usually separate after a short time.
– Solid socket tools have a forged connection from handle to working end. These are more expensive but will provide you with a lifetime companion if you take care of the tool.
– The most expensive option is the Mercedes Benz of tools. These tools have a seamless solid strap attachment that isn’t going anywhere. Once you have decided how much you wish to spend and how long you want the tool to last, it is time to consider handles. The grip is a crucial comfort issue when picking out garden tools. A padded grip will result in less blisters and aching hands. There are non-slip grips that are useful when working out in the rain and ergonomic grips that reduce hand stress from gripping too hard. Larger handles minimize strain and give a better hand hold on the tool.
Choose the Perfect Furniture For Home Office
The most suitable furniture for your home office will be that which you’re comfortable and productive in. The right home office furniture will make the difference in your outlook on working and your satisfaction towards your home office. Before you get caught up in the appearance, you will need to consider your space size, budget and how long you use it throughout a day. Here are guidelines for choosing the perfect home office furniture.
- Assess how much room you have: One of the biggest mistakes in choosing furniture is under/overestimating how much space you truly have. An empty home office looks huge until you put a desk and chair in it! Measure your space and take into account windows and doorways that your furniture will have to fit around. If there are views out a window you would like your desk to face, consider this when measuring and planning out your furniture placement.
- Determine how long per day you will use your office: This tip is important for the fact of comfort. If you only use your home office for 30 minutes a day to check email, a stylish over comfortable chair may win out. On the contrary, if you spend 7-10 hours days in your office, your needs for comfort are imperative.
- What is your budget: Like any furniture, you can spend a small amount or you can spend a few paychecks on one piece of office furniture for your home. Surf the internet, and look through home décor and home office furniture magazines for inspiration and pricing. How much you spend is up to you, although, keep in mind that décor, office supplies, and computer equipment may still need to be purchased after the furniture. If you’re on a tight budget consider buying self assembly furniture. Furniture stores that specialize in online and catalog ordering will be your best resource for do it yourself assembly furniture.
- Will you share your space? When choosing desks, bookshelves and other surface furniture, take into account your office partners needs. They may need more or less space than you depending on their occupation or use for the home office. Collaborate together and see if a few pieces can be multifunctional. A table that holds the printer may also be used as a desk or conference table.
- Choose your style: Antique furniture to ultra contemporary furniture will be a design choice that you have. Remember comfort when selecting older traditional furniture, such as chairs. Antique furniture can look gorgeous, but you may need the flexibility of an adjustable chair for comfort. While some modern chairs have the ergonomics that are comfortable, but look too futuristic for a traditional home. In the end you will need to decide which is a higher priority, aesthetics or comfort. With enough searching, you should be able to find a happy medium.
- Choose furniture that fits you: Comfortable home office furniture should ‘fit’ your body. If you are a tall person, ensure that your chair and table height will be in proportioned to you using it. Conversely for shorter people, a chair that is too high and non-adjustable may have your feet dangling like a child. Comfortable office furniture should look great, but feel like you can sit in it for hours on end.
Home offices are popular and can be found in most homes, as modern society demands it. To ensure you will be productive, follow these tips to choose comfortable and stylish furniture. If you have time, purchase furniture as you need it, to see how your office functions with you in. Often times, we buy too much furniture and half of it isn’t used on a daily basis. Choose wisely and your home office will reward you with a space that is enjoyable to work in.
Sophisticated Game Room Ideas
You love playing pool, but noisy, crowded bars are simply not your scene. That’s why you’ve decided to bring billiards into your home instead! With a big, beautiful table, you can play pool in the comforts of your own game room, where there are no other groups waiting for you to finish.
Now that you have your new game room addition, it’s time to find furniture to match your space. Colorful bean bags work fine for your kids when they play video games, but you’ll want more sophisticated designs to complement the wooden frame and rich finish of the pool table. Let these eight game room ideas help you find elegant, comfortable and most importantly, adult-friendly furniture.
