Illuminate Lighting

Tips and Tricks

5 Easy Ways to Upgrade Your Home Office

5 Easy Ways to Upgrade Your Home Office

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More people are working from home than ever before! Because of this, having a dedicated home office space has moved to the top of the home improvements list for many homeowners seeking refuge from daily noises and distractions at home. (Who can focus in a kitchen with a 2-year-old belting “Let it Go” at the top of their lungs?) 

Global Workplace Analysis estimated that “we will see 25-30% of the workplace working at home on a multiple-days-a-week basis.” If you’re included in this work-from-home exodus, then you understand what a difference having an office that’s both functional and comfortable can make for your workday.

Fixing up your office doesn’t have to be a massive undertaking – making just one small change can significantly impact the way your home office feels. We put together a list of 5 tips that will make a huge difference in the look and feel of your home office. 

Just remember, you don’t need to do all the things (unless you want to!) – any one of these projects on their own will still make a noticeable difference!  

1. Refresh with Paint

One of the easiest and most cost-effective ways of changing the mood of any room is painting. Whether you go for light and airy, bright and colorful, or moody, sometimes all you need is a color refresh to get back that inspiration.

A fresh coat of paint can completely change the mood of your home office. Check these out for some inspo on your office update!

Light and Airy

This pretty peach wall and breezy curtains create a peaceful haven where you can get the job done.

Bright and Colorful

These terrazzo-inspired colors bring life into this space and complement the floor perfectly. Talk about inspiration for your work!

Moody

The dark grey walls of this office create a moody ambiance where work can take first priority.

2. Add Lighting

One of the most important elements in a home office is its lighting. Harsh fluorescents are headache-inducing and feel more like a hospital than a haven of inspiration and productivity. Dim lighting is perfect for taking a snooze, but may not be effective when tasks are begging to be completed.

Unfortunately, most people don’t have floor-to-ceiling windows. And even if you do, using a variety of lights is critical in creating an effective working environment without headaches or unintentional naps.

Overhead Lighting

A chandelier or pendant light will do the trick for indirect lighting that will give your office soft, all-over light.

Task Lighting

Functional task lighting is also important in a productive workspace. With the flip of a switch, there won’t be any more squinting to read the post-it-note reminder you scribbled for yourself in a rush earlier. A desk lamp, pendant lights, or wall lamps work perfectly when positioned above the desk.

Lamps

Now that you have overhead lights and task lighting, look around for places that need an extra boost of light! One idea is to create a nook with a cozy chair, then add a floor lamp. Otherwise, consider a side table and table lamp. Lamps with shades add ambient light to the various workspaces in your office so you can see your work no matter where you’re seated.

3. Have Multiple Seating Options

Using a variety of seating options always helps when you get restless. Sometimes changing positions is all you need to get the job done! A comfortable office chair is a must, but you could also consider adding a couch (if you have the space) or a cozy armchair with a side table and lamp. 

4. Declutter and Create a System

In the North American Journal of Psychology, researchers say “indecision and behavioral procrastination [are] related…to high degrees of office clutter.” Visual clutter is stressful, and it often leads to poor work performance. 

Everything in your workspace should have a purpose and a place to live. Toss out the things you don’t need, and make homes for the things you do. Once you have a system down, you’ll be able to move more quickly from one task to the next.  No more searching for a working pen when you need it.

Hide those cords, get bins or a filing system to keep your loose papers in, and make sure you have adequate storage. Built-ins or a bookshelf go a long way in creating a solution. 

5. Accessorize

Don’t be afraid to play around with accessories you find or have hanging around. Books, wall hangings that inspire you, and even functional accessories like pencil cups can give your space a more lived-in feel without being cluttered or uninviting. Adding plants also will breathe life into an office that may be lacking. Try different pairings and get creative!

Office update: check! Now your Frozen-obsessed toddler can sing “Let it Go” behind your closed (and locked) office door while you get the job done. For more help with your design needs, contact Illuminate Lighting or visit our showroom! We’d be happy to assist and give you more tips like these.

3 Ways to Maximize Your Space

3 Ways to Maximize Your Space

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Less is more with a small space, especially when you use what you have and buy intentionally. If you’re looking to use your space better or just go more minimalist, versatility is key. 

