Last year, like many of us, you may have realized just how challenging working from home can get. When lockdown happened few of us were prepared to take our workplace home. Then suddenly the whole family was working, playing and living together in the same house 24/7.
Now that you’ve been at home for a while you probably have a pretty good idea of what works for your family. Even if you were considering renovations before the lockdown, you may have different ideas about what to do now that you have had time to spend a large portion of the day at home.
You now have first-hand experience of the sunniest spots in the house, so you can take advantage of the light. You may have found that you need another room, or storage space or better light.
Light
Make the best of the natural light in your home. Shade off areas that are too hot. Make use of sunny outdoor spots. Include a skylight or add a few windows.
Light is an essential part of living well so if you can’t bring the light in, add lights to the interior to brighten things up.
Light affects your mood. Try sitting in a dark and dingy room and see what that does to your temper. Warm natural light or even artificial light when its overcast will keep your mood light and positive.
Ensure, also, that you have plenty of cross-ventilation.
Plan your living spaces
Renovations should improve your lifestyle so before you embark on the improvements, study your family’s movements and congregation habits.
Is the bathroom holding the family up in the morning? Will an extra basin help? What are your kitchen needs? How many people gather in the kitchen to prepare meals? This should guide you in planning changes to home layouts.
Multifunctional areas
Find the areas that work well for the family and don’t mess with them. If, for example, you have an inviting lounge that functions well, why change it?
Multifunctional areas like kitchen islands can work very well for families who use them as a gathering place and a work preparation bench.
Storage spaces
Working from home can lead to a need for additional storage. Good looking functional cabinets designed to hide your work spaces will ensure that you keep the clutter off the kitchen counters and coffee tables.