- Decide How Much Room You Have for Seating
Before you shop for seating, it’s important to know what kinds of furniture you have space for in your family game room. Consider different layout options, such as one big sofa or sectional, or a group of smaller chairs and barstools. One benefit of stools and smaller accent chairs is that you can easily move them around the game room as needed. - Use an Ottoman to Meet a Variety of Needs
Ottomans aren’t just a footrest; they can also be used as an additional seat when you’ve got company over and there aren’t enough places to sit. Some people even use ottomans as a table to display decor or set down drinks, using a tray to create a flat surface. - Create an Elegant Look With Leather
Need a game room design idea that instantly adds an elegant touch? Leather is a classic upholstery option that is both stylish and soft. If it works with your existing decor, consider a warm brown shade to give the game room a welcoming look that’s also sophisticated. - Enhance the Entertainment Room With a Home Bar
A home bar can include a countertop, barstools, drawers, cupboards, a mini fridge and sink, or it can be as simple as a cart. If you have the space and budget, take advantage of the opportunity to set up the perfect place for happy hours at home. A pool table and bar combination will make your new game room a huge hit with friends and family. - Choose a Convenient Rolling Cart
A rolling cart can be used to keep food and drinks conveniently nearby. It can also be used to set down your pool accessories and keep all your smaller items like chalk in one place. The best part about a rolling cart is that you can have it next to you during the game and placed up against the wall when it’s no longer needed for extra space. - Choose a Theme
Choosing a unifying theme will pull the look together as well as making choices easier. When it comes to decorating a game room you have even more leeway to play with the theme and design. First, you’ll want to decide what style you want. Do you want an easy-going feel like a rustic or cozy cottage look? Perhaps you prefer the sleek sophistication of a modern or transitional look. Whatever style you choose, next you can choose a fun theme to really make the room special, like a luxurious social club, or a bright 50’s-style diner. Find a theme that makes you want to hang out there, then play that up with pictures and accessories. - Choose Your Entertainment
The point of a family game room is to play, after all. Now that you have a theme in mind, choose the entertainment that fits with your look and how you want to enjoy your room. That might include a pool table or a card table. Many game rooms benefit from a flat-screen TV, and you could also add a row of video games for a retro arcade feel. A bar is also a fun addition, and there are plenty of options to make it fit in any room, whether you use a built-in bar or rolling cart. It can offer alcohol for the adults or ice cream sundaes for the kids. - Customize It!
Make your game room space uniquely yours with personal touches. Family photos are a natural addition but don’t stop there. Add items to bring your personality into the space, such as sports memorabilia, or Broadway show posters. Art on the walls make any room feel more special, and that can be anything from oil paintings to framed pictures your kids made. Decorating the walls makes a room feel curated, not generic.
Ways to Refresh Your Home for Spring
Spring Refresh Tips
Adding a touch of spring to your decor doesn’t have to be a complicated task. Small changes can have a bigger impact on your space than you may think.
- Florals and Greens
Bringing fresh flowers and greens into your home is a classic springtime look. This can be as easy as putting a few sprigs of lilac from your garden in a vase or adding a florist’s arrangement to fill a larger space. Don’t overlook adding floral patterns to a room either. This can be done though pillows, rugs, curtains, or wall art. Botanical prints and designs, especially flowers, are a beautiful way to evoke spring. - Update Your Colors
Another way to refresh for a new season is to update your colors throughout the house. Just a few small touches can make a big difference, so don’t think that you need to buy an entirely new couch or all new throw pillows for spring. Even if you just change a few things, such as replacing a dark red candle on the shelf with a pale green figurine, you’ll be surprised at how much it can lighten up the whole room. Look around for saturated, dark colors in your rooms and find ways to swap them out for light tones. - Pack Away Heavy Blankets
To bring in a lighter, airier feel, put away heavy, chunky blankets. This goes for the bedrooms, naturally, because you don’t want to sleep in the stifling heat of a blanket that’s too heavy for the season. Also take a look at things like living room throws. You’ll probably still want to keep a throw on the back of the couch for when you’re curled up with a book and the air conditioning gets a little chilly, but pack away the fuzzy, thick lap blanket and replace it with an airy, lightweight one. - Use Lightweight Fabrics
Lighter weight fabrics all around the house will also signal a change in seasons. Switch out dark, heavy curtains for lighter weight choices in gauzy silks, linens and sheers. Their floaty weight will not only look breezier, but it will literally let more light into your home. Even something as simple as swapping dark, thick kitchen towels for ones with a bright, light weave will give your house a refresh. - Spring Cleaning
Finally, don’t forget your spring cleaning. It may not seem like the most exciting way to welcome the warm weather, but it will be worth every minute of effort. The truth is that most of us spend far more time dreading this kind of task than we would ever spend doing it. So set aside a block of time, put on some energizing music, and tackle those cleaning tasks you never seem to get to. The payoff is much larger than the effort, and you will be able to enjoy the pleasures of warmer weather with a newfound sense of satisfaction.
