Cosmopolitan

Updated: Monday, December 10, 2018

4 Essentials for Building a Home Office

The key to staying efficient and on-task is to set up your own dedicated workspace. If yoursquo;ll be working at home, building a home office helps create an environment of productivity and replicate a traditional office feeling within your own home. Of course, you should consider a few essentials when setting up an office of your own.

Lighting

According to some sources, the fluorescent lights many traditional office buildings use can be damaging to your eyes. When designing your own office space, you have control over the types of lighting you choose, as well as how bright or dim they are while you work. Choosing options that fit the projects you work on will help you create the perfect lighting system. You should also consider factors like what can protect your eyes and adjust to outside conditions if your home office has a window.

Desk and chair

Getting a desk and chair for your office may seem like a no-brainer, but therersquo;s more to it than picking out something to write on and something to sit on. Since yoursquo;ll be spending a lot of time in your office chair, you should make sure it provides adequate support and comfort for the long haul.

You should also make sure your desk is well-suited for long days of work. Set up a system of organization for paperwork and any knickknacks you have lying around. In addition, try to use your desk only for work as much as possible. Training your brain to have a dedicated space during work hours can help you stay on-task when yoursquo;re working at home.

Necessary technology

Remote workers often lean on technology to connect to others they work with and complete tasks. Itrsquo;s important to invest in good equipment, from keyboards to storage. In addition, because yoursquo;ll most likely be working online, itrsquo;s important to have a strong internet connection. Keeping up-to-date on all the technology yoursquo;ll need will help prevent tech-based headaches, especially because you wonrsquo;t have an in-house IT department to fix any issues.

Decorations

Since yoursquo;ll be spending a good chunk of each week in this one room, it needs to be a place you find aesthetically appealing. Adding a few decorations can personalize your office and make it a place where you feel comfortable and happy. A word of caution: it can be easy to go overboard on decorations and end up creating visual distractions for yourself. With this in mind, be thoughtful about the items you choose to put in your space. Plants and simple wall art can help your space feel inviting without catching your eye every time you sit down.

Conclusion

Once yoursquo;ve got your home office set up and ready to go, yoursquo;ll be able to promote a productive and enjoyable workday in the comfort of your own home. Fostering the perfect space to foster productivity and creativity is key to a successful remote working experience.

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The Best Holiday Gifts 25 And Under Can Buy

Unzipped Glass Zipper Bag, 16.50

Is it a plastic bag? No, itrsquo;s a glass piece created to look like a plastic bag. This is just the type of unique, kitschy gift your friend, colleague, or loved one willhellip;well, love.

Automatic Pan Stirrer with Timer, 25

Letrsquo;s admit it. That constant stirring is the worst part about cooking, are we right? Anyone who loves spending time in the kitchen will appreciate this gift.

Mood Ring Thermochromic iPhone Case, 17.98

This just might make you wish you didnrsquo;t upgrade your phone to the X This cool case fits iPhones 6ndash;8 and reacts to touch, just like a mood ring.

14-Piece Stainless Steel Bartending Set, 24.99

Behold the perfect hostess gift Yoursquo;ll undoubtedly see this 14-piece stainless steel bartending set againhellip;the next time you come over

Hamilton Beach Quesadilla Maker, 14.99

Who doesnrsquo;t want to make restaurant-quality quesadillas at home? Forget the microwave. This is the real deal.

KitchenAid Stainless Steel Utility Whisk, 9.80

This falls somewhere between a stand mixer and a hand mixer, and, at under 10 each, yoursquo;ll want to buy one for everyone

Good Housekeeping Instant Pot Cookbook, 10

When you canrsquo;t afford the Instant Pot, you can at least go with the cookbook.

Kaia Naturals Detox Hot Bath, 15

Your Type-A friends and anyone who needs to chill will love these natural hot baths, ldquo;with revitalizing ingredients like matcha, turmeric, and spearmintrdquo; that allow them to ldquo;easily be able to moisturize, soothe, and unwind,rdquo; said Womanrsquo;s Day.

Bar>

Staying over with family or friends during the holidays? Come bearing this gourmet, artisanal brunch accoutrement. Yoursquo;ll be the hit of the party

LifeStraw Personal Water Filter, 11.99

This one is perfect for your favorite adventurer. ldquo;When theyre stranded out in the wilderness without anything to drink in a misguided attempt to become Bear Grylls, this handy little stick might literally save their life by turning the dirtiest sludge into drinkable water,rdquo; said Esquire.

Its Saturday Morning: Celebrating the Golden Era of Cartoons 1960s - 1990s, 20.39

Give a walk down memory lane this holiday season with this wonderfully nostalgic book thats sure to put a smile on the recipients face.

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7 Model Home Ideas to Steal for Your Home

Getting color ideas

Model homes are ra>

1 The color is by and large not used large scale, meaning, all the walls of every room wont typically be painted in bold or bright colors;

2 The main color scheme generally flows from room to room. The shades and placement of color may be different, but there is a coherent look and feel throughout the home that makes it feel finished.

If you want to introduce color without covering every surface, consider these tips from Lennar: "You can add color to a space without painting walls. Pop color with pillows, rugs flowers and artwork. If you do add color to walls, use it sparingly. A painted feature wall can be a great backdrop for a bed or built-in cabinets."

General design inspiration

You may not have thought about putting certain colors together or layering a bunch of patterns in one room or choosing tile that looks like wood instead of real wood... but you will once you see what theyve done in model homes. If youre in a design rut or youre not sure how to take the first step toward modernizing your space, walk through the models. Consider not just what you see, but how you feel in the space. Starting to feel >

Incorporating the newest trends

Looking to redo your kitchen? Touring a model will give you some great ideas about how to handle the layout and materials. It may not have occurred to you to take down your double-height island and continue the counter height the full length, but this is a hot kitchen trend intended to capture the open space feel. Seeing all-white cabinets may inspire you to have your dark wood cabinetry painted, and the quartz counters are sure to inspire you to start researching new countertop options.

Treating small spaces

In general, the less crowded a room is, the more airy it will feel. But that doesnt mean leaving it empty. Furniture placement is key to creating a space with form and function. Notice how the office in the room above has just the right amount of furniture. And instead of placing the desk up against the wall, its been floated, which allows the eye to more easily move around and makes the space feel larger.

Getting space planning tips

Model home designers are great at disguising awkward spaces with creative solutions and showcasing spaces with furniture thats to the perfect scale and placed in such a way that it shows the room in its best light. If youve got a weird spot in your home that you dont know what to do with or are having trouble figuring out what furniture to buy or where to put it, studying what theyve done in a few models might help you figure it out.

Styling a guest room

Go stand in the guest room in the model down the street. Simple, clean, and elegant, right? Excited to go home and redo your guest room? Remember three key things: lighting, pared-down accessories, and crisp bedding.

Getting your kids rooms just right

Kids rooms are often some of the most challenging spaces to design, because its a slippery slope between a creative space and a circus room. Model home designers love to theme these spaces or give them some pizazz, and they often get the balance just right.

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