Not only is versatile design increasing in popularity (think tiny homes or vans converted to homes), it’s also better for the environment and your health. Researchers found those living a minimalist lifestyle experienced more positive emotions and a variety of “wellbeing benefits.” 

Investing in multi-use furniture, choosing more versatile lighting, and getting creative are 3 ways to use your space better so you can live with less and still feel like you have more.

1. Multipurpose Furniture

When you’re trying to create a more versatile space, the best place to start is furniture. Choose pieces that serve more than one purpose. Here are some ideas to create storage that will reduce clutter and the number of furniture pieces you’ll need.

Loft beds like this one give you double the space, allowing you to have a desk when you may not otherwise have room. You could also create a cozy setup like this!

If you have a larger bed, maximize your space using under-bed storage. Find a bed with drawers in the base or just use baskets (they serve the same purpose).

Benches are often underutilized pieces of furniture, but they shouldn’t be! They’re incredibly versatile and can go almost anywhere in your home. Have an unused wall or corner? Scour flea markets to find a bench. If it doesn’t have built-in storage, simply add a few baskets underneath for shoes, blankets, or other items.

This entryway setup creates a natural place for shoes and offers a place to sit while putting them on. Bonus: it’s small and would fit anywhere.

These wicker baskets act like an end-of-the-bed bench while also providing storage where you can tuck away extra pillows and blankets.

2. Choose Lighting that Creates Space

When you’re looking for other ways to make your home more versatile, upgrading your lighting is another quick and practical option. Changing up your lighting can save you space and make your room feel bigger. If you choose quality fixtures that last longer and use less energy, you’ll end up saving money in the long run, too.

Task lighting is essential in an office space. Ditch that desk lamp that’s taking valuable real estate on your work surface and find a flexible floor lamp that can be used as ambient lighting or as a reading lamp when you’re off the clock.

Instead of using a table lamp on your nightstand, consider hanging pendant lights above it instead! Visually, it creates space around your bed, making it look more open and airy. Plus, you’ll have more room for that stack of books you’re working on.

Small kitchen woes are no more with under-cabinet lighting. LED light strips are easy to stick on, and they’ll make your kitchen feel bigger and brighter. They also make your counter space more functional – nobody should be using a kitchen knife in the dark! 

Pro tip: Mirrors make your space look bigger! Place one near a window or a light fixture to reflect the light to create the illusion of a larger space.

3. Get Creative

Arguably the most important way to save space is to get creative! There are so many ways to use your space better, and there are lots of places to find inspiration. Look for wasted space in your home, and find design solutions that are versatile and solve multiple problems.

A common place to find wasted space is underneath the stairs. Getting it opened up and organized is a great way to get more bang for your buck. Drawers like these make use of every single square inch under the stairs! 

If drawers aren’t an option, find shallow shelving or hang hooks on the wall to create a space where you can throw all of those holiday decorations you only see for a month at a time. 

If your kitchen space is small and you’re short on storage options, put your empty corners and walls to work. This 3-tiered cart does double duty as a plant stand and extra kitchen storage. The wooden crates also double up – serving as both a decorative element and open shelving for larger kitchen items that would otherwise take up valuable cupboard space.

Another way to add visual interest while creating storage is hanging up floating shelves. Open shelves like these are a great place to put your favorite kitchen-wares on display where they can be easily found when it’s time for a mid-afternoon coffee break. 

Open shelving also works great in the bathroom. Use them to store bulky bath towels, or buy decorative baskets to hide away all of that countertop clutter when you’re not getting ready for the day.

Closet busting at the seams? Make your closet space work for you with organizing systems that save space, like these drawers and slide-out racks. 

Maximizing Your Space

This tiny home is a perfect example of these tips in action. The multi-use kitchen set can be folded away and used for extra guest seating. Natural light and interior lights combine to keep shadows at bay, making a small footprint feel open and airy. Creative storage options are tucked into every square inch. 

You don’t have to be making the most of a tiny apartment to take advantage of space-saving and space-creating design tips. Just remember – when you’re trying to maximize your space, everything you have counts. Make sure everything you have is intentional and serves at least one purpose – hopefully more!

To learn more about creative lighting solutions that will help you maximize your space, stop by Illuminate Lighting’s showroom! We’d love to chat and help you find what you need to get started.