Spring is an inherently hopeful time, and it’s a great time to bring some of that optimism into your house. You don’t have to make huge design changes to feel the difference in your surroundings. So throw open the windows, breathe in the fresh air, and give yourself the gift of a spring renewal for your house. It’s a wonderful way to truly appreciate the energy and beauty of this time of year.
Tips to help you plan your life on paper
- Mix up analog and digital
We’ve explored the differences between paper planners and online or digital tools. But who said it had to be either or? Why not take the best from both worlds and combine digital and paper tools in a way that suits you?
For example, you could set a daily alarm on your phone to remind you to update your journal. Just set it up as a daily recurring event on your calendar app. Or you might run a digital to-do list alongside your notebook planner. This could be a promising option if you often have tasks that have a component online. - Embrace the beauty of bullets
The appeal of the notebook planner is obvious when you take a look into the online world of bullet journaling. Fans of this trend, which was developed by Ryder Carroll, fill their blogs and Instagram feeds with inspiring page spreads from their notebooks, and use luxurious stationery and tools to create planners that are functional works of art.
Anatomy of a bullet journal
A typical bullet journal starts with an index page, which is a numbered contents page for your notebook. After that there are a series of logs, or lists. These are usually based around time periods, like month, week or day, although you can also have ‘custom logs’ for specific tasks or events such as wedding planning or vacation research. - Try a new notation style
There’s no question that the bullet journal is the definitive 21st century productivity journal. But it’s not the only analog notation style in town. There are other options too, such as Strikethru. This system is interesting because it shares some characteristics with the Kanban board, a digital to-do-list focused on moving tasks from one place to another.
With Strikethru, your notebook is divided into 3 parts:
Live list
Your current to-do-list, which will live in the front part of your notebook. Each day, fill a new page with a list of tasks, which you get to cross out (hence the name) when they’re complete.
Vault
The middle section of your notebook, which contains longer-term goals or ideas which can be moved into the Live list when you’re ready to tackle them.
Dump
The back third of the notebook, which is reserved for quick notes, ideas you need to jot down in a hurry, phone numbers, doodles and whatever else you like. - Schedule your notebook planner time
One of the biggest challenges people seem to face with productivity notebooks or planners is actually using them.
Notebooks that were started with enthusiasm can end up gathering dust on a shelf unless you’re able to successfully form the habit and stick to it. Regular use will also maximize the benefits of the process, as you’ll build up a record of your activity over time.
Routine = habit
Adopting a regular journal schedule is one way to make sure the journal habit sticks with you. Decide on a ten-minute window each day when you’ll sit down with your notebook planner. It may be first thing in the morning while you drink your coffee, or last thing at night when you’re concluding your day and thinking about your goals for tomorrow. - Get creative with the notebook format
You don’t have to be a crafting genius to physically transform your notebook and extend its productivity powers. Here are a few simple hacks you can make using everyday items from your stationery drawer.
Dutch door
A smart way of looking at two pages at once. Dutch door modifications involve cutting or folding some of your pages so that you can see the other pages behind them.
Some people make a horizontal dutch door spread that allows daily pages to be turned while a weekly or monthly spread stays visible at the top. Others do it vertically, by either cutting or folding a single page in half down the center so it forms an insert within a weekly or daily spread.
Pocket
Just attach a piece of stiff card on three sides to the inside of your journal using glue or washi tape, and you’ve added a handy pocket. It’s great for safely storing business cards, stamps, coupons or whatever you like.
Bookmark
Save a few moments finding the right page with a handy bookmark. You can take advantage of the built-in ribbon bookmark in your notebook, or attach one with tape to the spine or inner cover.
How to turn your notebook into a productivity goldmine.
We’ve said it once and we’ll say it again – learning how to be more productive is one of the best ways to invest your time, whatever profession you’re in.
There’s a wealth of knowledge out there, from time techniques like the Pomodoro method to psychology hacks like habit-stacking and temptation-bundling. But what if a simple notebook and pen could revolutionize your personal productivity levels?
Say hello to the analog productivity trend
There’s a growing movement of people who are shifting away from apps and digital productivity solutions and embracing the world of pen and paper. From luxurious notebooks and stationery to the enjoyment of the hand-written word, there are plenty of reasons for choosing to add a good old-fashioned notebook planner into your modern lifestyle.
For one thing, as our lives become more entwined with technology, going analog answers the need to switch off. Working with a paper productivity system is a neat way to perform a digital detox without putting your life on hold. There’s no blue light, so you can update it at night without risking your sleep hygiene. And it’s a great way to focus for a period of time without the interruption of notifications or the temptation of more-ish mobile games.
