Decorating & Design
Here’s What House & Home Editors Have Learned While Working From Home
It’s safe to say we’ve spent more time in our homes in the past year than ever before. Yes, it’s been challenging, but it’s made our editors appreciate their spaces in new ways, too. From creating a productive home office to adding mood-boosting greenery, here’s what our editors have learned while while working from home.
“Since working from home I have found that moving my work space into an area with natural light and air flow has boosted productivity and mental health. There’s nothing worse than isolating yourself in a dark, stuffy room!” — Jenna Wilhelmsen, Contributor
“I need more plants! I doubled down and added more varieties to the planters in my home office: they make a work space feel vital and take the edge off tech devices. (On a side note, my #officegoals are to keep my desk as clear as this petite nook.)” — Wendy Jacob, Features Editor
“I need more built-in storage, stat! With everyone at home all the time, our small city home has felt really cluttered and disorganized. I love the look of these symmetrical living room built-ins by SmithErickson because they feel functional and beautiful — I love those graphic, black outlines — plus, there’s a mix of both open and closed storage.” — Alice Lawlor, Editorial Director
“Backlighting is terrible for Zoom calls! If your work area is near a window, make sure there are shades or drapes that you can close to block that glare.” — Stacy Begg, Senior Interiors Editor
“When working from home, spending nearly all day in one spot can feel a bit drab. I’ve found that setting up your workspace with inspiring pieces can be a great way to increase energy and creative workflow. Alongside stacks of my favourite design books, I built an impromptu mood board next to my workspace that I try to engage with every morning.” — Joseph Cicerone, Assistant Editor
“This was a year of creating a workspace I loved. Inspired by this James Davie space, I made my walls colourful and added plenty of beloved books and knick knacks to the shelves for a personal, lived-in look. The key was placing my desk in front of the window so natural light streams in all day and wakes me up. It really changes the atmosphere, especially when you’re working and stuck at home.” — Jacklyn Gilmor, Digital Content Coordinator
“Changing the orientation of my desk seemed like a small thing, but it ended up being the most helpful. I moved it so that I didn’t face the wall anymore, which made my workspace feel less cramped and isolating. Not having my back facing the rest of the room made me more in tune with my surroundings, and it helped refresh the environment I had already spent so many months in.” — Severina Chu, Digital Content Intern