Digital or paper? Pros and cons
The pen-and-paper lifestyle has an undeniable appeal. But is it right for you? To help you decide, here are some of the ways paper productivity solutions are different from their digital counterparts.
Space and capacity
A digital productivity organizer, such as a to-do list app or Kanban board, isn’t limited in terms of the space it offers you. You can add as many tasks or sections to it as you like without having to buy a new one.
However, a paper product only has so many pages, which means you need to choose a format that’s got all the room you need or to have more than one volume of your notebook journal. For those who enjoy stationery or love to ‘collect the set’ this can be a definite advantage.
Deleting mistakes
If you make a mistake on your smartphone, computer or other device, it’s simple to hit the backspace key and try again. Nobody – not even you when you read it again – needs to even know you didn’t have it right first time.
On paper, there are ways to undo what you’ve written such as rubbing out pencil or erasable pen marks, or scribbling out words written in ink. But there’s usually an indication you’ve made a change. This isn’t a drawback necessarily, it just means you need to be comfortable with a more mindful approach to note-writing, or with embracing little imperfections when they come up.
Uniqueness
Digital information can be backed up, replicated or stored in the cloud for access on multiple devices. Your notebook planner is one of a kind, the only copy in existence, which makes it a precious possession. Accidents do happen, so if you’re using a notebook, it’s a good idea to get into the habit of photographing your pages regularly so you have a digital backup of your information.
Personality
A notebook planner becomes a little world all of your own, as creative as you want it to be and completely personalized. There are so many ways to express yourself, from your choice of page layouts to your ink color to the little doodles you make in the margin. Then there’s your choice of notebook, the kind of paperstock you favor and whether you go for lined or dotted rule.
Availability
Having a notebook planner around gives you a physical reminder of your schedule and your commitment to yourself to be organized and productive. It’s right there on your desktop or in your bag, unlike an app or software tucked away inside your phone. It’s also really easy to get an overview of what’s current and to flip the pages and find out how far you’ve come since you started – great for building motivation.
Space-saving ideas for amazing home offices
With these space-saving ideas, you can establish your home office in even the smallest of homes.
Cupboard love: the closet office
We know it’s important to draw a clear line between work and leisure time. Ideally, that means shutting the door of your home office at the end of the working day. But what if you don’t have a spare room to use? Well, you could use a closet instead.
Closet offices are converted walk-in cupboards or wardrobes that are just big enough for a desktop, drawers and some shelving. They often have folding doors you can push out of the way while you’re working, so you get the benefit of natural light and warmth from the wider room. Your work chair doesn’t have to fit in the closet – you just need enough space to be able to shut your desk out of sight when you finish work.
If you have space for a closet desk but not much left for storage, you could adapt the approach and tuck away your filing system, printer and other equipment in a home office chest. Once you close the lid, nobody will know it contains the secrets of a business genius.
Desks that you can downsize
A drop-leaf desk is an excellent space-saving idea to magic workspace out of thin air. Attached directly to the wall, it can be lifted up and secured in position for work and then folded down into an unobtrusive shelf when your workday is over.
If a foldaway desk appeals, you may not even need to go shopping – a drop-leaf dining table makes a fantastic desktop and may already be sitting folded away in your home or attic. Failing that, an exploration of eBay or local second-hand furniture spots should lead you to some bargains.
Desks that fold upwards into a cabinet are another smart option that packs some extra storage in. As with all folding options though, it’s best suited for people who can clear everything away with ease – definitely not for lovers of desktop ornaments, stacks of paper or other creative clutter.
Under the stairs, and other nifty niches
Landings, corridors, underneath staircases and even porches can be turned into home offices through sheer force of will. If you have a few feet of space in your home that isn’t regularly exposed to foot traffic, you can use decoration and furnishing to make it into an office nook. Our top home office tips: painting the area a separate color and blocking it off using furniture can emphasize its identity as a dedicated workspace.
When selecting your spot, make sure you’re going to have enough peace and quiet – a corridor leading to a regularly-used room is a recipe for interruptions, especially in a household with young children. Also think about electrical points. With computers, screens, printers, lamps and chargers to take into account, it may be worth getting power outlets installed in your nook rather than dealing with trailing wires.
Portable office space aka the ‘Home Hotdesk’
The key ingredient is a mobile storage trolley you can easily trundle along with you to wherever there’s space and light. It should hold equipment, a laptop, paper, paints and brushes, craft kit or anything else you need. Kitchen trolleys or hostess trolleys can also be great for this type of solution. Or, if you want something sturdier, small workshop tool trolleys might suit your needs. A clever home office idea.
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